Resiliency Grants

Application closed.

Application Complaint Procedure
Applicants can submit a complaint before the application due date based on any of the following:

• The application unnecessarily restricts competition.
• The application evaluation or scoring process is unfair or flawed.
• The application requirements are inadequate or insufficient to prepare a response.

 
Complaints must:

• Be in writing and submitted to the Resiliency Grants Lead up to five (5) business days prior to the application close date to allow WSDA FA to make necessary corrections.
• Clearly articulate the basis for the complaint.
• Include a proposed remedy.

 
WSDA FA will review the complaint, notify complainant of decision, and post the resulting changes to the Resiliency Grant webpage and statewide bidder notification system (WEBS) before the end of the application period. The WSDA Director will be notified of all complaints and be provided with a copy of the agency's response. The purpose of a complaint is to resolve issues before applications are due and may not be raised again during the protest period.
 
Resiliency Grants: foodassistancegrants@agr.wa.gov 
 
Debriefing Meeting
Unsuccessful applicants may request a meeting to critique the project review.
 
Requests for a debriefing meeting must be sent:

• Within five (5) business days of unsuccessful award notification.
• To Resiliency Grants: foodassistancegrants@agr.wa.gov

Protest Procedure
Protests may be made only by those who have submitted an application and participated in a debriefing meeting. Upon the completion of a debriefing meeting, the applicant has five (5) days of receiving the written decision from that meeting to file a protest with the Resiliency Grants Lead. Protests must follow the procedures described below to be considered.
 
Only protests concerning the following will be considered:

• Matters of bias, discrimination, or conflicts of interest on the part of an evaluator.
• Errors in computing application scores.
• Non-compliance with procedures described in Resiliency Grants overview or WSDA policy.
• Violations of state or federal law.

 
Protests will be rejected as without merit if they address issues such as an evaluator’s professional judgment on the quality of a proposal or WSDA’S assessment of its own and/or other agencies’ needs or requirements.
 
To file a protest, applicants must:

• Complete a debrief meeting.

• Submit a written protest within five (5) days of receiving written decision resulting from the debriefing meeting to the Resiliency Grants team: foodassistancegrants@agr.wa.gov

 
The WSDA Director or an employee delegated by the Director will consider the protest and all available facts and issue a decision within five (5) business days of receipt of the protest. If additional time is required, the protesting party will be notified of the delay. The final determination of the protest shall:

• Find the protest lacking in merit and uphold the WSDA’s action; or
• Find only technical or harmless errors in the WSDA’s acquisition process and determine the WSDA to be in substantial compliance and reject the protest; or
• Find merit in the protest and provide the WSDA options which may include:
  • Correct the errors and re-evaluate all proposals, and/or
  • Reissue the solicitation document and begin a new process, or
  • Make other findings and determine other courses of action as appropriate.

• Agreement holder: The party who enters into the written Agreement with WSDA FA and is responsible for following for the terms and conditions of the Grant.
• Ancillary charges: Costs including taxes, duty, transit insurance, freight, and installation that may or may not be included in the acquisition cost of a piece of equipment in accordance with your agency’s accounting practices. As default, WSDA will not include ancillary charges in the cost of equipment except in the case of post-purchase verification and disposition.
• Beneficiaries: Person(s) intended to derive benefit from the activities outlined in the application.
• Bids: Price offer for an item or service, demonstrating due diligence for responsible use of State and Federal funds.
• Capital Assets:
  • Tangible or intangible assets used in operations having a useful life of more than one year which are capitalized in accordance with GAAP. Capital assets include:
    • Land, buildings (facilities), equipment, and intellectual property (including software) whether acquired by purchase, construction, manufacture, exchange, or through a lease accounted for as financed purchase under Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards or a finance lease under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) standards; and
    • Additions, improvements, modifications, replacements, rearrangements, reinstallations, renovations or alterations to capital assets that materially increase their value or useful life (not ordinary repairs and maintenance).
  • Capital assets do not include intangible right-to-use assets (per GASB) and right-to-use operating lease assets (per FASB). For example, assets capitalized that recognize a lessee's right to control the use of property and/or equipment for a period of time under a lease contract. See 2 CFR § 200.1 and § 200.465.
• Capital Budget project: A project to construct new facilities or make significant, long-term renewal improvements to existing facilities; may include construction, renovation, rehabilitation, and acquisition.
  • Capital Budget request: A request made to State Legislature to include a Capital Budget project in the State’s Capital Budget. A resource provided by Feeding Washington to help explain the Capital Budget process: “WA State Capital Budget 101”.
  • Capital Expenditures: Expenditures to acquire capital assets or expenditures to make additions, improvements, modifications, replacements, rearrangements, reinstallations, renovations, or alterations to capital assets that materially increase their value or useful life.
• Contracted staff: Contracted staff may be an individual, business or corporation hired for a specific project or a certain timeframe for an agreed upon fee. Would be considered part of the day-to-day operations of the project named in the application and under contract or written agreement with the organization (must provide documentation with the initial invoice). 
• Contracted services: Independent contractor of third-party services procured to perform specific activities under the grant. Provides services in support of the activities for the project. An independent contractor may be a person, business, or corporation.
• Equipment: Tangible personal property (including information technology systems) that has a useful life of more than one year, is moveable, and has a per-unit cost of 10,000 or over. May include a vehicle, reach-in fridge or freezer, cardboard baler, electric pallet jack, forklift, or other. Equipment must be essential to the project to be considered.
• Equity: The consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. 
• Food Bank: An organization that collects, warehouses, and distributes food, edible commodities or other product to food pantries, meal programs, and other hunger relief organizations on a regional, county, or statewide basis.
• Food Pantry: An organization that provides direct client services, food storage, and distributes unprepared food consistently to the community without charge to its clients.
• Food Purchases: Food purchases for distribution as groceries or meals, culturally familiar foods, etc.  
• Grantee: The recipient of funding provided under a Grant through a written Agreement.
• Hunger Relief Organization (HRO): A nonprofit organization with current tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC); Federally Recognized Tribe; tribal organization; or public corporation, commission, or authority established pursuant to RCW 35.21.660, RCW 89.08, or RCW 35.21.730 primarily focused on addressing food insecurity and hunger relief issues. These organizations typically work to provide food, resources, and support to individuals and communities experiencing hunger, often through food banks, meal programs, emergency assistance, education on nutrition and sustainable food practices. Their goal is to alleviate the impact of hunger, work toward long-term solutions (on-going) to ensure people have consistent access to nutritious food, and/or provide technical assistance to hunger relief organizations to improve the system as a whole. 
• Indirect: Indirect costs are the portion of the general overhead costs of an organization allocated to grant performance. Indirect must: be consistently charged as indirect costs; not to exceed the rate of 15% of direct costs; and not include equipment, rental expenses, and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000.00. Grantees must not duplicate costs as both indirect and direct or be inconsistent in billing costs as indirect or direct. Organizations are not required to claim indirect costs.
• Operations: Costs associated with regular or expanded operations (rent, insurance, supplies, transportation costs, etc).
• Pass-thru: Approved third-party services acquired to perform specific activities under this agreement. Excludes contracted employees.
• Project: For the purposes of this application, the project refers to the expenses and activities for which funding is being requested. 
• Quotes: Document showing costs for items or services from qualified sources, included as backup documentation for purchases $10,000 and over.
• Staff: The cost of staff and personnel on the organization’s payroll that are directly involved in relevant activities during the period of performance. Includes contracted employees and staff.
• Subgrantee: An approved entity receiving funds from or performing services for the grantee of this funding.
• Underserved/under-resourced communities and community members: Populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of “equity.” 

• Disallowed expenses include purchases of land, buildings, and gift cards. For a more comprehensive list, see our Allowable and Disallowed Costs publication. Please reach out to foodassistancegrants@agr.wa.gov with questions.
• These funds are not intended for projects better served by Capital Budget requests (see definitions).  
  • This document (“WA State Capital Budget 101”) provided by our partners at Feeding Washington explains the Capital Budget process.
  • For those with active Capital Budget requests, if the project in your application is:
    1. Part of an existing Capital Budget request, please notify foodassistancegrants@agr.wa.gov to discuss.
    2. Unrelated to your Capital Budget request, you may still apply for this funding. Please note that anything requested under this grant must not be duplicative.

Who should apply?

• Hunger relief organizations primarily focused on addressing food insecurity within the state of Washington.
• A nonprofit corporation (including an unrecognized tribe or tribal organization that is a 501(c)(3)), or government/public agency, or federally recognized tribe, or a church, or a religious organization associated with a church.
• If an applicant is not an eligible organization, the applicant may seek a fiscal sponsor who is an eligible organization.  If awarded the fiscal sponsor would hold the agreement with WSDA Food Assistance.

Eligibility requirements, listed below, apply to: Nonprofit corporations (including unrecognized tribes or tribal organizations that are a 501 (c)(3)).

• 501(c)(3): IRS Determination Letter: Copy of the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search showing organization is not on the auto-revocation list and has filed their recent 990.
• Registered with Office of the Secretary of State Washington: Copy of the current registration or copy of the most recent annual report.
• Must have been operating: As a nonprofit corporation, or unrecognized tribe, or tribal organization for 12 or more consecutive months (with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status) prior to the beginning date of the written Agreement.

Eligibility requirements, listed above, do not apply to: Federally recognized tribes, government/public agencies (conservation district, city, authority, commission, etc.), churches or a religious organizations associated with a church (community must recognize as a church or a religious organization associated with a church).

Additional eligibility requirements that apply to ALL organizations:

• A Statewide Vendor Number is needed to be reimbursed for allowable costs. Applicant or fiscal sponsor currently registered as a statewide vendor with the state of Washington, and/or will register within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as a successful applicant.
  • For instructions on becoming a statewide vendor, please visit: Statewide Vendor/Payee Services | Office of Financial Management https://ofm.wa.gov/it-systems/accounting-systems/statewide-vendorpayee-services
• The applicant is not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded in any Federal or State department or agency from participating in transactions.
• The applicant must be located in Washington state and supporting hunger relief efforts within the state of Washington.
• The benefits of all awarded funds must be to the people who live in Washington state.
• The applicant’s status as a legal entity must be in good standing and must not have been revoked in the previous calendar year.
• The applicant or the fiscal sponsor must have contracting capabilities including, but not limited to, internal controls and fund accounting procedures to ensure the proper disbursement of, and accounting for, all funds provided under this grant.
• If a successful applicant requires a fiscal sponsor to meet eligibility, WSDA FA will enter into an agreement with the fiscal sponsor and not with the successful applicant.
• Funded organizations will be required to submit a monthly invoice voucher, including an expanded detailed general ledger, related backup, and copies of all paid invoices and receipts each month for reimbursement.
• Funded organizations will also be required to have additional contracting capabilities including other reporting throughout the Agreement period.
• All awardees of assistance from  WSDA FA are required to meet state and federal laws relating to civil rights and nondiscrimination in the administration of the program and the use of funds. 
• Organizations receiving financial assistance from WSDA FA must not deny benefits or services, or otherwise discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), honorably discharged veteran or military status, age (40 or older), or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Additional program requirements for applicants providing direct client services:

• Organizations should not require identification or proof of residency, income, household size, or citizenship status from any community member accessing projects that are funded through WSDA FA.
• As applicable, self-attestation of household size, address, income, and need should be accepted for all community members accessing WSDA FA resources.
• Organizations should not decline services to community members who provide a self-attestation that they live in Washington and have food needs.
• All awarded organizations that also provide direct services are expected to provide low barrier access to services.

Q: Can one organization apply and be awarded for multiple grants? 
A: An organization may submit multiple applications. If applications are submitted for one location, only one grant may be awarded. If applications are submitted from multiple locations, one grant may be awarded per location.

Q: Can these funds be used for a feasibility study?
A: This grant is intended to fund projects that bring immediate benefit to the community. A feasibility study may be more appropriately applied to another fund source.
 
Q: We ordered a piece of equipment that was delivered in April of this year. Is this eligible for reimbursement?
A: Goods and services purchased before the agreement start date will not be eligible for reimbursement.
 
Q: Are certain projects preferred over others?
A: The budget categories and grant objectives outline the types of projects that we intend to fund.

Q: We are a federally-recognized Tribe; do we have to provide our Secretary of State registration?
A: No, as a federally-recognized Tribe you are not required to provide this information. You may enter N/A for this question in the application and enter any date. 
 
Q: What is the difference between “equipment” and “supplies”?
A: Equipment is charged to the “equipment” budget category, and supplies are charged to the “operations” budget category, so it is helpful to understand the difference. Supplies is a term applied to items that generally have a lifespan of a year or less and are typically used up, such as pens, aluminum foil, printer toner, etc., and cost less than $10,000. Equipment does not get used up and has a lifespan of more than a year, and costs $10,000 or more such as vehicles, refrigeration units, etc.
 
Q: Our organization was awarded other funding that requires a match. Can the Resiliency Grant be used as part of our match?
A: We are not aware of any restrictions for using Resiliency Grant awards as a match.
  
Q: Our organization is a Conservation District established pursuant to RCW 89.08 and are municipal special purpose districts; are we eligible to apply?
A: Yes, these organizations are eligible to apply for this funding.

Q: Does prevailing wage or Davis-Bacon apply to my project?
A: State prevailing wage requirements or Federal Davis-Bacon Act may apply to any project. WSDA FA staff are not responsible for determining prevailing wage rates or when they may apply to a project. An absolute determination regarding the applicability of prevailing wage rates can only be obtained from L&I. For information on the Washington Prevailing Wage please consult the L&I website Contractors/Employers (wa.gov) or contact L&I at PW1@Lni.wa.gov or (855) 545-8163.

• Labor and Industries: lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/public-works-projects/prevailing-wage-rates/
• Davis-Bacon: dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction

Q: Our organization will have a fiscal sponsor because we are not currently a 501(c)(3) or other type of registered non-profit. In the "Grantee 2" section I've selected the following: 
6. Is your organization holding the agreement for another organization? (I.e. fiscal sponsorship or other agreement)
Response: Yes, we plan to hold the agreement for a different organization.
However, we are then asked to submit SOS and EIN numbers as required fields. How should I fill this out?
A: Please enter N/A in these fields, or re-enter the information for the fiscal sponsor.

Q: Our organization will have a fiscal sponsor, but the primary focus of our organization is other than hunger relief, would we be eligible for this funding?
A: No. The priority of this funding is to provide access to flexible funding for hunger relief organizations. See definition below. 

• Hunger Relief Organization (HRO): A nonprofit organization with current tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC); Federally Recognized Tribe; tribal organization; or public corporation, commission, or authority established pursuant to RCW 35.21.660, RCW 89.08, or RCW 35.21.730 primarily focused on addressing food insecurity and hunger relief issues. These organizations typically work to provide food, resources, and support to individuals and communities experiencing hunger, often through food banks, meal programs, emergency assistance, education on nutrition and sustainable food practices. Their goal is to alleviate the impact of hunger, work toward long-term solutions (on-going) to ensure people have consistent access to nutritious food, and/or provide technical assistance to hunger relief organizations to improve the system as a whole. 

Q: There are a number of agencies that want to provide us a letter of support, but I don’t see a place to upload these in the application. Is this an allowable attachment of the Food Resiliency grant?
A: While a letter of support may not increase your odds of selection, you are absolutely welcome to provide that with your application. Since there is not an option to upload it with your application, please email it to the Resiliency Grant team (foodassistancegrants@agr.wa.gov) and make mention of the letters somewhere in your application narrative.
 
Q: What kind of technical support can an organization new to state agreements expect to receive?
A: Awarded grantees can expect the following:

• Multiple info sessions (required) covering a variety of topics, such as: agreement overview, submittal requirements, progress reports, requirements for equipment purchases, and more.
• Email communication during business hours.
• Phone calls and/or virtual meetings (Teams), scheduled as needed.

Q: If we are awarded, when can we begin submitting invoices for payment?
A: Once an agreement is executed, we will have an info session to provide technical assistance on all reporting requirements at which time we will provide the due date of the first invoice. 
 
Q: Will reviewers want details of what food we plan to buy with our award, such as milk/eggs/tortillas, or should we list “food”.
A: Entirely up to you how you wish to explain what you are purchasing. We suggest putting in as much detail as you would like the person/people reading your application to know – since that is all they will be privy to.
 
Q: Our organization has locations all over the county covering several districts. But in the application, you can only select one district. How should we answer this question?
A: Please select one location, then include in your application narrative (where you think it best fits) that your organization has locations all over the county.

Q: Our organization received a Resiliency Grant award in SFY 2024-2025. Are we eligible to apply again for SFY 2025-2026?
A: Yes. Each round of the Resiliency Grant is separate and open to previously awarded grantees. 
 
Q: What if I want to contest the final award decision? What do I need to do?
A: Please refer to the complaint and protest procedure in the blue accordion on the Resiliency Grants website.
 
Q: Where can I find the rubric used to review and score my application?
A: A link to the rubric is in the application section of the blue accordion on the Resiliency Grants website.
 
Q: Can I request more than $250,000?
A: No. At this time, we anticipate the maximum award size not to exceed $250,000. This is subject to change based on final funding levels. Please check the website regularly for updates. 
 
Q: Can I request less than $10,000?
A: No, we anticipate the minimum award size not to be less than $10,000. This is subject to change based on final funding levels. Please check the website regularly for updates. 

Q: What if our organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA)? Can we request more than 15% for indirect for this round of the Resiliency Grant?
A: No, since this round is state funding, we are caping the indirect rate at 15% de minimis. 

Click here to go to our Forms and Publications page.
 

• Awarded applicants will be required to submit standard monthly reports via email that include:
  • Monthly Invoicing Backup Requirements
  • Monthly: expanded general ledger, related backup, and copies of all paid invoices and receipts for the month of service.
  • According to submittals timeline: Progress and final reports, to include narrative reports and data.
• Within 30 days of notification of award, applicants must:
  • Provide an Audit Requirements and Accounting System Verification Form (AGR-8276) (see Forms and Publications page) or Single Audit (organizations who have received $1,000,000 or more from federal sources in the previous year).
  • Be registered as a statewide vendor for the state of Washington, and/or will register within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as a successful applicant. For instructions on becoming a statewide vendor, please visit: 
    https://ofm.wa.gov/it-systems/accounting-systems/statewide-vendorpayee-services
  • Have the following minimum insurance levels, as applicable:
    • Minimum public liability insurance coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence.
    • Theft coverage of not less than the replacement value of equipment and inventory purchased with FA funds when the acquisition cost was $10,000 or more.
    • For using motor vehicles in conducting activities, minimum liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence, using a Combined Single Limit for bodily injury and property; in addition, colli­sion and comprehensive insurance against physical damage, including theft, shall be provided except when the cost of the coverage would exceed the value of the vehicle.
    • Fidelity insurance for every person authorized to receive or deposit funds or issue financial documents and instruments of payment to provide protection against loss. The amount of coverage must be $100,000, or the highest planned reimbursement per Contract period, whichever is lowest.
    • All public or general liability, excess, umbrella, and property insurance policies shall name the state of Washington, Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), its elected and appointed officials, agents, and employees as an additional insured.
    • If the Subrecipient is a political sub-division of the State of Washington, and individually or jointly self-insures risks, or jointly purchases insurance or reinsurance pursuit to Chapter 48.62 RCW, the Subrecipient may waive the requirement to name the state of Washington, Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), its elected and appointed officials, agents, and employees as an additional insured. In lieu of an additional insured listing, the Subrecipient agrees to timely file a claim as required by the insurer and to reimburse WSDA for any improper use, disposal, loss, or damage to items procured under this Contract resulting from the failure of the Subrecipient, its agents, or its distribution sites, regardless of any recovery from insurance. Reimbursement method will be determined by WSDA and may include in-kind replacement in lieu of cash reimbursement.  This repayment obligation shall be a lien on the general revenues of the political sub-division.
    • Subrecipient shall submit the insurance certifications and additional insured endorsements within thirty (30) days of Contract execution and annually thereafter. The additional insured endorsement must be an ISO Standard Endorsement CG 2026 or equivalent. If Subrecipient has submitted insurance certifications and additional insured endorsements under a previous Contract with WSDA Food Assistance and such documents are still current, Subrecipient is relieved of the duty to submit again within thirty (30) days of Contract execution. WSDA will terminate the Contract if Subrecipient fails to timely secure and maintain insurance. In the alternative, WSDA may refuse to reimburse Subrecipient for any costs until Subrecipient submits evidence of insurance.

Schedule of Submittals Example 
 

Info Sessions will be posted upon scheduling. 

• Mission: The Resiliency Grants and Initiatives Committee serves as an advisory group to WSDA Food Assistance. Our mission is to help and strengthen the Washington State hunger relief network. We are dedicated to transparent and inclusive processes, expanded outreach, and consider our end-user in all that we do.
• Vision: A vibrant and resilient Washington hunger relief network. 

Review includes two phases: 1) technical review by WSDA FA, and 2) judges review.
Technical review is to ensure eligibility before application is reviewed by judges.
 
Technical Review

• Each application is reviewed for eligibility including:
  • SOS registration
  • IRS Tax Exempt Status
  • Overall project allowability

Judges’ Processes

• Judges apply and complete conflict of interest statement.
• Judges attend orientation to learn application review processes which includes guidance to review for content (not English proficiency or grant writing skills) and to be aware of unconscious bias.
• Judges review assigned applications using scoring rubric and apply individual scores.
• Judges attend regional group discussions for applications.
• Judges provide feedback on processes for future improvements.

 
Judge Assignments

• Judges include diverse representation from organizations associated with Washington State hunger relief (for their understanding of the network and industry needs), and WSDA FA staff.
• Judge regional assignments based on physical location and any conflicts of interest, with FA Program Manager approval.

 
Review, Scores, and Selection

• Applications are reviewed and scored by 2 or more people: WSDA staff and 1-2 judges from the hunger relief network.
• Post-individual review, each regional group discusses that region’s applications.
  • Score outliers are identified (a spread of two or more points for one question. Judges then discuss with help of facilitator (Grant Lead) and the judge with the outlier score can change their score. If the score is not changed, an average score is used in place of the outlier score.
  • Ultimately, the average of all scores is used for each application’s final score.
• After a reviewer discussion, if there is still a scoring discrepancy of 5 points of more between the judges, an additional  review will be conducted by WSDA FA RG Lead, or designee, and included in the final scoring used during the selection process.
• Judge scores determine each application’s rank within regional groups. Regional rankings are a potential determining factor in selection and award.
• Rank and score may both be used for final selection, up to the amount of funding available.

Secretary of State (SOS)
Applicants must have been in operation for 12 or more consecutive months and have an active account listing with the Washington State Secretary of State as a corporation. Renewals may take time, please allow time for this process. Documents and instructions are available in the download forms section on the SOS website.
 
Statewide Vendor (SWV) Numbers
A Statewide Vendor (SWV) number is required for awarded subrecipients and is what allows organizations to receive payment (via check or direct deposit) from WSDA. Applicants may apply for a SWV number online.
 
Department of Revenue (DOR) Business Lookup
The Department of Revenue (DOR) Business Lookup lists all business licenses and related permits issued by the Washington State Department of Revenue, and is used to verify each organization’s legal and business names, as well as physical and mailing addresses. All organizations should ensure their information is current with DOR to avoid delays in contracting.