Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS FMD 2024
The Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to help U.S. agricultural groups build and sustain overseas demand for American agricultural commodities and products. The central idea is cost-share: USDA provides financial assistance, and the recipient organization contributes its own resources to carry out market development work abroad. The program is meant to support longer-term export market growth efforts rather than one-off sales, with an emphasis on maintaining existing foreign markets while also developing new opportunities for U.S. agriculture.
Funding is awarded through a discretionary grant competition under Funding Opportunity Number USDA FAS FMD 2024, listed under CFDA 10.600 (Agriculture). Applications are evaluated competitively using the criteria laid out in the notice and in the governing regulations at 7 CFR Part 1484. Those regulations and their definitions matter because they shape what types of activities qualify, how cost-share is calculated and documented, what costs are allowable, and how performance and compliance are handled. In practical terms, applicants are expected to show they understand the program rules and can run a compliant export promotion project with clear goals and measurable outcomes.
Eligibility is aimed primarily at nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), plus certain other entities as described in the opportunity's additional eligibility language. This structure reflects how the program is commonly used by commodity boards, trade associations, and similar groups that represent segments of U.S. agriculture and can coordinate industry-wide promotion, technical outreach, and market development campaigns overseas.
The scope of eligible products is broad: all U.S. agricultural commodities and products can be considered except tobacco, which is explicitly excluded. That means projects can span crops, livestock products, processed foods, and other agricultural categories, as long as the proposed activities align with building foreign market presence for U.S.-origin products and meet program requirements. Because it is a foreign market development program, proposed work typically needs to be clearly tied to international markets and to explain how it will strengthen demand, market access, or buyer relationships over time.
In terms of funding scale and competition, the notice lists an award ceiling of $10,000,000 and an expectation of about 30 awards. This signals that awards can be substantial for well-developed, multi-market or multi-year-style strategies (depending on the program's structure and what is proposed), but also that the competition may be strong and applicants will need to differentiate their proposals with strong market rationale, credible partners, and a plan that demonstrates impact relative to the requested federal share.
Key administrative details in the source listing include the posting timeframe (creation date March 17, 2023) and an original closing date of May 19, 2023. While those dates relate to the specific cycle referenced in the notice, the main takeaway is that the FMD Cooperator Program operates as a time-bound competitive funding opportunity where applicants must meet the published deadline and submit a complete application that responds directly to the evaluation criteria and regulatory expectations in 7 CFR Part 1484.Apply for USDA FAS FMD 2024
- The Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.600.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 17, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 19, 2023. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program (USDA FAS) - FAQs
What is the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program?
The Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). It helps U.S. agricultural groups build and sustain overseas demand for American agricultural commodities and products through market development work abroad.
What is the main purpose of the FMD Cooperator Program?
The program supports longer-term export market growth efforts rather than one-off sales. It emphasizes maintaining existing foreign markets while also developing new overseas opportunities for U.S. agriculture.
How does the funding model work (is this a cost-share program)?
Yes. The central idea is cost-share: USDA provides financial assistance, and the recipient organization contributes its own resources to carry out eligible market development activities abroad.
Who runs this grant program?
The program is run by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
Is this opportunity competitive or formula-based?
This is a competitive, discretionary grant competition. Applications are evaluated against published criteria and governing regulations.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA FAS FMD 2024.
What CFDA program number is associated with this grant?
The listing references CFDA 10.600 (Agriculture).
What regulations govern the FMD Cooperator Program?
The opportunity is governed by regulations at 7 CFR Part 1484. The notice and those regulations guide what activities qualify, how cost-share is calculated and documented, what costs are allowable, and how performance and compliance are handled.
Why do the 7 CFR Part 1484 definitions and rules matter for applicants?
Those definitions and rules shape eligibility and compliance expectations, including which activities qualify, how to document the non-federal contribution, what costs are allowable, and how performance reporting and other compliance requirements are handled. Applicants are expected to demonstrate they understand and can follow these rules.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed primarily at nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The opportunity also mentions that certain other entities may be eligible as described in the program's additional eligibility language.
Are institutions of higher education eligible under the nonprofit category described?
The information provided specifies nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status may be eligible as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
What kinds of groups typically use the FMD Cooperator Program?
The program is commonly used by commodity boards, trade associations, and similar groups that represent segments of U.S. agriculture and can coordinate industry-wide promotion, technical outreach, and overseas market development campaigns.
What products and commodities are eligible?
The scope is broad: all U.S. agricultural commodities and products can be considered except tobacco, which is explicitly excluded.
Is tobacco eligible for support under this program?
No. Tobacco is explicitly excluded from eligibility under the program description provided.
Do proposed activities need to be tied to international markets?
Yes. Because this is a foreign market development program, proposed work typically needs to be clearly tied to overseas markets and explain how it will strengthen demand, market access, or buyer relationships over time for U.S.-origin agricultural products.
Is the program focused on quick sales wins or longer-term market development?
The program is intended to support longer-term export market growth rather than one-off sales. It prioritizes sustained demand-building and ongoing market presence.
Does the program support maintaining existing foreign markets as well as developing new ones?
Yes. The description emphasizes maintaining existing foreign markets while also developing new opportunities for U.S. agriculture.
What is the maximum award size listed for this opportunity?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $10,000,000.
How many awards does the notice expect to make?
The notice indicates an expectation of about 30 awards.
What does the award ceiling and expected number of awards suggest about competition?
The ceiling and expected number of awards suggest awards can be substantial, but competition may be strong. Applicants may need to stand out with a strong market rationale, credible partners, and a plan that shows impact relative to the requested federal share.
How are applications evaluated?
Applications are evaluated competitively using the criteria laid out in the notice and in the governing regulations at 7 CFR Part 1484.
What do applicants need to demonstrate to be competitive?
Applicants are expected to show they understand program rules and can run a compliant export promotion project with clear goals and measurable outcomes. The description also highlights the importance of a strong market rationale, credible partners, and an impact-focused plan aligned with the requested federal share.
What are the key compliance or administrative themes mentioned for this program?
The description highlights that program rules affect cost-share calculation and documentation, allowable costs, and performance and compliance expectations. It also notes that applicants must submit a complete application by the published deadline and respond directly to evaluation criteria and regulatory expectations in 7 CFR Part 1484.
What were the posting and closing dates listed in the source information?
The source listing includes a creation date of March 17, 2023, and an original closing date of May 19, 2023.
What is the practical takeaway from the posted timeframe information?
The main takeaway is that the FMD Cooperator Program operates as a time-bound competitive funding opportunity, meaning applicants must meet the published deadline and submit a complete application aligned with the notice criteria and 7 CFR Part 1484 requirements.
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