School Grants Program

School Grants Program

Funder: New England Dairy (funded 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

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 (smoothies, hot chocolate milk). Grant funds and turnkey equipment packages can be used to support these initiatives.

Available Grant Programs

#### Turn-Key Equipment Packages
1. Smoothies Equipment Package
2. Hot Chocolate Milk Equipment Package
3. Bulk Milk Equipment Package
4. School Breakfast Expansion Equipment Package
5. Customization Station Equipment Package

#### Other Dairy Program Grants

Custom Dairy Programs

Support expansion of dairy items on menu

Allowable costs: equipment, marketing and promotion materials

Summer Meals

Support expansion of summer meals programs

Allowable costs: equipment (insulated cooler bags, ice sheets, portable milk cooler, partial funding for vehicle wraps)

Goals & Requirements

• Increase access to school meals
• Promote dairy sales
• Include marketing/promotion plans
• Include student engagement plans
• Funding limited and awarded based on strength of plan and potential impact

Application Requirements

• Schools may apply for only one program at a time
• Incomplete applications and those with vague answers will not be considered
• If awarded, schools/districts must provide:
- Baseline data - Initial and final data - Three to five photos of program implementation - Completed final narrative report - Failure to submit by established deadlines puts future New England Dairy funding at risk

Contact Information

Email: dairygrants@newenglanddairy.com Website: newenglanddairy.com/school-grants/

Application Process

1. Visit Application Page:
- Go to Applications & Promotion Resources page
- Review detailed grant programs and requirements

2. Select Grant Type:
- Choose one equipment package OR other dairy program grant
- Review specific eligibility and allowable costs for selected program

3. Prepare Application:
- Complete all sections thoroughly
- Avoid vague answers; be specific
- Include detailed plan for:
- How grant will increase school meal access
- How grant will promote dairy sales
- Marketing and promotion strategy
- Student engagement plan
- Provide timeline for implementation
- Plan for summer/fall 2026 start (based on current deadline)

4. Gather Supporting Materials:
- Collect baseline data on current programs
- Document current meal participation rates
- Identify student engagement opportunities

5. Submit Application:
- Email completed application to: dairygrants@newenglanddairy.com
- Submit by deadline: November 13, 2026
- Note: Equipment and grant funding will not arrive until June 2026 or later

6. Award Decisions:
- All decisions made after deadline passes
- Contact funder if assistance needed

7. Post-Award Requirements (If Funded):
- Provide baseline, initial, and final data
- Submit three to five photos of program implementation
- Complete final narrative report
- Meet all established deadlines for reporting

Grant Writing Tips

• Proposals should clearly demonstrate how they increase school meal access
• Show strong plan and potential impact
• Include specific marketing/promotion and student engagement plans
• Complete all sections thoroughly
• Avoid incomplete or vague responses
• Review success stories for inspiration and best practices

Resources Available

• Success Stories page showing implemented grant programs
• Recipe ideas for supported programs
• Equipment package details and specifications
• Implementation guides for each program type