Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FNS SNAP HFMI 2025
The FY 2025 SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive (HFMI) grant is a competitive USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) funding opportunity focused on testing practical ways to increase how often SNAP households buy and drink qualifying fluid milk. SNAP is the federal program that helps low-income households purchase eligible foods, and FNS both certifies households for SNAP and authorizes and oversees the retailers that accept SNAP benefits. The scale of SNAP is large, with roughly 42 million participants and more than 250,000 authorized retailers, which means even small changes in purchasing behavior can have meaningful public health and market impacts.
This opportunity is authorized by Section 4208 of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334), as amended, which allows USDA to enter into cooperative agreements with government entities and nonprofit organizations to run HFMI projects. For fiscal year 2025, Congress provided $3,000,000 for HFMI through the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which usually means the federal agency expects to be actively involved in the project beyond what is typical for a standard grant, such as collaborating on key elements of project design, implementation, oversight, or evaluation.
The core purpose of the HFMI project is to develop and test incentive approaches that increase purchases and consumption of qualifying fluid milk among SNAP participants. The incentive is intended to be delivered at the point of purchase at SNAP-authorized retailer locations, meaning the project is designed to operate where SNAP shopping actually happens (for example, at checkout, via retailer systems, store loyalty systems integrated with SNAP transactions where permitted, or other approved mechanisms). Beyond simply boosting milk purchases, FNS also frames the program as a way to identify and strengthen strategies that encourage healthier choices and support healthier outcomes for individuals and families, suggesting that applicants should be thinking not only about the mechanics of an incentive but also about behavioral design, access, and measurable nutrition outcomes.
The grant defines "qualifying fluid milk" narrowly and specifically. It includes all varieties of pasteurized cow's milk that are unflavored and contain no sweeteners, align with the most recent dietary recommendations, are packaged in liquid form, and include vitamins A and D at levels consistent with FDA, state, and local standards for fluid milk. In practice, this definition is meant to ensure the incentive supports straightforward, nutrient-relevant milk options rather than flavored or sweetened products.
Eligible applicants include governmental entities (state, local, territorial, or tribal agencies) and nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits must be able to document eligibility by providing their IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter as part of the application. The notice indicates that additional eligibility details and requirements are in the Request for Applications (RFA), so prospective applicants would need to follow the RFA closely for any limits, partnership requirements, documentation standards, or compliance expectations.
On the administrative side, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 10.551 in the Food and Nutrition category. The opportunity number is USDA FNS SNAP HFMI 2025. The application deadline listed is August 6, 2025. The total available funding is $3,000,000, with an expected single award (Expected Awards: 1) and an award ceiling of $3,000,000, which strongly suggests FNS intends to fund one project at or up to the full amount, rather than several smaller projects. The opportunity was created on July 7, 2025, which is useful for tracking the posting timeline and any subsequent amendments or Q and A releases that sometimes follow shortly after the initial posting.
Taken together, the HFMI FY 2025 opportunity is essentially a one-award, $3 million pilot-style cooperative agreement aimed at designing, implementing, and evaluating a retail-based SNAP incentive that makes it easier and more appealing for SNAP households to choose unsweetened, unflavored pasteurized cow's milk that meets dietary guidance. Applicants are likely to be most competitive if they can demonstrate the ability to work with retailers and SNAP transaction environments, implement a point-of-purchase incentive smoothly, and measure whether the incentive changes purchasing and consumption patterns in a credible, policy-relevant way.Apply for USDA FNS SNAP HFMI 2025
- The Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2025 SNAP HEALTHY FLUID MILK INCENTIVE" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.551.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FY 2025 SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive (HFMI) Grant - FAQs
What is the FY 2025 SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive (HFMI) grant?
The FY 2025 SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive (HFMI) grant is a competitive USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) funding opportunity to develop and test practical incentive approaches that increase how often SNAP households purchase and consume qualifying fluid milk.
What agency is offering this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
What is SNAP and why is it relevant to this grant?
SNAP is the federal program that helps low-income households purchase eligible foods. FNS certifies households for SNAP and authorizes and oversees the retailers that accept SNAP benefits. Because SNAP is large (roughly 42 million participants and more than 250,000 authorized retailers), even small shifts in purchasing behavior can have meaningful impacts.
What is the main purpose of an HFMI project?
The main purpose is to develop and test incentive approaches that increase purchases and consumption of qualifying fluid milk among SNAP participants, with incentives delivered at the point of purchase at SNAP-authorized retailer locations.
How is the incentive expected to be delivered?
The incentive is intended to be delivered at the point of purchase at SNAP-authorized retailer locations. The description indicates this should occur where SNAP shopping happens (for example, at checkout, via retailer systems, store loyalty systems integrated with SNAP transactions where permitted, or other approved mechanisms).
Does this opportunity focus only on increasing milk sales, or also on nutrition outcomes?
While the core goal is increasing purchases and consumption of qualifying fluid milk, FNS also frames the program as a way to identify and strengthen strategies that encourage healthier choices and support healthier outcomes for individuals and families. This suggests projects should consider both incentive mechanics and measurable outcomes.
What counts as "qualifying fluid milk" under this grant?
"Qualifying fluid milk" is defined narrowly as all varieties of pasteurized cow's milk that are unflavored and contain no sweeteners, align with the most recent dietary recommendations, are packaged in liquid form, and include vitamins A and D at levels consistent with FDA, state, and local standards for fluid milk.
Are flavored or sweetened milk products eligible as "qualifying fluid milk"?
No. The definition specifies unflavored milk with no sweeteners, which is intended to exclude flavored or sweetened products.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include governmental entities (state, local, territorial, or tribal agencies) and nonprofit organizations.
What documentation must a nonprofit provide to prove eligibility?
Nonprofit organizations must be able to document eligibility by providing their IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter as part of the application.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally means the federal agency expects to be actively involved in the project beyond what is typical for a standard grant, such as collaborating on key elements of project design, implementation, oversight, or evaluation.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 10.551, in the Food and Nutrition category.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is USDA FNS SNAP HFMI 2025.
How much funding is available in total?
The total available funding is $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $3,000,000.
How many awards does USDA FNS expect to make?
The listing indicates an expected single award (Expected Awards: 1).
Does the program appear to be funding one project or multiple projects?
Based on the total available funding of $3,000,000, an expected single award, and an award ceiling of $3,000,000, it strongly suggests FNS intends to fund one project at or up to the full amount rather than several smaller projects.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline listed is August 6, 2025.
When was the opportunity created (posted)?
The opportunity was created on July 7, 2025.
What law authorizes the HFMI program?
This opportunity is authorized by Section 4208 of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334), as amended.
What law provided the FY 2025 funding for HFMI?
For fiscal year 2025, Congress provided $3,000,000 for HFMI through the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4).
Where are HFMI incentives expected to operate?
The project is designed to operate in SNAP transaction environments at SNAP-authorized retailer locations, meaning it is intended to work where SNAP purchasing occurs.
What types of organizations are likely to be competitive applicants (based on the description provided)?
The description suggests applicants may be most competitive if they can work effectively with retailers and SNAP transaction environments, implement a point-of-purchase incentive smoothly, and measure whether the incentive changes purchasing and consumption patterns in a credible, policy-relevant way.
Are there additional eligibility rules or requirements beyond what is summarized here?
Yes. The notice indicates that additional eligibility details and requirements are included in the Request for Applications (RFA), so applicants are expected to follow the RFA closely for any additional limits, documentation standards, partnership requirements, or compliance expectations.
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