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Special Grant Opportunities Frequently Asked Questions

Special Grant Opportunities Frequently Asked Questions

Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grant

  • The purpose of the new Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grant opportunity is to support public, tribaland independent institutions of higher education in Michigan in implementing sustainable solutions to addressing student basic needs on campus, and specifically food insecurity of students. Ideally these strategies and solutions are in partnership with local and/or state organizations that address food insecurity.

  • Michigan public, Tribal and independent colleges and universities are eligible to apply for the new Hunger-Free Campus Activities grant from MiLEAP.

  • Eligible expenses for the Hunger-Free Campus Activities grant include: 

    • Equipment costs for food pantry (e.g., commercial freezer, commercial refrigerator, merchandiser refrigerator, shelving)
    • Food pantry products/supplies
    • Student free food/meal vouchers or gift cards
    • Technology/system for students to request/apply for regular food assistance (e.g., campus food vouchers, weekly food pantry access
    • Technology/system for student meal credit donation program
    • Honorarium to students participating in the college/university’s hunger task force
    • Outreach to students about food assistance opportunities at the college/university
    • Qualitative and/or quantitative assessment of student food insecurity
    • Incentives for students to participate in assessment of student food insecurity
    • Staff member(s) time for grant activities

  • Yes, grant funds may be used for staff member(s) time for grant activities. Staff time on grant activities should be for responsibilities new/unique to the grant, not for regular responsibilities of the staff member(s).

  • No, indirect costs are not permitted for the Hunger-Free Campus Activities grant.

  • Grantees willbe required to submit a final report to MiLEAP Office of Higher Education no later than November 1, 2026 detailing how the Hunger-Free Campus grant funds were spent, activities implemented, the impact of those grant activities and expenditures on student food access at the college/university, lessons learned from the grant activities, and planned next steps for sustainable solutions to student food insecurity at the college/university.

  • Financial Status Reports/requests for reimbursement are due within 30 days of the end of each month during the grant term. The only exception is the request for reimbursement for September, which will be due no later than October 5, 2026. The final request for reimbursement (for September) has a firm deadline of no later than Monday, October 5, 2026.

    Payments will be made by MiLEAP Office of Higher Education to the grantee on a reimbursement basis for actual agreement expenditures made during the period. Documentation of the expenditures must be provided with the request for reimbursement.

  • Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grant Applications must use the Grant Application Document and be submitted via email to MiLEAP-OHE-GrantsApply@michigan.gov. Grant Applications are due on Friday, February 13, 2026 by 3 p.m. EST.

  • We anticipate announcing grant awards mid-March 2026, with a grant term of April 1, 2026 through September 30, 2026.