Food Recovery Initiatives Grant Program - 2026

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce funding for projects that will help increase the amount of food that can be provided to those in need across New York through the Food Recovery Initiatives Grant Program - 2026

Approximately **$2 million** is available for the Food Recovery Initiatives Grant Program. Funding for this grant opportunity is provided from Environmental Protection Fund.

Minimum grant amount is **$1,000**. Maximum grant amount is **$100,000**.

Eligible projects for grant funding must be located in New York State.

Projects directly related to increasing the availability of food for those in need and the overall increase of food recovery efforts may be eligible for funding under this grant program. [...] For the purposes of this RFA, food recovery is defined as the practice of collecting wholesome, edible food through donation, food rescue, and/or gleaning programs that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to people in need.

Examples of eligible project types:

• Equipment related to increasing the availability of food (e.g. purchased, donated, rescued or gleaned) for those in need. Note: We are not able to fund the purchase of food under this RFA.
• Staffing costs related to food recovery efforts.
• A combination of the above project types.

Example eligible project costs:

• Staff costs (e.g. drivers, retail recovery coordinators, donation program staff), including fringe benefits, directly devoted to food recovery efforts.
• Fringe benefits are limited to 15% for each salary covered under the grant.
• Installation costs (e.g. electrical work, shipping/delivery) related to the installation of food donation storage, cooling equipment, and/or emergency generators.
• Trucks, vans, refrigerated vehicles, and related equipment (e.g., trailers, insulated food storage containers, thermal blankets, scales) used in the transport of food.
• Equipment (e.g. shelving, forklifts, carts, utility carts, pallet jacks) used for the storage and movement of food.
• Cooling equipment for food (e.g., freezers, refrigerators, walk-in freezers or cold rooms).
• Emergency generators dedicated to preserving food (note: awarded funds in this category must not exceed **$35,000** per project).

Bidders must complete a work plan in the SFS GM that provides a clear overview of the project. Bids must include proposed project objectives, tasks associated with meeting each objective, and the performance measures associated with each task (performance measures can include desired project outcomes or deliverables).

Bids must be submitted through the NYS SFS Grants Management System. Using Google Chrome to access the SFS Grants Management System (GM) is recommended. **Paper bids will NOT be accepted.** Late bids will not be accepted.

All bidders must be Registered with SFS Grants Management to apply. All Not-For-Profit Bidders must be Prequalified in the SFS Grants Management System at the time and date that the bid is due.

Once the bid period opens, all projects will be evaluated on a rolling basis by DEC for eligibility in the order in which they are received (first-in, first-out). Awards will be given to applications receiving a passing score in the order they are submitted in the SFS GM until DEC withdraws this request for applications, funds are exhausted, or November 2, 2028 at 3:00 PM EST, whichever comes first.

Grant funds are available for up to 75% of the total eligible project cost. Bidders must provide the remaining 25%.

All projects must have defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables accounted for in performance measures that can be completed and invoiced within a three-year contract term.

**Required** uploads to SFS GM: *Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification*, *Executive Order 16 Certification*, *Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification (Attachment G)* and *Smart Growth Assessment Form*.