Mardag Foundation: Food Access Grant Program

Mardag Foundation: Food Access Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Mardag Foundation
Amount: Up to US $500,000
Last Updated: February 05, 2026

Summary

Overview

Note: Applications for our Food Access Grant Program begin with a letter of inquiry and initial screening.Only select organizations will be invited to submit a full application. About Mardag Foundation Mardag Foundation is a family foundation that for more than 50 years has focused on ways to engage with and invest in communities across Minnesota through nonprofit grants. The Foundation has evolved its grantmaking as community needs have changed, while staying true to our founder’s commitment to caring for those most in need. Our Mission Mardag Foundation honors Agnes Ober’s legacy of giving back to those most in need by investing in nonprofit organizations and building strategic partnerships with philanthropy in the East Metro and Greater Minnesota. Food Access Grant Program Mardag Foundation’s Food Access Grant Program supports organizations and programs that ensure access to food and address inequities in the food system. Through five-year grants of $100,000 per year, we aim to fund systems change and/or direct service work to eliminate barriers and increase access to food for low-income immigrant/refugee or Native American/Indigenous children, youth and families in the East Metro and Greater Minnesota. Grants will be offered for general operating or program/project support. Funding Priorities Our Food Access Grant Program will consider proposals that address systems change and/or direct service work to eliminate barriers and increase access to culturally relevant, healthy, affordable food for low-income immigrant/refugee or Native American/Indigenous children, youth and families in the East Metro and Greater Minnesota. Our Food Access Grant Program will consider proposals that address one or more of the following: Extent to which the work empowers immigrant/refugee or Native American/Indigenous communities in reclaiming ownership and control of the food system ‒ the right to grow, sell, access and eat food that is fresh, nutritious, affordable, culturally appropriate and grown with integrity for the well-being of the people, land and animals Extent to which the work strives to provide culturally relevant food options in areas with lower access Geography Mardag Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations and public entities located within and serving residents of Minnesota. Our geographic focus is the East Metro (Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties), as well as Greater Minnesota.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Demonstrated commitment to the geography served with preference for organizations based in Minnesota.501(c)3 nonprofits, government entities, educational institutions, groups with an eligible fiscal sponsor