Funding for Food Banks and Food Pantries
Food banks and food pantries operate in one of the most resource-intensive segments of the nonprofit sector — high throughput, significant infrastructure costs, refrigeration and food safety requirements, and demand that spikes sharply during economic downturns and natural disasters. The good news is that food security is one of the most well-funded areas of both federal and private grantmaking. This guide covers the major federal programs, national foundation sources, and practical tips for food banks and food pantries seeking grant funding in 2025.
Federal Food Assistance Grants
USDA TEFAP — The Emergency Food Assistance Program
TEFAP is the primary federal grant program for food banks. The USDA purchases USDA Foods (commodity foods) and distributes them to states, which pass the food and associated administrative dollars through to food banks. In addition to commodity foods, TEFAP provides administrative funding to support storage, transportation, and distribution. Eligibility is established at the state level — contact your state's TEFAP lead agency (usually the state department of agriculture or social services) to apply for TEFAP participation. Annual TEFAP appropriations have exceeded $1 billion in recent years.
USDA CSFP — Commodity Supplemental Food Program
CSFP provides monthly food packages to income-eligible seniors age 60 and older. Food banks and nonprofits that operate CSFP distribution sites receive USDA commodity foods and administrative funds. CSFP serves approximately 700,000 participants nationwide. Applications are made through state agencies — USDA FNS regional offices can direct you to your state's CSFP administering agency.
USDA SNAP-Ed Grants
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program funds nutrition education and obesity prevention activities for SNAP-eligible populations. Food banks and community organizations that provide nutrition education programming can access SNAP-Ed funding through their state SNAP-Ed implementing agency. Awards fund staff, materials, and program activities — not food distribution itself.
USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program
USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities program funds essential community facilities in rural areas, including food banks, food pantries, and community kitchens. Grants are available to nonprofits in rural communities (populations under 20,000) for construction, renovation, equipment, and vehicle purchases. Grant percentages range from 15% to 75% of eligible project costs based on community median household income.
HHS Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
CSBG funds Community Action Agencies (CAAs) to address causes and conditions of poverty, including food insecurity. CAAs in your area may partner with food banks or directly operate food pantry services. Emergency food assistance is one of the most common CSBG-funded activities. Contact your state's CSBG lead agency to find Community Action Agencies near you.
National Foundation Sources
Feeding America Network
Feeding America is the national network of 200+ food banks and 60,000+ food pantries. Member food banks access commodities, corporate food donations, and grant funding through the network. Feeding America also administers competitive grants from corporate partners to member food banks for specific initiatives. Network membership is the starting point for accessing these resources — contact Feeding America directly to explore membership eligibility.
Walmart Foundation
The Walmart Foundation is one of the largest corporate funders of food security programs in the United States, awarding hundreds of millions of dollars annually to food banks, Feeding America, and food rescue organizations. The Foundation funds food access, nutrition, and food systems work through national grants to Feeding America and targeted state and regional grants. Applications are available through Walmart's online grant portal; local Walmart stores also have community giving programs with smaller awards (up to $5,000).
Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation
Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation funds food rescue, food banking, and community food security initiatives, with priority given to communities near Kroger store locations. The Foundation has awarded over $35 million in grants. Applications are submitted online through the Foundation's grant portal.
Albertsons Companies Foundation
The Albertsons Companies Foundation funds hunger relief, education, and cancer research. Their hunger relief grants support food banks and food pantries, particularly in communities served by Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, and other Albertsons banners. Contact your regional Albertsons or Safeway division's community affairs team for regional grant opportunities.
Application Tips for Food Banks and Pantries
- Track pounds distributed and clients served: Funders want to see impact metrics. Implement a client intake and distribution tracking system (many use PANTRY SOFT, Link2Feed, or the Feeding America MIS) if you haven't already — the data these systems generate directly feeds grant reporting requirements.
- Document food safety practices: SafeServ certifications, temperature monitoring logs, and pest control records demonstrate operational quality and reduce risk in the eyes of larger funders.
- Leverage TEFAP as a credibility signal: Participation in TEFAP demonstrates your organization has met federal program standards. Reference your TEFAP participation in private foundation applications as evidence of capacity and oversight.
- Align with local hunger coalitions: Many community foundations and corporate foundations prefer to fund food security coalitions rather than individual organizations. Joining your regional food security coalition opens access to collaborative funding that individual pantries may not access on their own.
Find Food Security Grants with FindGrants
Federal food assistance programs, USDA Rural Development grants, HHS programs, and private foundation opportunities for food banks and pantries are spread across dozens of funding sources. FindGrants.io matches your organization's profile — org type, service area, populations served — to the most relevant grant opportunities across all major sources. Search smarter so your team spends time on applications, not on grant research.