Rural Cooperative Development Grants

Rural Cooperative Development Grants is sponsored by Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Supports the development of new cooperatives and the expansion of existing cooperatives in rural areas.

Rural Cooperative Development Grants | NIFA The lifecycle of grants and cooperative agreements consists of four phases: Pre-Award, Award, Post-Award, and Close Out. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is committed to serving its stakeholders, Congress, and the public by using new technologies to advance greater openness.

The Data Gateway enables users to find funding data, metrics, and information about research, education, and Extension projects that have received grant awards from NIFA. This website houses a large volume of supporting materials. In this section, you can search the wide range of documents, videos, and other resources.

Technical Assistance Webinar: The Equipment Grants Program (EGP) The Equipment Grants Program seeks to provide eligible institutions with the opportunity to acquire a shared-use piece of equipment/instrument that supports their research, research training, and extension goals. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences.

Rural Cooperative Development Grants The purpose of the RCDG program, under assistance listing number 10. 771, is to enable nonprofit institutions to establish and operate centers for rural cooperative development (Center).

The primary objective of the program is to improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping nonprofit organizations that in turn provide technical assistance to start, expand, or improve cooperatives and mutually owned businesses in rural areas. Dates may vary. Please see NOFO for exact details.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to access information related to this grant opportunity, please contact the Information Contact listed on this page no later than ten (10) days before the closing date. If you need a reasonable accommodation for the webinar or event related to this grant opportunity, please contact the event host.

NIFA offers language access services, such as interpretation and translation of vital information, free of charge. If you need interpretation or translation services, please visit NIFA Language Access Services and request service no later than ten (10) days before the closing date.

Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) Program More Information on Eligibility Applicants for the RCDG program must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award.

For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. Applications will only be accepted from nonprofit institutions.

A “nonprofit institution” is defined as any organization or institution, including an accredited institution of higher education, no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4284. 520(a).

Applicants are ineligible for assistance through this program if one or more of the items defined in 7 CFR 4284. 520(b) occurs. For more Information Contact grantapplicationquestions@usda.

gov Funding Opportunity Number Assistance Listing Number Estimated Total Program Funding Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement Matching Requirement (See NOFO for Details) Page last updated: July 7, 2026 Your feedback is important to us.