Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 011616
The Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.771. Its core purpose is to strengthen rural economies by funding nonprofit organizations to establish and operate centers for rural cooperative development (often described as a "Center"). These Centers are meant to provide hands-on technical assistance that helps rural people and businesses start new cooperatives, expand existing cooperatives, or improve how cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses operate. In practical terms, the program is designed to support the kind of on-the-ground coaching and capacity-building that can lead to more durable local businesses, better market access, and job creation in rural communities.
Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit institutions, which NIFA defines broadly as any organization or institution (including accredited colleges and universities) where no portion of net earnings benefits private shareholders or individuals. Applicants must satisfy the eligibility standards referenced in 7 CFR 4284.520(a), and they become ineligible if any of the disqualifying conditions in 7 CFR 4284.520(b) apply. Beyond organizational eligibility, the project itself must qualify under 7 CFR 4284.522(a). That means every activity supported by the grant must serve rural areas, and the Center's work must be focused on economic development outcomes in those areas, specifically including job creation tied to cooperative development, value-added processing, and rural business development.
The opportunity places several clear guardrails on what can be proposed. First, the "rurality" requirement is strict: project activities must serve individuals, cooperatives and mutually owned businesses, small businesses, or similar entities in rural areas only. Second, the project must be structured around establishing or operating a Center, not just delivering a one-off service or a generic business assistance program. Third, applicants have to stay within the program's maximum request limits (the notice references a Table 2 that sets those caps), and the posted award ceiling for this opportunity is up to $1,000,000. Fourth, matching funds are required, and applicants must document and provide the match in the manner described in the solicitation (Part III, B). If any of these project qualification requirements are not met, the application is not considered for funding.
There are also explicit content-based restrictions noted in the announcement. USDA states it will not accept competitive applications that include activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy, racial justice, or support for mobile home cooperatives. The notice also includes a federal policy restriction related to "dangerous gain-of-function research" tied to Executive Order 14292, stating USDA will not accept certain submissions after June 20, 2025, that involve that category of research as defined in the order. While that topic is not typically central to cooperative development work, it is still flagged as an exclusion in the solicitation language.
On submission rules, an applicant may submit only one application in response to this solicitation. The notice further indicates USDA will treat applications as effectively duplicative (and therefore problematic) if they are submitted under different entity names but share overlapping leadership or governance elements such as the same executive director, employees, board members, or advisory boards. Applicants that are new to federal grants are pointed to NIFA's "About Grants" resources as a recommended starting point for understanding federal application and award processes.
Key administrative details included in the source data are: Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 011616; activity category Agriculture; funding instrument type Grant; expected number of awards around 10; original closing date September 15, 2025; and a posting/creation date of September 4, 2025. Overall, RCDG is best understood as a capacity-building grant for nonprofits to run specialized rural cooperative development centers that deliver technical assistance aimed at launching and strengthening cooperatives and other mutually owned rural enterprises, with the broader goal of improving rural economic conditions through business formation, value-added activity, and job creation.Apply for USDA NIFA OP 011616
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Cooperative Development Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.771.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-09-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) Program FAQs
What is the Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program?
The Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.771. It is designed to strengthen rural economies by funding nonprofit organizations to establish and operate centers for rural cooperative development (often referred to as a "Center") that provide hands-on technical assistance for cooperative development in rural areas.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to support on-the-ground coaching and capacity-building that helps rural people and businesses start new cooperatives, expand existing cooperatives, or improve how cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses operate. The program emphasizes economic development outcomes in rural communities, including job creation tied to cooperative development, value-added processing, and rural business development.
Who administers this opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by USDA NIFA (the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this program is 10.771.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA OP 011616.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The funding instrument type is a Grant.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is Agriculture.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit institutions. NIFA defines a nonprofit broadly as any organization or institution (including accredited colleges and universities) where no portion of net earnings benefits private shareholders or individuals. Applicants must meet the eligibility standards referenced in 7 CFR 4284.520(a) and must not be subject to any disqualifying conditions described in 7 CFR 4284.520(b).
Are colleges and universities allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligibility description includes accredited colleges and universities, as long as they meet the nonprofit standard (no portion of net earnings benefits private shareholders or individuals) and satisfy the relevant regulatory eligibility requirements.
What makes an applicant ineligible?
An applicant becomes ineligible if any disqualifying conditions in 7 CFR 4284.520(b) apply. The announcement also notes that applications that do not meet required project qualification rules will not be considered for funding.
What kinds of projects does RCDG fund?
RCDG funds projects that establish or operate a Center for rural cooperative development. The Center is expected to provide hands-on technical assistance to help rural people and businesses start cooperatives, expand cooperatives, or improve operations for cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses, with an emphasis on rural economic development outcomes.
Does the project have to be a "Center" (not just a set of activities)?
Yes. The opportunity states the project must be structured around establishing or operating a Center. It is not intended to fund a one-off service or a generic business assistance program that is not organized as a rural cooperative development center.
What is the rurality requirement?
The rurality requirement is described as strict. Project activities must serve rural areas only. Activities supported by the grant must serve individuals, cooperatives and mutually owned businesses, small businesses, or similar entities in rural areas.
Can project activities serve non-rural areas too?
No. The announcement indicates project activities must serve rural areas only. If project qualification requirements are not met (including rurality), the application is not considered for funding.
What types of beneficiaries can the Center serve?
Based on the notice, beneficiaries can include rural individuals, cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses, small businesses, and similar entities, as long as they are in rural areas and the work is aligned with the program purpose.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The program is aimed at strengthening rural economies through cooperative development and related rural business development. The announcement highlights outcomes such as more durable local businesses, improved market access, and job creation in rural communities, including job creation tied to cooperative development, value-added processing, and rural business development.
What is the maximum award amount?
The posted award ceiling for this opportunity is up to $1,000,000.
Are there limits on how much can be requested?
Yes. Applicants must stay within the program's maximum request limits. The notice references a Table 2 that sets those caps, and applicants must comply with those maximum request limits in addition to the posted award ceiling.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Matching funds are required. Applicants must document and provide the match in the manner described in the solicitation (Part III, B).
What happens if the application does not meet the project qualification requirements?
The announcement states that if any project qualification requirements are not met (for example, rurality, Center structure, request limits, or match documentation), the application is not considered for funding.
Are there restrictions on certain types of activities or topics?
Yes. USDA states it will not accept competitive applications that include activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy, racial justice, or support for mobile home cooperatives.
Does the notice include any restrictions related to dangerous gain-of-function research?
Yes. The notice includes a federal policy restriction referencing "dangerous gain-of-function research" tied to Executive Order 14292. It states USDA will not accept certain submissions after June 20, 2025, that involve that category of research as defined in the order.
How many applications can an organization submit?
An applicant may submit only one application in response to this solicitation.
How does USDA treat potentially duplicative applications?
The notice indicates USDA will treat applications as effectively duplicative (and therefore problematic) if they are submitted under different entity names but share overlapping leadership or governance elements, such as the same executive director, employees, board members, or advisory boards.
Is this opportunity suitable for organizations that are new to federal grants?
The notice points applicants that are new to federal grants to NIFA's "About Grants" resources as a recommended starting point for understanding federal application and award processes.
What is the expected number of awards?
The expected number of awards is around 10.
What is the application closing date?
The original closing date listed is September 15, 2025.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting/creation date listed is September 4, 2025.
In plain terms, what does this grant support?
In practical terms, it supports nonprofits running specialized rural cooperative development centers that provide hands-on technical assistance to help create, expand, and strengthen cooperatives and other mutually owned rural enterprises, with the broader goal of improving rural economic conditions through business formation, value-added activity, and job creation.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: OJJDP FY25 Enhancing Juvenile Indigent Defense
Previous opportunity: Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Future Computing Research
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 011616
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA OP 011616) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Plant Protection Act Section 7721 National Clean Plant Network Program Apply for USDA APHIS 10025 PPQ NCPN 2026 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10025 PPQ NCPN 2026 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| Coordinating Agricultural Development & Innovation (CADI) Georgia: U.S. Poultry Meat Marketing Promotion Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0008 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0008 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $112,500 |
| 2026 America First Trade Promotion Program Apply for USDA FAS AFTPP 2026 Funding Number: USDA FAS AFTPP 2026 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Value-Added Producer Grant Apply for RDBCP VAPG 2026 Funding Number: RDBCP VAPG 2026 Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Veterinary Services Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA VSGP 011778 Funding Number: USDA NIFA VSGP 011778 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 011596 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 011596 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| New World Screwworm Grand Challenge Apply for USDA APHIS 10025 OA000000 26 0001 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10025 OA000000 26 0001 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Strengthening Agricultural Systems Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 011677 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 011677 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Feed the Future Innovation Labs Apply for DFOP0017826 Funding Number: DFOP0017826 Agency: Office of Global Food Security Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $40,000,000 |
| Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative - OREI Workshop Projects Apply for USDA NIFA D113A 32483 Funding Number: USDA NIFA D113A 32483 Agency: Electronic Research Administration Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative - OREI Planning Projects for Assistance in Development of Future OREI Proposals Requiring Multi-regional or Regional Coordination Apply for USDA NIFA D113A 32357 Funding Number: USDA NIFA D113A 32357 Agency: Electronic Research Administration Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative - OREI Research Projects with Extension and/or Education Components Apply for USDA NIFA D113A 32481 Funding Number: USDA NIFA D113A 32481 Agency: Electronic Research Administration Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| Coordinating Agricultural Development & Innovation (CADI) Uzbekistan: U.S. Soy Marketing Promotion Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0011 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0011 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $115,000 |
| Coordinating Agricultural Development & Innovation (CADI) Armenia Exchanges: U.S. Food Safety Regulations and Standards Training Program Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0010 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0010 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $110,000 |
| Coordinating Agricultural Development & Innovation (CADI) Uzbekistan Exchanges: Promotion of U.S. Distilled Spirits Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0009 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0009 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $115,000 |
| Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA KMB 32361 Funding Number: USDA NIFA KMB 32361 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $115,000 |
| Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Projects Apply for USDA NIFA EME 32358 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EME 32358 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program 2026 Apply for USDA AMS TM SCMP G 26 0020 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM SCMP G 26 0020 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Specialty Crop Research Initiative Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 011676 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SCRI 011676 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Farm Bill 2026 Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 26 0004 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 26 0004 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NIFA OP 011616", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.