Organizations wishing to participate in the SFSP must be non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, government entities, colleges/universities, school systems, or National Youth Sports Programs (NYSP). SFSP sponsors receive administrative reimbursement for the planning, administration, and site monitoring responsibilities of the program. They receive operating reimbursement for food, labor, transportation, and other costs related to serving meals. Each sponsoring organization is required to attend training and re-apply for the program annually. Most sponsors operate the program during the summer months. The program does, however, allow for meals to be served during breaks in year round schools. The school must be closed a minimum of fifteen days to be eligible to serve meals during these breaks.

Sponsors have several options for providing meals. They may prepare meals onsite or in a central kitchen with the meals delivered to each serving site. Sponsors who choose either of these methods of meal service are considered self-preparation sponsors.

If the sponsor does not have the facilities or capability to prepare its own meals, they may contract with a school food authority or food service management company (FSMC) to purchase unitized meals. These sponsors are considered vended sponsors. Non-profit organizations may not be vended sponsors, i.e., they cannot contract with an FSMC, without permission from Bright from the Start.

Sponsors submit claims monthly to report the number of meals served during the claim month. Sponsors will be reimbursed for the number of meals served times the USDA established rate per meal.