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How to Apply

How to Apply

Sponsors

Sponsors are eligible organizations that are tax exempt and demonstrate the administrative and financial ability to manage the SFSP. Sponsors must provide a year round public service to the area in which they intend to provide the SFSP.  

SFSP Sponsor FAQs

Sponsor Eligibility

Sites

Sites are the locations where meals are served to children in a supervised setting. For sites to be eligible, they must serve children in low-income areas or serve specific groups of low-income children. Requirements for determining and documenting eligibility are different depending on the site type. 

  • Open sites serve meals to any child who comes to the site to receive a Program meal. 
    • Non-congregate meal service may be provided at any site that is in a rural community with no congregate meal service.
  • Restricted open sites are meal sites that may limit attendance to address space, security, safety, or control issues. MDE must approve.
  • Closed enrolled sites are sites that serve groups of low-income children who sign up to receive Program meals. MDE must approve.
  • Day camps and residential camps are sites that offer a regularly scheduled food service as part of an organized program for enrolled children.   
  • Migrant sites are sites where the majority of children receiving meals are from families of migrant workers. 
  • Conditional non-congregate sites are rural sites with no congregate meal service that are not camps and are not located in areas in which poor economic conditions exist.  
 

Site Eligibility and Types

New Sponsors to the SFSP

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the SFSP, contact the SFSP Team at MDE-SFSP@Michigan.gov to receive a pre-qualification packet. Pre-qualification packets are typically available in January of each year and must be completed by the specified date in the packet.

Coordinated Application in NexSys

NexSys Child Nutrition Coordinated Application 

Unanticipated School Closure

Unanticipated School Closure (USC) allows sponsors that have participated in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) within the past two years to serve meals at eligible sites when an emergency, such as natural disasters, unscheduled major building repairs, court orders relating to school safety or other issues, labor-management disputes, or similar unanticipated events that cause a school building or day care center to close temporarily.  

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has been approved for a series of 12(l) waivers to allow for the service of meals during a school shutdown with or without virtual learning for up to 10 consecutive days. Approvals for the waiver flexibilities will be made by MDE on a case-by-case basis. The 12(l) waivers are available through June 30, 2026. 

USC Meal Service During Unanticipated School Closure Request Form

Unanticipated School Closure (USC) Webinar

Unanticipated School Closure (USC) Webinar PowerPoint Slides

Rural Non-Congregate (RNC)

Rural Non-Congregate, also known as SUN Meals To-Go, allows for multiple meals to be served to children in communities where no congregate meal service is available. Sponsors can provide households with up to 7 days worth of meals at one time. In order to run an RNC site, the site must qualify for traditional SFSP. If your site does not qualify, contact the SFSP team at MDE-SFSP@Michigan.gov.

Rural Designation Map – use this map to see if a site is considered rural

Rural Non-Congregate Training - This training is required for any sponsor planning to serve meals using the RNC option. 

RNC Participation Requirements

Sponsors new to RNC meal service this year (did not participate in RNC previously), must:

  • Add New to RNC in the Coordinated Application on the Sponsor Details Page
  • Complete the RNC Articulate Training, add the completion date to the Sponsor Details Page in the Coordinated Application
  • The SFSP Team will reach out to review your RNC plan this summer
  • Train your staff before RNC operations begin
  • Add RNC information to the SFSP Site Details Page in the Coordinated Application
  • Complete a Pre-Operational Visit Form if the site has not previously participated in RNC

Sponsors returning to RNC meal service must:

  • Review the RNC Articulate Training, add the completion date to the Sponsor Details Page in the Coordinated Application
  • Train your staff before RNC operations begin
  • Add RNC information to the SFSP Site Details Page in the Coordinated Application

Rural Non-Congregate USDA Memos

Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas Questions and Answers #3

Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas Questions and Answers #2

Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas Questions and Answers #1