We have created a downloadable Applicant Guide that we hope will provide you with all the information needed to prepare you for each component of our application process. This guide will also provide you with information on how CSPI will be evaluating applications and cover expectations for grantees throughout the grant lifecycle such as reporting and check-ins

• 2022 Grant Applicant Guide - ENGLISH
• 2022 Grant Applicant Guide - SPANISH

CSPI staff will host webinars for organizations interested in getting more information. There will be open time at all sessions for Q&A. Webinars will also be recorded and posted below for those unavailable to attend.

Upcoming Webinars

We have no upcoming webinars scheduled at this time.

Past Webinars

• General Grant Opportunities Webinar: March 7th, 2022, 2-3:30pm EST (Recording and slides)

• Healthy Food Purchasing and Food Service Policies webinar/office hours: March 8th, 2022, 2-3pm EST (Recording and slides) 

• Healthy School Meals lobbying grants webinar/office hours: March 8th, 2022, 3-4pm EST (Recording and slides) 

• SNAP opportunities webinar/office hours: March 10th, 2022, 3-4pm EST (Recording and slides)

• Restaurant kids’ meals webinar/office hours: March 10th, 2022, 4-5pm EST (Slides)

• General Grant Opportunities Webinar: May 17th, 2022, 12-1pm EST (Recording and slides)
• School Meals Grant Opportunities Webinar: May 23th, 2022, 12-1pm EST (Recording and slides)
• Healthy Retail Grant Opportunities Webinar: May 24th, 2022, 12-1pm EST (Recording and slides)
• Farm to Food Bank Grant Opportunity Webinar: May 24th, 2022, 2-3pm EST (Recording and slides)
• Powerbuilding Grant Opportunity Webinar: May 25th, 2022, 11am-12pm EST (Recording and slides)

All applications should be completed through our Online Grant Management System. However, for purposes of previewing and preparing application materials, Word versions of our Letter of Interest (LOI) and application forms can be downloaded below in English or Spanish.

• Policy Grants: LOI and Application Template – English 

• Policy Grants: LOI and Application Template – Spanish 

• Policy Grants: Budget Template 

• FTFB and Powerbuilding Grants: Budget Template 

• Powerbuilding LOI Template – English
• Powerbuilding LOI Template – Spanish
• Farm to Food Bank Full Application Template – English
• Farm to Food Bank Full Application Template – Spanish

If you are an emerging, grassroots, and/or community-based organization that does not yet have tax-exempt status or a fiscal sponsor, please reach out to us as we may have future grant opportunities available to you, or there may be other ways that you can partner with us.

Although it is possible to apply for more than one grant opportunity, we recommend reaching out to us for guidance on which opportunity is most closely aligned with your group’s goals at this time.

We encourage groups to collaborate when structuring a policy campaign. Our preferred solution in this case would be for one organization identified as the lead to submit an application which includes subgrants to other partner organizations.

Yes, the Collaboration Feature in the applicant portal can be used for this purpose. See “Tutorials and resources” in our Applicant Guide for links to instructions.

Yes. Deadlines for submissions will be listed under each grant opportunity in the applicant portal as well as in the PDF document outlining each opportunity. Although we can accept proposals submitted after this date, we usually prioritize applications submitted before the deadline.

In recognition of the disproportionate impact of gaps in operational funding for small­er non­prof­its, we have implemented a tiered Indirect Cost rate structure:  

• 12% indirect costs for grantees with annual budgets over $5 million 

• 15% indirect costs for grantees with annual budgets $1 million up to $5 million 

• 20% indirect costs for grantees with annual budgets under $1 million

Yes, most of our grant opportunities include funding for lobbying, which is administered via grants from CSPI Action Fund. Please see the ‘Guidance on Lobbying’ appendix in our Applicant Guide for more details.

We hope to complete our application review process for each stage within four weeks. So, after the deadline for LOIs or full applications, we will strive to be in touch with applicants regarding next steps within four weeks. We will try to minimize delays but recognize the timeline may take slightly longer than anticipated. 

We are striving to increase the accessibility of our grantmaking opportunity, including for historically marginalized groups and smaller, community-based organizations. We welcome any direct feedback to our grants team, who can be reached at grants@cspinet.org. We also welcome and encourage anonymous feedback which can be provided quickly and easily through this survey link. 

Are you interested in seeing some of the past trainings and other resources offered to CSPI grantees and our broader partner network? If so, please take a look around at our Resource Hub.