School Equipment and Program Grants

School Equipment and Program Grants

Funder: New England Dairy (supported by New England dairy farmers)
Geographic Scope: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
Eligible Recipients: K-12 schools participating in federal child nutrition programs
Focus: Equipment and marketing needs related to expanding school meal programs

Program Overview

New England Dairy provides funding to eligible schools to support equipment and marketing needs related to expanding school meal programs including breakfast, summer meals, and serving new dairy menu items like smoothies and hot chocolate milk.

Available Grant Programs

#### Turn-Key Equipment Packages
1. Smoothies
- Equipment package available
- Application available

2. Hot Chocolate Milk
- Equipment package available
- Application available

3. Bulk Milk
- Equipment package available
- Application available

4. School Breakfast Expansion
- Equipment package available
- Application available

5. Customization Station
- Equipment package available
- Application available

#### Other Dairy Program Grants

Custom Dairy Programs

Funding available to support expansion of dairy items on menu

Allowable costs: Equipment, marketing and promotion materials

Summer Meals

Funding available to support expansion of summer meals programs

Allowable costs: Equipment such as insulated cooler bags, ice sheets, portable milk cooler, and partial funding for vehicle wraps

Geographic Scope

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• Vermont

Timeline

• Current Deadline: November 13, 2026
• Program Start: Applicants should plan on starting programs in summer/fall of 2026
• Equipment Delivery: Equipment and grant funding will not arrive until June 2026 or later
• Award Decisions: Made for all submitted applications after the deadline passes

Grant Writing Tips

• Proposals should increase access to school meals and promote dairy sales
• Include marketing/promotion and student engagement plans
• Funding is limited and awarded based on strength of plan and potential impact
• Schools may only apply for one program at a time
• Incomplete applications and those with vague answers will not be considered

Reporting Requirements

If awarded, schools/districts must provide:
• Baseline, initial, and final data
• 3-5 photos of the program
• Completed final narrative report
• Failure to submit required items by established deadlines will put future New England Dairy funding at risk

Resources

• Success Stories page showcasing successful implementations
• Monthly School Nutrition Newsletter with resources and ideas
• Equipment implementation guides for each program type
• Recipes inspired by grant programs

Contact

Email: dairygrants@newenglanddairy.com Applications & Resources Page: https://www.newenglanddairy.com/school-grants-applications-promotion/