Grant Application FAQs

• Applying cities must be an AAMA member-mayor city (confirmation provided by AAMA financial records)
  
  • Cities with a population greater than 250,000 people are eligible for the grant at $200,000
  • Cities with a population between 100,000 and 250,000 people are eligible for the grants at $125,000 each 
  • Cities with a population less than 100,000 people are eligible for the grant at $75,000
• Applications must be made through the mayor’s office but can be a program that is solely managed within a city or county agency or is a partnership between the city and a local non-profit, 501(c)3 organization.

Awards will be given in three population categories: Small City (less than 100,000), Medium City (100,000 – 250,000) and Large City (greater than 250,000).There are a total of four grants that will be awarded. One(2) for Small City, two(2) for Medium City and one(1) for Large City.

Programs must demonstrate measurable progress in increasing access to affordable basic nutritional needs (for example, community gardens, mobile veggie and fruit stands, food security programs, etc.).

Overall, the grant program focuses on eliminating gaps in health disparities. Thus, each application’s program should focus on nutrition access, affordability, and education. The programs should seek to serve those at the root of health disparities. Each program should address at least one, but not limited to the following:

• Lack of access to affordable nutritional foods and food deserts;
• Lack of access to quality nutrition education;
• Lack of access to vital resources to help families make healthier decisions; or
• Lack of access to affordable basic nutritional needs.

Finally, this list is meant to be suggestive, rather than exhaustive. If you would like to propose a program that you do not see specifically mentioned here, and you are wondering whether it might be eligible for funding, please do not hesitate to contact us.

There is no limit to how many applications may be submitted by a city.

If the Mayor believes that there are two or more programs that are worthy of support, then the Mayor may submit (or allow to be submitted on the member Mayor's behalf) an application for each of those programs. Again, as long as each application is submitted on behalf of a member Mayor, it is eligible for consideration. Each application will be judged on its individual merits.

The criteria by which your application will be evaluated are broad and may include:

• The extent to which the applicant makes a compelling case for the need for the proposed program.
• The extent to which the proposed strategies/interventions have the potential to effectively address the need(s) outlined by the applicant.
• The extent to which the proposed strategies/interventions approach the need(s) outlined by the applicant in a novel, creative or compelling way.
• The organizational capacity of the applicant to successfully implement the proposed program.
• The methods by which the applicant proposes to measure/evaluate program outcomes.
• As previously stated, the role and level of involvement of the Mayor in the proposed program.
• The extent to which the proposed budget expenditures are consistent with the interventions/activities proposed as part of the program.
• The potential for the proposed program to sustain itself beyond the support provided by this award.

• The potential for the proposed program to be replicated and be successful in other communities.

A selected panel of judges will review applications

The application deadline is Tuesday, November 7th, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST

Only applications submitted through the online application will be accepted. We will not accept mailed hard copies of applications, or applications submitted via email, fax, or any other method.

Once you submit your application, a confirmation email will automatically be generated and sent to the contact(s) listed on your application. We suggest you save a final version of your application for your records.

The winners of the grant awards will be announced during the AAMA Conference from April 24-27, 2024. The winners will have been contacted in advance by AAMA staff by January 5, 2024. We will make every effort to notify all applicants of their status by then; however, if you have not received a notice by January 9th, 2024, you may take that as confirmation that your application has not been selected for a grant, unless we directly communicate otherwise.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide feedback on individual applications. However, AAMA will periodically host a webinar on the grant program that may provide information that may be useful to all applicants. Notice for these webinars will be provided to all AAMA Member Mayors and past applicant contacts.

Contact us at info@ourmayors.org or visit the award page on our website. 

All funds will be sent in the month of February 2024 after confirmation of acceptance of the award is received.