Empowering Communities Through Food Access: The 2025 Community First Grant
Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture | Alexandria VA
Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive in a healthy and prosperous community. Yet today, over 3 billion people worldwide cannot afford a healthy diet. Whole Foods Market Foundation is working to change this through strategic partnerships with community organizations. Alongside our stakeholders, we help communities gain access to healthy food to strengthen nutrition, support chronic disease prevention, enhance educational opportunities, and increase earning potential.
The Foundation’s Community First Grant exemplifies our commitment to meeting the food access or nutrition needs of communities by listening and engaging directly with those working to create lasting change in their community. This grant supports nonprofits focused on long-term fresh, healthy food access and nutrition education that are actively engaged with Whole Foods Market Team Members (employees) throughout the United States and Canada.
The Programs We Support
Our grants fund a diverse array of innovative programs that address food access from multiple angles, including:
FamilyCook Productions | New York, NY
-
Community gardens do more than just grow fresh food, they are hubs for community connections, teach sustainable practices and provide fresh produce in neighborhoods that need it most.
-
These movable food trucks break down barriers of transportation and accessibility by bringing healthy, fresh food options directly to consumers.
-
Knowledge is power, and these programs empower families with the skills to prepare nutritious, delicious meals on any budget and in a culturally appropriate way.
-
From schools to community centers, these initiatives help people understand the connection between food and wellness.
Every year, the Foundation invites Whole Foods Market Team Members to nominate local organizations focused on long-term fresh, healthy food access and nutrition education to apply for a $10,000 grant. Projects might include community gardens, mobile markets, healthy cooking classes and more. This year, we are funding 94 organizations, totaling $938,877!
Why Team Member Engagement Matters
What sets the Community First Grant apart is the opportunity for recipient organizations and Whole Foods Market Team Members to join forces to further our collective mission. We know that when community partners, Team Members, and local stakeholders come together with shared goals, they build stronger communities. Community First Grant partnerships create powerful community connections, empowering local nonprofits focused on food access and nutrition to leverage their deep understanding of unique community needs to create meaningful, sustainable impact.
Get to Know Old and New Partners
This year, Team Member Geri Feldman nominated Agricultural Institute of Marin as a first time Community First Grant recipient after interacting with their mobile market truck “Rollin’ Root” at her local farmers market. The Rollin’ Root is uniquely able to serve areas that have been historically excluded from access to healthy food. Their Community First Grant will support the Rollin’ Root Ambassador program, which engages community members in sharing information with neighbors about the affordable produce found at the mobile market and how to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at the market.
Lee Robinson, a Whole Foods Market Store Support Team Member, nominated Sustainable Food Center (SFC) for their fourth Community First Grant! For 50 years, Sustainable Food Center has been on a mission to improve access to fresh, nutritious food for all Texans. Their Community First Grant will support bilingual cooking classes, ensuring consistent and accessible delivery of nutrition education.
Building a Healthier Future Together
Research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture consistently shows that when people have access to fresh, healthy food and the knowledge to use it, they often experience better physical health, increased food security, and greater confidence in making dietary choices. Children perform better in school. Chronic diseases become more manageable. Communities grow stronger and more resilient. Through the Community First Grant, we're investing in long-term solutions that address root causes, not just symptoms.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Ready to learn more? Explore current grantees, discover application details, and see the incredible work happening in communities across North America using the link below.