Region Grants Open Grant Round: Hunger Relief

The Region Grants Open Grant Round: Hunger Relief, sponsored by the Land O'Lakes Foundation, aims to combat food insecurity in rural communities. Grants between $1,000 and $20,000 are available for organizations supporting food banks, meal programs, and community gardens. With a total investment of $500,000 annually, this initiative prioritizes nonprofits with 501c3 status serving specific regions in the East and West. The program seeks to enhance the vibrancy of member-owner communities while fostering educational and community vitality.

Region Grants Program
The Region Grants Program is specifically for Land O’Lakes dairy communities in the East and West Regions of our member footprint.
Funds are awarded through two grant rounds: Hunger Relief and Community Vitality.
Funding
$125,000 total is awarded to both the East and West regions per grant round.Total annual program investment is $500,000.Organizations may apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000.Generally, between 10-20 grantees are funded per grant round.Average grant award is between $5,000 to $10,000.Funds are for local programs or projects supporting Land O’Lakes member-owner rural communities and their populations.
Organizations committed to fighting food insecurity and increasing food accessibility:

• Food banksFood shelves/pantriesPrepared meals and meal delivery servicesSchool meal programsCommunity gardens and local food systems

Eligibility

Current 501c3 Public Charity tax exempt nonprofit status through the Internal Revenue Service required.Nonprofits must primarily serve one of the following regions that aligns with our dairy member-owner footprint to be eligible to receive funding:East Region: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania (primarily rural PA counties and excluding nonprofits focused on primarily serving the Philadelphia area).West Region: 5 California counties—Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Glenn, and RiversideThis grant is intended to support the vibrancy of rural communities.Applicants from organizations headquartered in rural towns with less than 50,000 residents are welcome to apply.Applicants located in a town or small city with 50,000-200,000 residents that are: not a suburb that’s part of a larger urban area AND are located in a primarily rural county are also eligible to apply

Ineligibility

Organizations We Do Not FundOrganizations engaged in lobbying, political, religious, or fraternal activities, labor organizations, and as well as any organization that advocates, supports, or participates in activities inconsistent with Land O'Lakes Inc.'s policies are not eligible.Grants will not be awarded for the following purposes:Direct funding to individuals - including fundraisers and scholarships for individualsTrade/Business AssociationsPolitical, lobbying, or fraternal groups (such as Lions Clubs)Programs/projects that do not demonstrate an application of the principles in the Land O'Lakes Foundation Mission