From 2011-2023, Milk Means More offered the Chocolate Milk: Nature’s Sports Drink grant to Michigan High School Athletic Teams. This popular program offered the opportunity to refuel a team with chocolate milk and support overall growth and development of growing teens.
The evolution of the High School Chocolate Milk Grant to a building-wide, multi-year approach will provide a more inclusive and sustainable opportunity to refuel ALL students after school: athletics, marching band, activities/clubs and more. The goal is to support your students’ growth and development, education, as well as extracurricular activities.
Apply for Funding
The application for the NEW High School Chocolate Milk Grant is closed for the 2024-2025 school year.
Questions?
Please email chocolatemilk@milkmeansmore.org
Learn more in our Grant Overview.
Criteria
- Must be a high school (grades 9-12) in Michigan.
- School building administrator (i.e. Principal, Asst. Principal, Athletic Director, Food Service Director) must apply for funding.
- Applications must be for one high school building. Applications for a team, group, club or for a whole district will not be reviewed.
- Commitment from school building team to a minimum of three years of programming.
- Schools will be awarded based on percentage of student body reached, geographic location, performance on previous grants (if any), strength of application and sustainability plan.
- Complete applications required for funding consideration.
UDIM Commitment
- 3-year support, leading to school-wide program sustainability.
- Grant funding, based on student participation, to be disbursed 3 times per year.
- Equipment funding to support grant goals i.e. refrigeration for chocolate milk.
- Provide nutrition/sports nutrition training for coaches and staff.
- 1-3 nutrition/sports nutrition presentations each school year.
- Education, marketing, and outreach resources.
School Building Commitments
- Commitment from school building team, including Principal*, Athletic Director*, and Foodservice Director.*
- Optional: Coaches, PTO/Booster Club, Club leaders, Band Directors, Choir Directors, Teacher(s), student ambassadors.
- Funding match in years two and three.
- Commitment to sustainability after the term of the grant (3 years).
- Updated budget estimates annually.
- Use cash grant to purchase chocolate milk.
- Nutrition/sports nutrition training for coaches and staff.
- Submit staff and student pre/post survey.
- Outreach activities (one per semester)
- Community Outreach: Fuel Up with Milk School Challenge: School participates in a community service project to help raise money for their local food bank to purchase milk. Support kit will be provided; and
- Nutrition Outreach: School team(s), group(s) or club(s) present an educational activity (presentation, posters, bulletin board, etc.) to peers or Elementary/Middle school students. Support Kit will be provided.
- Complete monthly and annual data surveys including:
- Chocolate milk purchases
- Success stories
- Challenges
- Photos
- Completion of Letter of Agreement (LOA).
*required team members
Budget and Funding
Grantees will be required to provide a 3-year (minimum) sustainability plan for for funding the program. The financial and staff support from United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) will be provided for three (3) school years. Grantees will be ineligible to receive the award more than once.
Year 1 – Full funding from UDIM ($40/student involved in activities to purchase chocolate milk) + equipment to transport/keep milk cold, nutrition education training for coaches, teachers, and program support staff, nutrition educational materials and support to implement program.
Year 2 – 50% funding from UDIM + 50% match from school ($40/student involved in activities to purchase chocolate milk. Schools are expected to add additional students participating in after-school clubs, marching band, and other student activities. UDIM will provide continued implementation support, nutrition education and educational materials.
Year 3 – 100% funding commitment from school to purchase chocolate milk, with goal of all clubs and after school activities included in program. UDIM will provide continued implementation support, nutrition education and educational materials.