Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)

Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) is a grant from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service that funds projects increasing fruit and vegetable purchases by low-income SNAP participants through point-of-purchase incentives and produce prescriptions. The program offers three grant types: Nutrition Incentive grants, Produce Prescription grants, and Cooperative Agreements for training and technical assistance.

Project sizes range from pilot projects at the sub-county level to large-scale multi-state programs. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and government agencies for nutrition incentive and produce prescription projects. Cooperative agreement eligibility extends to nongovernmental organizations, extension services, tribal agencies, and institutions of higher education.

Applications are submitted through USDA NIFA.

# Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program | Food and Nutrition Service A **. gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. _You are now leaving the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website and entering a non-government or non-military external link or a third-party site.

_ _ Food and Nutrition Service U.S. Department of Agriculture_ * Nutrition Education & Food Safety * Meals for Schools and Childcare * Food Distribution & Emergency Assistance * Summer Nutrition Programs * Assistance for Older Adults * Farmers Market Programs * NAP Block Grants for Territories * Doing Business with FNS * Federal Register Notices * Contact FNS Press Office * Freedom of Information Act * USDA National Hunger Hotline [](https://www.

fns. usda. gov/snap/gusnip-grant-program) # Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program 2.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) The 2018 Farm Bill authorized the program for fiscal years 2019 through 2023 and growth in program funding from $45 million to $56 million to be appropriated over 5 years. Across the GusNIP grant program there are three grant types and three project types available, which are described briefly below: 1.

Nutrition Incentive – develop and evaluate projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase, 2.

Produce Prescription – conduct projects that demonstrate and evaluate the impact of financial or non-financial incentive prescriptions of fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to nutrition educational opportunities to increase procurement and consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce individual and household hunger, and reduce healthcare usage and associated costs, and; 3.

Cooperative Agreement - offer training, technical assistance, evaluation, and informational support services to the nutrition incentive projects, produce prescription projects and to the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program as a whole. 1. Pilot Projects – new entrants seeking funding for the early stages of program development at less than the county level; 2.

Standard Projects – mid-sized groups developing incentive program at the county, multi-county or State level, and; 3. Large Scale Projects – project teams developing multi-county, state-wide, regional, or national incentive programs with the largest target audience of all GusNIP projects.

Non-profit organizations and government agencies are eligible to apply for GusNIP nutrition incentive projects and GusNIP produce prescription projects. Eligibility to apply for a cooperative agreement is limited to nongovernmental organizations, state cooperative extension services, region food systems centers, Federal, State or Tribal agencies, and institutions of higher education.

Cooperative agreement proposals are not invited every year. Applicants to the GusNIP program are encouraged to partner and collaborate broadly throughout the healthcare system and the food system. For further information, visit the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program RFA funding opportunity page: https://nifa.

usda. gov/funding-opportunity/gus-schumacher-nutrition-incentive-grant-program Page updated: September 17, 2025 * Non-Discrimination Statements _ Food and Nutrition Service U.S. Department of Agriculture_