Feed Your Brain Grants
To prevent summer hunger and summer learning loss.
Now Accepting 2012 Applications
Complete the application online.
Grant applications must be postmarked or submitted online by Friday, April 6, 2012
For questions about the Feed Your Brain project, please contact Virgina Eader at (206) 336-6915.
About Feed Your Brain
Since 2001, School’s Out Washington has worked in partnership with the Children’s Alliance and Discuren Charitable Foundation to address summer learning loss and summertime hunger through the Feed Your Brain project, which provides grants and training to schools, community-based organizations and/or tribes running summer programs in rural areas of Washington State. The overarching goal of Feed Your Brain is to increase the number of children who participate in academic and enrichment activities and receive at least two nutritious meals through the federally subsidized Summer Feeding Service Program.
Qualifications
To qualify for a Feed Your Brain grant, programs must provide summer literacy (reading and writing) activities and sponsor an open site through the Summer Food Service Program in high-need, rural communities (defined as a town population of 25,000 or less) where resources are limited. To determine how your program can qualify as a Summer Food Service Program sponsor, please email Donna Vincent or call her at 360.725.6202. To learn about strategies to run a summer food program beyond the minimum 4 weeks required by the Feed Your Brain grant, please contact Sue Waldin. Additional information on how to start a Summer Meals program in your community can be found at ParentHelp123.org.
Applicants may apply for up to $5,000. Funds may be used to pay for costs associated with summer learning activities (salaries, training, transportation, curriculum, supplies, equipment, furniture and contracted services).
Who May Apply/Minimum Requirements
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Applicants must provide a regular, formally organized program for school-age children (primarily ages 5-18). Program must operate a minimum of four days a week for four or more weeks during the summer months.
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Applicants must plan to operate programs in a rural community of Washington State. For the purposes of this grant, rural means a town population of 25,000 or less.
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Applicants must sponsor an open meal site and provide at least two meals (breakfast, lunch and/or snack) through the Summer Food Service Program administered by USDA/OSPI. This includes both the Simplified Summer Food Program and the Seamless Summer Feeding Program. Sites are considered open when any child (0-18 years of age) can come to the site to receive a free meal.
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Programs must provide no less than 1.5 hours of literacy activities (reading and writing) each time the program meets. Priority will be given to programs that provide more than 1.5 hours of lite
racy activities.
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Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to ensure proper administrative and accounting procedures.
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Programs must be open to all youth regardless of race, religion, gender, national origin, marital status of their families, sexual orientation, political ideology or ability.
- School districts, Native American tribes, public entities and non-profit groups in Washington may apply.
Terms for Contracts:
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Funded organizations must participate in: a mandatory regional Feed Your Brain orientation; technical assistance; and site visits as conducted by School’s Out Washington and Feed Your Brain partners. Orientations will be approximately 4 hours long and a travel stipend covering mileage costs will be provided.
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Funded organizations must comply with reporting and evaluation requirements, including tracking data and administering pre and post assessments.
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Funded organizations must have liability insurance and guarantee that the program funded under this grant is in compliance with all state and local laws and regulations.
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Funding will be disbursed in three payments, which are contingent upon the organization meeting all contract reporting requirements.
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Administrative costs are limited to 15% of the total grant award.
Grant funds may not be used for purchasing food or religious instruction.
Congratulations to our 2011 Feed Your Brain Grantees!
The following 13 programs received a $5,000 Feed Your Brain grant to operate a summer learning program and provide free, nutritious meals to children and youth living in rural communities of our state this summer.
Please take a moment to read our 2011 Feed Your Brain Executive Summary.
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County, Blaine | Boistfort School District, Curtis |
| Deer Park School District, Deer Park | Nespelem Elementary School, Nespelem |
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Paterson School District, Paterson |
| Whitson Elementary School, White Salmon | WSU Extension - Mason County, Shelton |
| *Children's Home Society, College Park | *Grand Coulee Dam School District, Coulee Dam |
| *ROOF Community Services, Rochester |
*Yakama Christian Mission, White Swan *Youth and Family Link, Kelso |
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*The starred programs are part of our 3-year multi funding pilot project and are entering into their third year as part of this model. |
Thank you to Discuren Charitable Foundation, Medina Foundation, Bank of America Foundation, Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund, Pacificorp Foundation and to all the individuals who donated to Feed Your Brain to help support children and youth this summer.
For questions about the Feed Your Brain project, please contact Virginia Eader at (206) 336-6915.