Community Food Grants

Community Food Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Trailhead Institute
Amount: US $5,000 - US $30,000
Last Updated: March 20, 2026

Summary

The Community Food Grants program in Colorado provides crucial funding to food pantries, enabling them to purchase and distribute fresh, culturally relevant foods. Administered by the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, this initiative aims to enhance food access while supporting local agriculture. Eligible food pantries must comply with specific requirements to ensure equitable food distribution. The program focuses on meeting diverse community needs, emphasizing the importance of culturally significant foods and local agricultural products.

Overview

Community Food Grants Colorado’s Community Food Grants support food assistance providers with funding to purchase and distribute local, fresh, and culturally or spiritually relevant foods in our communities. The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger administers the program in partnership with the Colorado Department of Human Services. Both food pantries and food banks are key partners in addressing hunger across Colorado. With these funds, food pantries can get food directly to individuals and families based on local needs and priorities, while food banks can purchase food in bulk and distribute it to partner agencies in all 64 counties. Program Goals The Community Food Grants program provides funding to qualifying food pantries and food banks, specifically for the procurement and distribution of healthy, culturally relevant foods, while also championing local agriculture. Grants are intended to purchase meat, dairy, and fresh produce from local farmers, ranchers, and producers. They also help expand access to foods that meet the diverse tastes and needs of community members based on their cultural identity and/or spirituality. The Community Food Grants aim to: Purchase and distribute foods that better meet the needs of your community;Increase access to culturally relevant and nutritious foods;Purchase Colorado agricultural products and/or culturally or spiritually relevant food;Ensure that food purchasing and distribution is grounded in equity and responsive to community needs.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Only 'food pantries' are eligible to apply for this funding; 'food banks' have already been awarded. (View definitions.)Interested food pantries must meet the following general requirements as defined by House Bill 24-1407:Be a food pantry. "Food pantry" means an individual site that buys food or receives donations of foods that are then directly distributed to those in its community. This includes faith-based organizations. Previous Blueprint grant recipients must be in good standing to be eligible for this grant (i.e., having met all required deadlines for fund expenditure and reporting).To the extent practicable, food purchased using these funds should be designated to one of the following:A Colorado agricultural product; orAn agricultural product that holds cultural significance for Indigenous First Nations people, or for other cultures of subcultural groups, including the ways in which those agricultural products are produced.Ensure funding allocation as follows: 90% must be spent on food purchases (locally in Colorado or spiritually/culturally appropriate, when possible), with only up to 10% spent on direct and indirect expenses associated with the distribution of food.Spend the total awarded amount by June 30, 2026. Blueprint intends to distribute funds to grantees by early November 2025.Do not use funding to purchase gift cards of any kind.