Flow chart icon representing funding guidelines

Funding Guidelines & Calendar

The UNFI Foundation awards grants annually through our Community Grants program and by Invitation Only. Recipients must have a presence and influence positive change within communities in the United States or Canada.

Community Grants

GRANT SIZE: $5,000-$10,000

APPLICATION TIMELINE:
Applications are now closed.

GRANT TIMELINE: August 1, 2024 - July 31, 2025

Our Community Grants program is specifically designed to bolster initiatives to improve food access for our communities. 501c3 nonprofit organizations are welcome to complete an application for our Community Grants program. These grants support general operating costs and project-specific costs and are reviewed once a year. 

By Invitation Only

The UNFI Foundation's Invite Only grant process is designed to strategically identify and support initiatives that align closely with our mission of promoting food system equity and sustainability. Through a careful selection process, we partner with organizations and projects that demonstrate a clear impact and innovative approach in advancing our shared goals. These grants, which are typically more than $25,000, are extended to a select group of collaborators who have shown exceptional dedication and effectiveness in driving positive change within their communities. The Foundation initiates all invitations.

We do not fund:

  • Conferences
  • Direct grants to individuals
  • International organizations or projects
  • Political campaigns and legislative lobbying efforts
  • Endowments
  • Private foundations
  • Projects that exclusively serve religious purposes
  • Governmental agencies
  • Sponsorships, advertising, or fundraising

Contact us with any questions about your application. Regretfully, due to the volume of requests, we are unable to respond to exploratory inquiries and hard-copy applications.