Community First Grant (CFG)
Team Member Resources
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Share a Volunteer Recap | Resources | WFM Community Connections | CFG Webinars
Welcome CFG Class of 2026 – 2027 🎉
The WFM Foundation team is so excited to welcome you to the current grant year! Bookmark this page to find resources and updates to support your engagement with your partners and fellow Team Members.
Questions? Reach out to our team at foundation@wholefoods.com and we’ll get you to the right person!
CFG Grant Year Timeline 📆
The 2026–2027 grant year will run from Aug 2026 through July 2027. During this time, CFG Team Members will be asked to volunteer with their nominated partner at least once a quarter.
Note: Our quarters are different from the quarterly timeframes used at WFM.
Q1 > Aug 2026 - Oct 2026
Q2 > Nov 2026 - Jan 2027
Q3 > Feb 2027 - Apr 2027
Q4 > May 2027 - Jul 2027
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Additionally, CFG Team Members will be asked to complete a mid-program and end-of-program update. We’ll notify you via email when we’re accepting submissions.
Q2 > Mid-Program Update
Q4 > End-of-Program Update
Emma Kirby + Team volunteering at Farm Fresh Rhode Island
Explore resources that will help you engage with your fellow Team Members and info to learn more about the Community First Grant.
If you ever need a new resource, let us know at foundation@wholefoods.com and we’ll try to help you create it!
Program Resources 📋
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Team Member Volunteer Sign Up Sheet
Post this BOH flyer to help get TM volunteers to support your community partner.
Download HERE
Note: To spread your word about your volunteer event via Innerview, see the “Innerview Connect Templates” section.
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CFG Team Members can partner with their Community Ambassador to post volunteer opportunities and recaps with TMs at their store via Innerview Connect. If you do not have a Community Ambassador at your location, please partner with Culture Ambassador or your STL for support.
Innerview Connect Templates will be available to your Ambassadors during these timeframes:
During Review Period:
7/28 – 8/31/26: Celebrate [Store] Team Member Nomination for a Community First Grant!
7/28 – 11/19/26: Volunteer Opportunity with Nominated Community First Grant Partner, [Partner Name]
7/28 – 11/19/26: Volunteer Recap with Nominated CFG Partner, [Partner Name]
For TMs whose partner is selected for the grant:
11/20/26 – 12/31/26: Celebrate [Store] Selected Community First Grant Team Member and Partner!
11/20/26 – 7/30/27: Volunteer Opportunity with Community First Grant Partner, [CFG Partner Name]
11/20/26 – 7/30/27: Volunteer Recap with CFG Partner, [CFG Partner Name]
To request an Innerview Connect post from your Community Ambassador, please follow these steps:
Reference the Email & Phone Templates to submit a request with your Ambassador to post
Provide all the necessary info from the template to your Ambassador.
Once they submit the post, your store leadership will need to review before it is live on Innerview – please provide as much notice as you can to your Ambassador for support with posting.
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Download the CFG TM Checklist to help get you started and keep you on track for the current grant year.
Download a CFG Email Signature Template to showcase your participation in the CFG Program.
If you have an existing email signature, download this CFG badge to add to it.
Reference the CFG Email & Phone Templates to align on goals and volunteer events with your CFG partner.
Download the CFG Action Plan Template to set and track goals for the grant year.
Download the CFG Recipient Excel Sheet for a list of previous Community First Grant Recipients.
Learn more about CFG through our FAQs.
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CFG TM Nomination Flyer – once WFM Foundation announces the nominating TMs on Innerview in July, download this BOH flyer to celebrate your TM nomination with your store. *
Selected CFG Partner Flyer- once WFM Foundation announces the selected partners on Innerview in November, download this BOH flyer to celebrate your selected CFG partner with your store. *
*To add a celebration post to Innerview, reference the Innerview Connect Template section.
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Our team will send you a monthly email update to share resources, news and celebrate CFG Team Members. You will be automatically subscribed to this newsletter with the email provided on your nomination form.
If you ever need to reference a past newsletter you can view them HERE.
Share a Volunteer Recap 📸
WFM Foundation is always excited to see the ways in which you’re getting involved with your CFG partner. We’ll send reminders to complete this form quarterly, however you can submit as many updates as you like throughout the year!
You may be featured in a future newsletter, on Innerview or our social channels!
CW: Freddie Cavazos
MW: Eve Armstrong
Community First Grant vs.
Community Connections
In 2024, Whole Foods Market launched Community Connections to support team building events at each location. While this sounds similar to the
WFM Foundation Community First Grant, they are separate programs. Learn more in the chart below.
Can I use my Community Connection event to satisfy the quarterly CFG volunteer ask?
Yes, you may use it to satisfy the quarterly volunteer ask, which then would allow for TMs to be paid for volunteering.*
*If your volunteer event is not approved by your STL or does not meet all the parameters for a Community Connections event, we ask that you still commit to volunteering in that quarter with your nominated CFG partner. Your time and the time of any TM volunteers will be unpaid. Learn more about WFM Community Connections HERE.
Robert Herbert + Central West Team Members
Christian Galtieri + Midwest Team Members
Webinar Recordings 🎬
Occasionally, our team will host a webinar to support CFG Team Members throughout the grant year. If you are unable to join a live webinar, we’ll post a recording below so you’ll still be able to watch it. If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, email us at foundation@wholefoods.com with your request!
May 2026 > Get Started Webinar
Watch the recording of our recent webinar to learn more about the CFG program, how to look for and nominate an organization and more!
June 2026 > Q&A Webinar
Watch the recording of our recent webinar which covers all of your questions around the nomination process, TM eligibility and more!
September 2026 > Start Strong Webinar
Attend the upcoming Start Strong Webinar on 9/30/26 at 10:30AM CST to learn how to help your CFG partnership bloom this year, how to motivate other Team Members to get involved, and meet other CFG Team Members from across the company!
WFM Foundation will send an invite to the current class in early August. We encourage you to connect with your TL and set aside 45mins to attend.