Community First Grant

About the Grant

The Community First Grant program supports nonprofits focused on long-term fresh, healthy food access and nutrition education that are engaged with Whole Foods Market Team Members (employees) in the U.S. and Canada. This includes community gardens, mobile markets, healthy cooking classes and more. 

Since launching the grant program in 2016, Team Members (TM) have helped us award 477 grants in 161 cities, investing over $3.4M. Over 285 Team Members from 153 Whole Foods Market stores and all Store Support offices have participated!

During each grant year, Team Members nominate community partner organizations they currently engage with (or would like to start). Then, our team reviews nominations and eligible organizations are asked to submit a grant application letting us know about their work, how they would put the grant funds to use, etc.

Nomination & Application Timeline

The Community First Grant process begins each year in the summer, and the grant year ends the following fall.

  • June: Team Member Nomination Period Opens

  • July: Team Member Nomination Period Closes

  • August: Eligible Organizations Invited to Apply

  • December: Community First Grant Partners Announced

How It Works

Whole Foods Market Foundation, Expanding Healthy Food Access: Community First Grant How It Works Infographic

Grant Partner Types

Whole Foods Market Foundation: Alleviating Global Poverty, Community First Partner Types Infographic

Our Approach to Community First

Before building in Detroit, Whole Foods Market committed to discovering how a presence there could meet the needs and reflect the desires of the people of Detroit, be respectful and responsive to local cultures, and increase access to fresh foods across all income levels.

Whole Foods Market charted this path to its first Detroit store with deep community engagement. Grassroots leaders and neighbors engaged, challenged, critiqued and inspired the project. Store staff listened, adapted, shared and evolved. This created a new model for Whole Foods Market work called Community First: using a community’s best interest as the lens for looking at all major decisions made there.

The Community First process in Detroit led to the establishment of the Foundation’s food access work. The Community First Principles define our approach to building partnerships with community-led organizations to build thriving local food systems and grow community health. They help us meet the needs and reflect the desires of the people we serve, be respectful and responsive to different perspectives, and increase access to fresh food.

Whole Foods Market Foundation: Alleviating Global Poverty, Community First Grant: Groundwork Somerville, Lady with Radishes

Groundwork Somerville

Community First Grant Resources

Be Prepared with These Sample Documents

Find Answers in the Community First Grant FAQ

  • Take a moment to read through some of our most commonly asked questions in the 2025 FAQ PDF.

Find a Community Partner

Learn More About Our Work

Explore a variety of resources for Team Members and Community Partners to learn more about the Community First Grant.

Whole Foods Market Foundation: Alleviating Global Poverty, Community First Grant: Bellevue Farmers Market Workers

Community First Grant Recipient | Food Assistance Match | Bellevue, PA

Eligibility & Expectations

  • To nominate a community partner, Team Members must: 

    • Be a U.S. or CAN Whole Foods Market Team Member in good standing. 

    • Complete a quick 10-minute training to make sure their community partner is eligible for the Community First Grant. 

    • Ask your STL/FTL (store or facility) TL (office) to complete a support form. 

    • Be able to volunteer with your nonprofit community partner on personal time. No compensation will be provided from Whole Foods Market Foundation.

    • Submit one required mid-year update including a brief summary of how things are going and photos of your partnership in action. Optional: submit an end-of-year update.

    • Volunteer Once per Quarter – From monthly days in a community garden to hosting a mobile market team in your store to talk about merchandising, this can take any shape that works for your partner and you. CFG Quarter timing:

      • Q1: Sept 2025–Nov 2025

      • Q2: Dec 2025–Feb 2026

      • Q3: Mar 2026–May 2026

      • Q4: June 2026–Aug 2026

    • Update your STL and Culture Champion Ambassador at least once per quarter

    • Read monthly CFG updates

    • Optional: Attend support webinars

    • Projects that will broaden long-term access to fresh, healthy food and/or nutrition education. The Community First Grant will not be a good fit for food pantries, food banks, and other food donation/redistribution programs. 

    • US: Must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit and organizations partnered with a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

    • Canada: Must be a Registered Charity or partnered with a Registered Charity.

    • Locally led organizations (Not all Team Members, board members, and volunteers must be residents of the community served, but robust community representation is important.). 

    • Organizations with strong community engagement that request and use feedback from their community. 

    • Programs focused on serving adults and/or older youth (ages 16–22). The Community First Grant will not be the best fit for community partners that focus primarily on children or schools.

    • Complete a grant application. The application will include questions regarding the organization’s work, leadership, impact, community engagement, long-term plans, and finances. 

    • Submit one required final report (optional: submit a mid-year report). 

    • Allow the nominating WFM Team Member (and perhaps other WFM Team Members) to volunteer at least once per quarter between September–August.

See the Community First Grant in Action

Listen to Our Community First Grant Audio Stories

Community First Grantees