Deadline: 1-Aug-22
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to announce a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for 2022 Community Innovation and Outreach (CIAO).
Of the $20 million in award funds, up to $5 million may be reserved for the Grantee’s direct and indirect administrative costs and approximately $15 million must be awarded as subgrants through a competitive process to WIC State and local agencies, community organizations, and other nonprofits, with an emphasis on supporting projects with at least one of the following overarching goals:
- Use community-level data to test new ways of delivering WIC messaging and conducting outreach designed to increase WIC participation1 and retention; and
- Expand partnerships with community-based organizations to connect underserved populations with WIC benefits and services.
Objectives
- Provide management and technical assistance to potential subgrant applicants throughout the application and award process and to subgrantees throughout the duration of the project.
- Create an FNS-approved implementation framework and evaluation strategy and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to identify project outcomes.
- Develop and award Round 1 of FNS-approved subgrants to WIC State and local agencies, community organizations, and other nonprofits to fund novel community outreach projects.
- Monitor and evaluate Round 1 subgrant projects, draft evaluation summary report, and submit for FNS review.
- Create three evidence-informed model project opportunities for FNS approval (including one with a partner matching component) for testing in a minimum of three locations.
- Develop and award Round 2 of FNS-approved subgrants to WIC State and local agencies, community organizations, and other nonprofits to fund novel and model community outreach projects.
- Monitor and evaluate Round 2 subgrant projects, finalize evaluation summary report, and submit for FNS review.
- Create and update multiple FNS-approved national resources including a national summary report and an outreach framework for WIC Program operators and partners.
Funding Information
- Total amount of funding expected to award: Up to $20 million
- Anticipated start dates and period of performance: September 9, 2022 through March 6, 2027; not to exceed 5 years
Eligibility Criteria
- This Request for Applications (RFA) is open to all accredited institutions of higher education (colleges/universities), nonprofit research entities, and other nonprofit organizations with documented experience in public health and communications.
- There shall be a single Grantee, but the Grantee may partner with other organizations through subawards to meet RFA requirements.
- FNS is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of the programs and encourages individuals, institutions, and organizations from underserved communities to apply for funding opportunities as grant or subgrant recipients.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=340781