Amendment 1 issued October 2, 2026. The application deadline is unchanged: October 19, 2026, 11:59 PM ET. Appendix I of the RFP and the Webinar Questions and Answers memo list every change.
The Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program is a State grant program that provides funding to Maryland public institutions of higher education and public regional higher education centers to support efforts to address food insecurity among students on Maryland campuses. MHEC also designates Maryland public and private institutions of higher education and regional higher education centers that meet the statutory criteria as Hunger-Free Campuses.
Purpose: The purpose of the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program is to:
- Address student hunger.
- Leverage more sustainable solutions to address basic food needs on campus.
- Raise awareness of services currently offered on campus that address basic food needs.
- Build strategic partnerships at the local, state, and national levels to address food insecurity among students.
Authorization: Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article, Subtitle 17. Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program, §§ 11-1701 through 11-1706.
Eligibility:
Grant funding. Maryland public institutions of higher education and public regional higher education centers must (1) satisfy all applicable Hunger-Free Campus designation criteria AND (2) pledge in-kind or matching funds equal to at least 25 percent of the grant funds requested. MHEC determines whether a public institution meets the designation criteria on the basis of its grant application. An institution does not need to hold designation before applying.
Designation only. Private institutions of higher education and regional higher education centers operated by a private nonprofit institution of higher education are eligible for Hunger-Free Campus designation and are statutorily ineligible for grant funding. These institutions submit an HFC Designation-Only Portfolio as described in Appendix H of the RFP.
Funding: FY 2027 awards will total $150,000. MHEC may award less than the amount requested in a proposal.
FY 2027 Timetable
| Request for Proposals Issued | Thursday, September 24, 2026
|
Amendment 1 Issued
| Friday, October 2, 2026
|
Informational Webinar
| Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 1pm ET
|
Application Due Date
| Monday, October 19, 2026 by 11:59 PM ET
|
Award Notifications
| Thursday, October 29, 2026
|
Grant Period
| October 30, 2026 through July 15, 2027
|
Interim Report Due
| Wednesday, March 15, 2027
|
Final Report Due
| Friday, October 15, 2027
|
Designation-Only Portfolio Due
| Friday, October 15, 2027
|
Submit the application as a single PDF, with the Budget Summary workbook in .xlsx format, to [email protected].
FY 2027 Application Materials
FY 2027 Grantee Reporting Forms
Offline drafting reference only. Reports must be submitted via Google form.
Designation Only (Private Institutions)
For technical assistance, contact the Office of Grants and Strategic Initiatives at [email protected].
