School Food Infrastructure Fund: Step 1. What this program offers

Step 1. What this program offers

The School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF) supports not-for-profit organizations to improve infrastructure and equipment for school food programming across Canada.

As announced by the Government of Canada in Budget 2024, the SFIF is delivered as a complement to the National School Food Program, and the guidance provided under the National School Food Policy.

Program objectives

Through the further distribution of funds by a limited number of not-for-profit organizations to approved community-based organizations, the SFIF will:

• support the purchase and installation of infrastructure and equipment that increases the capacity of community organizations to produce, process, store, and distribute food for school food programs

Through this further distribution of funds, the SFIF aims to, ultimately:

• strengthen wider community and local food systems through investments in infrastructure that expand the reach and impact of school food programming
• help ensure that children have the nutritious meals they need to learn, grow, and reach their full potential

Funding

Funding will be provided to a limited number of not-for-profit organizations (“initial recipients”) with knowledge of, experience with, and access to an established network of community organizations involved in the delivery of school food programming.

The maximum Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) contribution toward a project will normally not exceed $8,000,000 over 2 years. Applications under $1,000,000 after ineligible costs have been removed, will not be considered for funding.

Further distribution of funds

The SFIF will provide contributions to eligible initial recipients who will further distribute funds to one or more ultimate recipients. Ultimate recipients and initiatives to be funded will be selected by initial recipients based on a clear, transparent, and open decision-making process.

An initial recipient:

• is a not-for-profit organization that receives contribution funding from AAFC and further distributes that funding to ultimate recipients
• will have a relationship with AAFC and with the ultimate recipients
• will have independence in how they further distribute contributions
• will carry out a transparent, and open decision-making process, which includes the selection of ultimate recipients and projects or activities to be funded

An ultimate recipient:

• is a not-for-profit organization that receives a payment from an initial recipient
• will have a relationship with the initial recipient
• will not have a relationship with AAFC

Cost-sharing

AAFC will provide up to 100% in funding toward eligible project costs.