Over $20,000 in Scholarships Available for 2027 National Child Nutrition Conference
October 19, 2026
The National CACFP Association (NCA) is proud to continue its annual scholarship program for the 2027 National Child Nutrition Conference (NCNC), taking place March 29–April 2, 2027, in Chicago, Illinois.
Each year, NCA awards scholarships to Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) professionals who are dedicated to improving access to nutritious meals for our nation’s most vulnerable populations. This premier event brings together professionals and leaders from the CACFP and SUN Meals communities to connect, learn and share best practices in child and adult nutrition.
For 2027, 7 in-person scholarship recipients will receive [scholarship benefits, including conference registration, lodging and travel assistance]. Additionally, 8 virtual scholarships will be awarded to individuals who wish to participate in the virtual conference experience. These scholarships help make valuable professional development opportunities more accessible to those working to support nutritious meals in their communities.
The scholarship program is open to professionals working in a variety of settings, including sponsoring organizations, family child care home programs, child care centers, adult day care centers, Head Start programs, school districts, at-risk afterschool sites, emergency shelters, summer meal sites, food banks and Tribal Nations. By offering this opportunity, NCA helps ensure that those committed to providing healthy meals can continue their education and training, often at no cost to themselves or their employer.
Previous recipient Stephanie Paratore shared, “No matter what part of the CACFP that you are in, there's something for everybody. You can always take something away, from the child care workers who work directly with the children, to the administration. Everybody can gain experience by being here.”
Applications are open through Tuesday, December 1. To apply for a scholarship or learn more about the 2027 National Child Nutrition Conference, visit the NCNC27 scholarship page. or apply here.