Salad Bars to Schools
Our Salad Bars to Schools program grants K–12 schools the equipment and technical assistance they need to successfully implement a salad bar.
Salad Bars to Schools grant applications will open in February 2026. Join our interest list to get notified when applications open.
Salad Bars to Schools
Our Salad Bars to Schools program grants K–12 schools the equipment and technical assistance they need to successfully implement a salad bar.
Salad Bars to Schools grant applications will open in February 2026. Join our interest list to get notified when applications open.
Salad bar equipment
The grant package includes everything needed to install a single salad bar, including:
- One portable 72″ salad bar with five-wells, including tray rails and sneeze guards
- Two tray slides
- Two 4” deep full pans with covers
- Four 4” deep half pans with covers
- Twelve 4” deep quarter pans with covers
- Divider bars
- Five pan chillers
- Five buffet chilling pads
- 16 serving tongs
Staff Training
Grantees receive two free enrollments for our School Food Institute’s Salad Bars in Schools self-paced online course.
Marketing Materials
Research shows that marketing your salad bar(s) is important for increasing students’ fruit and vegetable consumption.
Our grant package includes eye-catching marketing materials, including:
- Salad bar signage
- Cling-it signs to label food items
- “How to Use Your Salad Bar” poster
- “Salad Bar Sustainability” poster
- “I ate a rainbow” stickers encouraging students to select diverse colors of fruits and vegetables
Plan for Success
- Determine where you will locate your salad bar. We suggest positioning your salad bar before the point of sale (POS) in a central, visible location that fits in the natural flow of the lunch line. This helps ensure all students are encouraged to make daily salad bar selections.
- Come up with a procurement plan. How will you need to adjust your purchasing practices to keep the salad bar well-stocked with fresh, appealing produce? See our procurement guide for support.
- Get inspired with composed salad recipes. Check out our composed salad bar recipes to plan for delicious salads students will love. Plus, this is a great way to begin scratch cooking!
- Train your staff. Assess your team’s skills and develop a training plan engage your team in this change and to build confidence. Check out our salad bar staff training resources.
Plan for Success
- Determine where you will locate your salad bar. We suggest positioning your salad bar before the point of sale (POS) in a central, visible location that fits in the natural flow of the lunch line. This helps ensure all students are encouraged to make daily salad bar selections.
- Come up with a procurement plan. How will you need to adjust your purchasing practices to keep the salad bar well-stocked with fresh, appealing produce? See our procurement guide for support.
- Get inspired with composed salad recipes. Check out our composed salad bar recipes to plan for delicious salads students will love. Plus, this is a great way to begin scratch cooking!
- Train your staff. Assess your team’s skills and develop a training plan engage your team in this change and to build confidence. Check out our salad bar staff training resources.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Salad Bars to Schools grant, schools must:
- Participate in the National School Lunch Program
- Offer the salad bar as part of the reimbursable meal
- Run a self-operated food service department, not managed by a food service management company
- Serve K–12 students with an enrollment of at least 100
- Have the food services director be involved in applying, with verification form support from the superintendent
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Salad Bars to Schools grant, schools must:
- Participate in the National School Lunch Program
- Offer the salad bar as part of the reimbursable meal
- Run a self-operated food service department, not managed by a food service management company
- Serve K–12 students with an enrollment of at least 100
- Have the food services director be involved in applying, with verification form support from the superintendent
Application Cycle & Funding Process
Schools and districts can apply to Salad Bars to Schools grants on a rolling basis any time throughout the year. The number of salad bar grants available each year depends on funding availability.
- Once schools or districts submit a complete application, the school or district is placed on a waitlist to receive its salad bar grant package(s).
- We issue grants once per year in April.
- Schools or districts that were selected to receive a salad bar grant package(s) are notified by email.
- Schools or districts not selected will be notified by email and will invited to renew their application the following year.
- We consider the length of time a school or district has been on our waitlist when reviewing renewed applications.
Note: Starting in 2026, schools or districts must renew their application annually to remain on the waitlist.
Application Cycle & Funding Process
Schools and districts can apply to Salad Bars to Schools grants on a rolling basis any time throughout the year. The number of salad bar grants available each year depends on funding availability.
- Once schools or districts submit a complete application, the school or district is placed on a waitlist to receive its salad bar grant package(s).
- We issue grants once per year in April.
- Schools or districts that were selected to receive a salad bar grant package(s) are notified by email.
- Schools or districts not selected will be notified by email and will invited to renew their application the following year.
- We consider the length of time a school or district has been on our waitlist when reviewing renewed applications.
Note: Starting in 2026, schools or districts must renew their application annually to remain on the waitlist.
Apply Now
Salad Bars to Schools applications open February 2026. We have temporarily paused applications to update our system. After February 2026, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Join our interest list to get notified when applications open.
If you’ve already applied, your application is still active in our system and will be reviewed during upcoming funding rounds.
If you have any questions please contact saladbargrant@chefannfoundation.org.
Apply Now
Salad Bars to Schools applications open February 2026. We have temporarily paused applications to update our system. After February 2026, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Join our interest list to get notified when applications open.
If you’ve already applied, your application is still active in our system and will be reviewed during upcoming funding rounds.
If you have any questions please contact saladbargrant@chefannfoundation.org.
