Produce Prescriptions–Recipe for a Successful ‘veggie Rx to HEAL’Grant Application Led by RDNs

Abstract

Background

The ability to secure grant funding is critical to many community-based initiatives that seek to deliver healthy food resources and education. However, the grant writing process is very challenging; it requires skill, time, and persistence. Moreover, statistics from federal funding agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, suggest that only approximately 20% of applicants receiving funding. After many community initiatives and several small grants, our VeggieRx project secured federal funding through the USDA GusNIP program in 2021, and in 2022 the USDA Expansion Grant, an ADA sub-study, and the Fair Food Network Innovation Grant. This poster will detail our winning recipe for success.

Method

We examined the historical records of our VeggieRx initiative to provide a timeline of the program development, RDN education, community partnerships established, and funding milestones, highlighting key ingredients to our success.

Results

Our VeggieRx efforts began five years ago with the HEAL initiative, which had served farmer’s markets in underserved areas for several years. A turning-point was securing funding to double SNAP/WIC incentives while developing relationships with key physicians and local agencies. These collaborative relationships led to earning several small grants. In 2021, we finally secured federal funding and are now working on several more grants regionally.

Conclusion

Starting small with community partnerships and local- or state-funded initiatives provides the groundwork for the development of federal grants. Pairing with local health systems provides access to more grant exposure and data management and analysis opportunities. Persistence and steady growth are keys to our success.

Funding Source

USDA Gusnip Funding - Award Number 2021-70030-35744; USDA Gusnip Funding - Award Number 2022-70423-38070; Indiana State Department of Health Produce Prescription Planning; Fair Food Network Building Capacity and Innovation; No Kid Hungry - Rural Produce Prescription.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2023

Publication Title

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

First Page

A50

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