Published June 10, 2026

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) Program has been a permanent program since 2024 and has found enormous success. In its second year of implementation, five Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) were joined by 37 states, the District of Columbia, and all five U.S. territories to serve millions of children. Still, many ITOs and states are missing out on the opportunity to leverage federal dollars to address childhood summertime food insecurity.  

Summer EBT provides eligible families with low incomes approximately $40 a month per eligible child to help with food costs during the summer months (this amount is slightly higher in states and territories with a higher cost of living).  In a new policy brief, Supporting Indian Tribal Organizations to Expand Summer EBT Access, FRAC partnered with the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative to survey non-participating ITOs to understand the benefits of a Tribally operated Summer EBT, the challenges involved in participating, as well as how stakeholders at the local and state level could support future Tribal implementation.  

Benefits of ITO-Operated Federal Nutrition Programs 

According to Summer EBT regulations, ITOs that administer the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) can operate Summer EBT. Currently, 33 of 575 federally recognized ITOs administer WIC across 12 states — three of which (Mississippi, Oklahoma, and South Dakota) do not operate Summer EBT statewide. Even when a state is participating, Tribal administration can offer added benefits for Tribal citizens. 

  • Tribal administration of Summer EBT can lead to increased participation and expanded reach as ITOs are well-positioned to provide well-rounded, culturally rooted services that acknowledge the community’s needs.  
  • ITOs are likely to have Tribal citizens’ trust, and those strong relationships can lead to long-term engagement and participation in the program. 
  • Tribal administration allows for greater flexibility to design outreach and service delivery approaches that effectively reach rural and hard-to-access areas, ensuring that more children receive the nutrition support they need during the summer months.  
  • Opting in to Summer EBT can support local retailers by bringing federal dollars into communities, helping sustain food access for families and local grocery stores, especially in rural and Tribal areas. 

Support for ITO Summer EBT Implementation 

While Summer EBT uptake is possible — as seen by the participation of five Tribes in 2025 — broader implementation by more ITOs could be possible if the following barriers were addressed.  

Administrative Barriers and Startup Costs 

  • Challenge: All Summer EBT operators must cover 50 percent of administrative costs — a manageable match for state agencies, but often prohibitive for ITOs with limited budgets. ITOs also face staffing constraints; existing Tribal staff are already stretched thin, and hiring or reassigning staff (as many states do) is rarely feasible. 
  • Solutions: The current statute allows for private and philanthropic dollars to be used to fund the program. State agencies, such as North Carolina, have utilized this method and had their full match covered. While philanthropic support can be difficult to come by, the Summer EBT Program is widely supported by many industries, and there can be opportunity for those partners to step in. These dollars can help ITOs’ ability to hire additional staff to support implementation.  

Data Access 

  • Challenge: Operating Summer EBT requires that agencies receive data from multiple streams. In states, this requires the coordination of two or more state agencies. In ITOs this can require a direct connection to school districts as well as state agencies to ensure that all eligible children are captured.  
  • Solutions: State agencies must play a role in helping ITOs navigate data requirements, especially in states already operating the program. Additionally, in areas where state cooperation is not a reality, community organizations can play an important role in facilitating data collection through strategies such as leveraging connections with school districts and amplifying outreach for applications and to schools. See FRAC’s resource on data partnership strategies for ITO Summer EBT implementation for more information. 

State Agency Cooperation 

  • Challenge: State agencies hold much of the data required to automatically issue Summer EBT benefits to eligible children. Data sharing by state agencies to Tribal governments tends to have a long, fraught history, and brings up issues around data sovereignty. Because of this, ITOs may not receive the timely, accurate data they need from the state to identify eligible children.  
  • Solutions: States should be willing to supply timely and accurate student eligibility data, including information related to SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and free or reduced-price school meal status. State agencies can also improve coordination by conveying their plans as soon as determined regarding whether they intend to operate Summer EBT each year. Early and transparent notice allows ITOs to make informed decisions about opting in and planning for administrative needs. 

Summer EBT is a proven method to reduce household food insecurity and improve nutrition during the summer months. With funding, technical, and other supports, more Indian Tribal Organizations can increase participation and offer this vital resource tailored to the needs of its citizens. 

Learn more by reading FRAC’s new brief: Supporting Indian Tribal Organizations to Expand Summer EBT Access.