Funding Opportunities to Address Rural Food Security
Volunteers with Taos' Shared Table Food Pantry prepare food boxes under the guidance of Pastor Cheri Lyon.
Below are several sources of funding that might be helpful as communities contemplate how to fund a variety of rural food security-related initiatives. We know that accessing locally sourced foods, supporting food banks and pantries, supporting farmers’ markets, and funding other local food system needs are a challenge in rural communities. The resources below, while not comprehensive, offer a variety of potential funding sources and subject matter expertise to address these challenges.
Funding Opportunities
The Clif Family Foundation supports small to midsize community groups with inspiring ideas to strengthen food systems, enhance equitable community health outcomes, and safeguard the environment and natural resources. Foundation priorities include “Healthy Food Access” for programs that advance food systems’ changes that make healthy and sustainably produced food accessible, affordable, and culturally appropriate. These grants support general operating costs and applicants must be registered as (or fiscally sponsored by) a 501(c)3 organization. The Foundation reviews applications twice a year; the deadlines are March 1 and August 1. Grant announcements occur approximately four months after the deadline. Typical grants range from $5,000 – $50,000 and last for one year.
The Whole Foods Market Foundation funds several different initiatives that support greater access to healthy foods as well as efforts to improve children’s nutrition. Eligible programs include funding for community-led organizations to increase access to fresh, healthy food by providing grants to urban farms, mobile markets, healthy cooking classes and more. Projects can also enhance children’s wellness by improving access to nutritious foods, supporting healthy food education, and building professional development to sustain those changes.
The Albertsons Companies Foundation’s Nourishing Our Neighbors program offers funding tied to both communities where Albertson’s family of stores operate as well as some national funding for targeted hunger relief efforts. Interested organizations can use the website to identify a local store and explore funding opportunities locally and nationally.
Kroger Charitable Giving offers donations to nonprofits and programs that help end hunger and waste in Kroger communities through Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan. Support is also provided in the focus areas of sustainability, health and nutrition, disaster relief, diversity and inclusion, and education and youth development.
America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) aims to build a more equitable food system that supports the health and economic vibrancy of all Americans. HFFI provides grants, loans, and technical assistance to improve access to healthy food in underserved areas, create and preserve quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities. HFFI supports the capacity of local and regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships, and provides financial and technical assistance to eligible healthy food retailers and food enterprises to overcome the higher costs and initial barriers entry in areas with inequitable access.
The Bob Woodruff Foundation supports nonprofits with programs that help service members, veterans, and their families and caregivers thrive. Awarded in the fall and the spring, grants support programs that focus on the evolving needs of the military/veteran community, with special emphasis on food security, housing and homelessness, mental health, and employment. Applying organizations must be administered through a 501(c)3, provide direct services to veterans, have gross receipts for two years of more than $50,000, and be able to use the funds immediately.
Nonprofits can apply for grants from $35,000 to $350,000 from Chick-fil-A, including for projects that address food insecurity. Chick-fil-A’s True Inspiration Awards program supports nonprofits that are making an impact in their local communities. Sixteen organizations—four from each category—will be chosen from the following categories: 1) Caring for People, focused on educational initiatives, including fostering character and leadership development, academic excellence, and community involvement in underserved youth; 2) Caring through Food, addressing hunger and food insecurity facing children and their families; 3) Caring for Communities, focused on housing and other direct services supporting young people and their families; and 4) Caring for Our Planet, showing care for the environment, or that show environmental stewardship directly related to the other award categories.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Funding Programs
The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) division offers grants between $25,000 and $400,000 to reduce food insecurity through local food systems. Funds can be used by a public food program service provider, a tribal organization, or a private nonprofit entity for planning projects that support a system of greater community food security or for projects where a one-time infusion of funding can help existing programs become self-sustaining.
The Farmers Market Promotion Program from USDA supports projects that develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Agricultural businesses or cooperatives, producer networks or associations, food councils, local governments, nonprofits, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers market authorities and tribal governments are eligible for grants to increase access to locally produced food.
USDA’s Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand local and regional food business enterprises to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Eligible applicants include cooperatives; Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) networks and associations; Food councils; Economic development corporations; Local governments; Nonprofits; Producer networks or associations; Regional farmers’ market authorities; and Tribal governments. LFPP offers four types of projects, 24-month Planning, 36-month Implementation, 24-month Turnkey Marketing and Promotion, and 24-month Turnkey Recruitment and Training. Planning projects range from $25,000 to $100,000, while implementation projects range from $100,000 to $500,000. Each of the turnkey project options is available for a defined set of activities, with funding amounts ranging from $50,000 and $100,000.
USDA’s Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) program supports partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. The program focuses on building and strengthening the viability and resilience of local or regional food economies through collaboration and coordination. RFSP supports public-private partnerships that plan and develop relationships between local and regional producers, processors, intermediaries, and institutional markets or institutional food service operations through local and regional producers and local and regional food systems.
USDA Rural Development offers grants and loan programs to support the development of essential community facilities in rural areas. Public entities (cities, towns, and counties, for example) and community-based nonprofit organizations can apply for funds to support facilities such as hospitals, courthouses, child care centers, museums, food pantries, and more. There are different programs with different funding amounts and requirements so interested organizations are encouraged to examine the funding announcement and contact their local Rural Development office.
USDA’s Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program is designed to increase the knowledge of agricultural science and improve the nutritional health of children. The program’s goal is to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems by bringing together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system. The initiative is part of a broader effort to not only increase access to school meals for low-income children, but also to dramatically improve their quality.
Each year, USDA’s Farm to School Grant program will makes grants up to $500,000 available to schools, school districts, non-profit agencies, and agricultural producers to improve access to local foods in schools. Activities covered by the grants might include training, supporting operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs.
State-specific Funding Opportunities
Colorado The Anschutz Family Foundation funds projects across a range of issue areas and supports projects in rural Colorado. Grants typically range between $5,000 and $10,000 and are commonly available to nonprofit organizations. The Foundation has a special interest in self-sufficiency, community development, and programs aimed at the economically disadvantaged, children and youth, seniors, and people with disabilities. Support is provided for programs and services that fit within one or more of the following areas: self-sufficiency, families, and literacy; food, shelter, and homelessness; youth development and outdoor programs; early childhood development; community and capacity building; crisis intervention; senior programs; and people with disabilities. General operating and program/project requests are accepted.
Colorado The Community Food Access Program has been used by groups of producers and hunger-focused nonprofits to expand access to locally produced food. While the program is not accepting applications at this time, there is potential for a new round of funding this year as well as potential tax incentives.
Idaho The Idaho Food Bank accepts grant applications each year (usually in the month of July) from nonprofit organizations advancing nutrition awareness, healthy eating, or hunger relief. Funds can be used to operate programs; purchase food; purchase nutrition education materials; expand capacity (new freezers, shelving, transportation, etc.); or promote access for anyone in need, including underserved and/or marginalized populations. 501(c)3 hunger relief organizations serving Idahoans are eligible to apply for these grants.
Montana The Town Pump Charitable Foundation provides financial support to Montana nonprofits and local governments with a priority on supporting basic needs and education for Montana citizens. The Foundation’s general grants focus on food insecurity, homelessness, and veterans’ needs; education, including classroom activities and reading programs; and community assistance, including support for first responders and community projects. In addition to general grants, the Foundation offers several other grant programs at various times throughout the year: Keep Kids Reading Grants support libraries’ summer youth reading programs. Meals for Backpacks Grants support schools, food banks, food pantries, and other community organizations that provide weekend meal programs to students. The Adopt a Family Grant Program awards grants to groups working to make Christmas brighter for neighbors (grant amounts vary by program).
Montana, New Mexico The Health Care Service Corporation Community Investments program funds a variety of priorities that affect community health, including nutrition and hunger efforts. Funding priorities include:
Nutrition: Supporting efforts to decrease hunger and increase access to nutritional food.
Neighborhood and Built Environment: Focusing on affordable healthy housing, access to transportation, and access to physical activity.
Locally Defined Health Solutions: Addressing hyperlocal health and human service needs.
Optimal Health Outcomes: Helping close gaps in care, specifically around six priority areas: immunizations; diabetes care; cardiovascular care; behavioral health; early detection cancer screening and maternal & infant health.
New Mexico New Mexico’s Healthy Food Financing Fund supports economic development in the food and agriculture sector while also helping increase the food security for New Mexicans. The program provides funds to local and tribal governments, for profits, small farmers and ranchers, co-ops, and nonprofit organizations to cover food production, distribution, and retail costs that address local food insecurity challenges. Predevelopment, brick and mortar facility development or capital costs, packaging of goods, agricultural development, or other soft costs are eligible for funding.
New Mexico The Carl C. Anderson Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation funds nonprofit organizations in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas with grants between $5,000 and $20,000 for services supporting low-income and vulnerable populations or individuals, including essential needs of children and youth, and programs that improve or enhance the quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities. Examples of funded efforts include supplemental food, emergency and transitional housing and shelter, medical and dental care, therapeutic services, transportation, day services for seniors and people with disabilities, respite care, and early childhood intervention and development. Preference is given to nonprofits serving rural counties.
Wyoming The Wyoming Hunger Initiative Grants help support local efforts to end hunger in the state. Wyoming Hunger Initiative works to prevent food insecurity by increasing awareness and support for the work of local anti-hunger organizations statewide. Grants are usually available in spring of each year.
Resources
The Local and Regional Food Systems Resilience Playbook is a collaborative effort between university-based researchers, food systems leaders, and USDA experts. The playbook is designed to support food systems leaders seeking to broaden and deepen their understanding of the distinct strengths and vulnerabilities of local and regional food systems in times of disruption.
The Rural Impact Podcast has released a short series, “Food For Thought: Facing the Facts About Food Insecurity,” which explores the link between federal food policies and programs and hunger and food access in rural America.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition released a “Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs” that provides an in-depth look at dozens of federal programs and policies important to sustainable agriculture, and details how they can be accessed by farmers, ranchers, and grassroots organizations nationwide.
