2024 Nourish and Flourish Grants
Key Information about the Grants
One of the Food Bank’s Strategic Priorities is to ensure the experience of accessing food is positive and affirming for people at risk of and experiencing food insecurity while also promoting personal agency and community belonging. The Food Bank will be funding programs aimed at welcoming all neighbors while providing agency and dignity.
We know people experience food insecurity in every community, just as we know some communities are impacted more than others. This year, a heightened focus will be on marginalized communities. Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Two-spirit and other identities not explicitly listed (LGBTQ2S+), and rural and remote communities all experience food insecurity as much as 2.5 times the rate of other communities.
When completing the grant application, we encourage you to showcase how your program plans to use funds that will align with these principles. Highlight how your program includes the voices of these communities in decision-making. Share how outreach targets, attracts, and will retain these communities and their members.
We are eager to hear how grant funds can further your effort, learn how you are reaching and including neighbors within BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+, and Rural communities, or fund an idea you’ve had for quite some time!
We will accept grant applications until 4:30 pm on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
If you have questions about the Nourish and Flourish Grant Program, please contact your Community Resource Representative or Program Coordinator.
We thank you for your time and interest in submitting a grant application!
Who can apply?
All partners in good standing are welcome to apply. To be considered in good standing, the agency account file must have current documentation, completed mandatory surveys, updated food safety training, and no open invoices beyond 90 days past due.
If your program is a food pantry, meal site, or shelter who received funding in the 2023 grant cycle a Grant Narrative (https://www.gsfb.org/2023-capacity-building-grant-narrative-survey/) is required and is due by Tuesday, September 24th, 2024. Completion of this narrative is also a requirement to be considered for the 2024 Nourish and Flourish Grant opportunity.
Please note that for future grant rounds beginning in 2025, to be considered in good standing, your agency must have submitted all retail receipts for each retail store pickup location by the end of every month in which the product was picked up throughout the year (if applicable).
If you have questions about the 2024 Nourish and Flourish Grant program, please contact your Community Resource Representative or Program Coordinator at Good Shepherd Food Bank.
How can funds be used?
Nourish and Flourish Grants can be used for, but are not limited to, the following:
- Detailed, targeted strategies that incorporate the voices of BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+, and rural and remote community members to better reach, welcome, and nourish more neighbors.
- Identifying and removing physical and other barriers to accessing charitable food for individuals experiencing food insecurity.
- Creating or enhancing programs that improve the dignity of experience for people accessing charitable food.
- Collaboration with partners in the charitable food network to explore the feasibility of providing additional ‘wraparound’ services.
- Addressing equity issues to ensure that the charitable food network is welcoming, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all people.
Pro Tip: If your Nourish and Flourish grant Application includes budget items with recurring expenses (such as staffing or a vehicle), be sure to share how you plan to sustain the efforts once funding from this grant is fully expended.
Nourish and Flourish Grant Reviewing
A grant review committee will use the 2024 Nourish and Flourish Grant Application Scoring Rubric (https://gsfb.canto.com/b/OVDO9) to score applications.
Every grant application is reviewed by a diverse committee, with each member bringing their perspective and expertise. The committee comprises Community Resource and Community Initiative Representatives, Community Partnerships Leadership, Supply Chain Leadership, members of the Network Advisory Council (who are also members of the network), Food Bank Board Members, Government partners, and other participants as needed.
Funding Expectations
If awarded a Nourish and Flourish Grant, partner agencies must adhere to the following:
- Agree to and comply with the Nourish and Flourish Grant Agreement (https://gsfb.canto.com/b/G13KI). This is shared for your information and does not need to be completed as part of the application materials.
- All grant awardees will be required to submit a grant narrative survey (https://www.gsfb.org/2023-capacity-building-grant-narrative-survey/).