Children, Youth, and Families at Risk 4-H Military Partnership Professional Development and Technical Assistance

The Children, Youth, and Families at Risk 4-H Military Partnership Professional Development and Technical Assistance program is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the United States Department of Agriculture. This federal initiative is authorized under the Smith-Lever Act and is designed to strengthen national capacity for youth development programs that specifically serve military-connected youth. The program builds upon an established partnership between NIFA, Cooperative Extension System institutions, and U.S. military branches to address the unique challenges faced by youth in military families, including frequent relocations, parental deployment, and associated social and economic stressors. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the implementation and operational capacity of the 4-H Military Partnership and Outreach Support Program through coordinated professional development and technical assistance. The program aims to ensure that Land-grant Institutions and Cooperative Extension System partners are equipped to deliver high-quality, research-based educational programming for military-connected youth. These programs are intended to foster positive youth development outcomes and equip participants with life skills that enable them to become productive and engaged members of their communities. Funding under this opportunity is structured as a standard grant supporting extension projects. The total anticipated funding for the program is approximately 550000 dollars, with a single award expected. The award is structured as a three-year continuation project, contingent upon satisfactory progress and availability of funds, although funding is initially awarded in annual increments. The grant supports a wide range of activities including professional development training, communication strategies, evaluation planning, and dissemination of program outcomes. However, indirect costs are not permitted under this funding opportunity, and all budget items must be directly tied to project objectives and clearly justified. Eligible applicants are limited to specific categories of higher education institutions designated as Land-grant Institutions, including 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant Institutions, as well as the University of the District of Columbia. These institutions are expected to collaborate with military partners and other organizations to implement programming. There is no matching requirement for this grant, although voluntary cost sharing is encouraged. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and applicants are required to follow detailed submission procedures outlined in the NIFA Grants Application Guide. The application process requires several key components, including a project summary, a detailed project narrative, a budget and budget narrative, a data management plan, and a logic model covering a three-year plan of work. The project narrative must address the statement of need, proposed approach, and project management structure. Evaluation criteria include the likelihood of successfully supporting program implementation, the quality of the proposed approach, and the appropriateness of the budget. Applications undergo both administrative screening and scientific peer review by a panel of experts with relevant experience. The application deadline is July 20, 2026, with submissions required by 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The project period is expected to begin on September 1, 2026, and extend through August 31, 2029. Following submission, applicants may receive feedback from reviewers, and funding decisions are made based on merit and alignment with program priorities. Programmatic inquiries can be directed to Military4-H@usda.gov, while technical application questions may be addressed through Grants.gov or NIFA support channels. The program is issued annually or periodically depending on federal appropriations, and continuation funding is dependent on performance and funding availability.

Align project clearly with CMP-PDTA objectives; demonstrate experience with military youth; provide strong evaluation and communication plans