January 22, 2026
LANSING, Mich. –The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) today announced the launch and opening of applications for the Hunger-Free Campus Grant initiative. The competitive grant will support public, tribal, and independent higher education institutions to work in partnership with local and/or state organizations that address food insecurity to implement sustainable solutions to addressing student basic needs on campus, and specifically food insecurity of students.
“When students are worried about where their next meal will come from, it can directly affect their ability to stay enrolled and focus on their education,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “Through the Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grant, we’re helping colleges and universities put practical solutions in place and build the campus conditions students need to overcome this critical barrier to success.”
Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, providing up to $100,000 to selected colleges and universities to strengthen the on-campus infrastructure, programs, and supports that help students meet basic food needs. Awarded funding may be used to expand or equip campus food pantries; provide free food, meal vouchers, or gift cards for students; implement systems that make it easier for students to access food assistance or participate in meal credit donation programs; engage students through outreach and campus hunger task forces; and assess student food insecurity to inform sustainable, long-term solutions. A portion of staff time dedicated to grant activities may also be supported.
Eligible applicants include:
“The Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grants support colleges and universities in strengthening campus-based supports and coordinating efforts to address student food insecurity,” said Sarah Szurpicki, deputy director of MiLEAP for the Office of Higher Education. “By building on proven, campus-led approaches to address student basic needs, these grants help reduce barriers that can interrupt students’ progress toward a degree or credential and move Michigan closer to being a state where no student has to choose between food and education.”
The Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grant builds on MiLEAP’s broader efforts to address student basic needs and remove barriers that can interfere with college completion. In FY25, MiLEAP piloted the Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grant at two community colleges and two state universities, testing campus-based strategies to address student food insecurity. Last year, the department released its Basic Needs Task Force report outlining the impact of food and housing insecurity on college campuses across Michigan. The report found that 20% of undergraduates experienced low or very low food security in the past 30 days, while 44% experienced housing insecurity and 7% experienced homelessness – highlighting the challenges many students face while pursuing a degree or credential.
MiLEAP also launched the College Student Basic Needs Task Force Resource webpage to offer students, institutions and community partners easier access to services and support statewide.
Grant Details and How to Apply
Grant proposals should focus on hunger-free campus activities that enhance or expand existing efforts to address student food insecurity. Funded activities may include establishing campus hunger task forces with student representation, expanding or creating stigma-free food access options such as food pantries or free meal supports, helping students connect to campus, community, and state food resources including SNAP, and assessing student food insecurity to inform sustainable, long-term solutions.
Applications are due by 3 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 and must be submitted via email using the Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grant Application Form to MiLEAP-OHE-GrantsApply@michigan.gov.
The Hunger-Free Campus Grant will provide up to $100,000 over a six-month grant term ending Sept. 30, 2026.
Questions and Application Assistance
An informational webinar for prospective applicants will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026 at 1 p.m. EST. Interested application should register on Zoom.
For grant eligibility questions or technical assistance in applying for the grant, please contact MiLEAP-Sixtyby30-Grants@michigan.gov.
For more information about the Hunger-Free Campus Grant initiative, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit MiLEAP’s Office of Higher of Education webpage.
To subscribe to email updates on these opportunities, visit bit.ly/60x30-grants-updates.
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About MiLEAP:
Established by Governor Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from birth to postsecondary so anyone can ‘make it in Michigan’ with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.Media Contact:
