The application period for 2026 FoodForward grants opens on September 8. To apply, click the button below. You can find the office hours schedule and other details below. If you have any questions, please contact FoodForward@regionalfoodbank.net.
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Register for an Open Office Hour (via Zoom):
Applicant Tutorial (written form)
Announcement from our CEO
Dear Community Partners,
At the Regional Food Bank, we know that meaningful change comes from ideas of all sizes. Whether it’s a small improvement that helps a pantry operate more efficiently or a larger investment that expands services across a community, every project can make a lasting impact.
That’s why we’re excited to announce that FoodForward is returning for another year. Applications will open September 8. This grant program is designed to support innovation, build local capacity, and help our partner agencies strengthen the work they do every day to improve food access.
Over the past year, we’ve seen that there is no one-size-fits-all FoodForward project. The best ideas are not always the biggest ones. They are the ones that respond to a community’s needs to create change. Over the last two years, we have awarded $1,449,964 to 59 agency partners through this FoodForward Program. The results have been amazing and I have been happy to meet up with many award recipients to talk about their projects and learn about their agencies.
A Simple Solution Can Make a Big Difference
It may have been one of our more modest FoodForward grants, but it’s made a BIG impact. The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Albany asked for resources to serve their community in Spanish & English to help encourage nutritious choices. “The signs show how many points a household gets, depending on the household size, in each category as they shop the food pantry,” says Jeff Vigliotta, Assistant Director at St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. “The signs also have graphics of the items in that category to help our guests understand what they can choose from. Since a large amount of our guests do not speak English, these signs help make the guests feel more comfortable shopping and helps with the flow of the food pantry so we can keep the wait times to a minimum. Grants like this have a big impact achieving our mission of assisting the food insecure.”
Growing to Meet Community Needs
The Ellenville Methodist Church Food Pantry in Ulster County helps serve more than 3,000 people annually. The FoodForward grant from the Regional Food Bank supported a much-needed upgrade of the food pantry’s electrical system to sustain the amount of refrigeration units needed to provide more fresh and frozen foods!
Building for the Future
Comfort Food Community in Washington County used their FoodForward grant to transform their existing facility and expand their ability to serve their community and neighboring agencies. The project added a new racking system, installed an overhead door that creates a pathway toward a future loading dock, and increased their capacity to serve as a cross-dock location for monthly agency pickups. These improvements help make food access more efficient by allowing partner agencies to pick up closer to home.
We welcome proposals from agencies of all sizes and encourage you to apply with ideas that address the unique needs of your community. Projects may focus on improving food distribution, storage, access, infrastructure, or other innovative solutions that strengthen your ability to serve neighbors facing food insecurity.
This year, FoodForward will provide grants of up to $50,000 to selected Regional Food Bank partner agencies. Applications will be reviewed in two groups:
- Agencies with annual budgets over $500,000
- Agencies with annual budgets under $500,000
Applicants should outline their project, explain how funds will be used, and demonstrate the impact the work will have on their community.
Our Programs team, led by Chief Program Officer Michael-Aaron Poindexter and Vice President of Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Veronica Ingram-Henry, will once again lead a review process that is equitable, transparent, and simple. We know your time and resources are valuable, and we want the application process to respect that.
Thank you for the incredible work you do every day. We look forward to hearing your ideas and continuing to build stronger communities together.
With gratitude,
Tom Nardacci
Chief Executive Officer
Regional Food Bank