Food Security Grant Opportunities for Minnesota Nonprofits in 2025

Access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food remains a pressing issue across Minnesota. Nonprofits play a pivotal role in addressing food insecurity, and 2025 offers a variety of grant opportunities to support these efforts. This guide outlines key funding sources available to Minnesota-based organizations working to enhance food security.

1. Good Food Access Program (GFAP) – Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant

Funder: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
Award Range: $5,000–$75,000
Eligibility: Nonprofit and for-profit grocery stores, small food retailers, farmers markets, mobile food markets, and food hubs serving low- to moderate-income areas
Purpose: Funds equipment purchases (e.g., coolers, freezers), installation costs, and physical improvements to increase the availability of nutritious and culturally appropriate foods
Deadline: January 16, 2025
More Info: MDA GFAP Equipment Grant

2. Good Food Access Program – Technical Assistance Grant

Funder: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
Award Range: $5,000–$50,000 (up to $200,000 for collaborative projects)
Eligibility: Nonprofits providing technical assistance to small food retailers
Purpose: Supports business operations, marketing, and services to help retailers improve healthy food access
Next Application Period: Expected late 2025
More Info: MDA GFAP Technical Assistance Grant

3. Minnesota Food Shelf Program (MFSP) Grant

Funder: Hunger Solutions Minnesota
Award Range: $7,500–$150,000
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits and Tribal Nations participating in TEFAP
Purpose: Supports food purchases, equipment, transportation, staffing, and operations
Deadline: August 23, 2025
More Info: MFSP Grant Details

4. Emergency Food Shelf Grants

Funder: Hunger Solutions Minnesota
Award Range: Varies
Eligibility: Food shelves facing emergencies (e.g., equipment failure, disaster)
Purpose: Provides rapid-response funds for urgent food distribution needs
Application: Rolling
More Info: Emergency Grants Info

5. Climate-Smart Food Systems Grant

Funder: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
Award Range: Part of a $200 million federal grant
Eligibility: Minnesota-based businesses and nonprofits in food systems
Purpose: Funds climate-smart practices like food rescue, electrification, and waste prevention
Application: To be announced
More Info: MPCA Climate-Smart Grants

6. Full Lives Initiative – Greater Twin Cities United Way

Funder: Greater Twin Cities United Way
Award Range: $50,000–$150,000/year (up to three years)
Eligibility: Collaboratives focused on food systems and food justice in the Twin Cities
Purpose: Supports community-led food equity strategies
Next Application Period: Expected 2026
More Info: Full Lives Initiative

7. General Mills Foundation – Minneapolis Giving

Funder: General Mills Foundation
Award Range: Varies
Eligibility: Minneapolis nonprofits advancing equitable food access
Purpose: Supports healthy, culturally appropriate food access initiatives
Application: By invitation
More Info: General Mills Foundation

8. Cargill Foundation

Funder: Cargill Foundation
Award Range: Varies
Eligibility: Organizations focusing on childhood nutrition and education in Minneapolis–St. Paul
Purpose: Funds programs that encourage healthy eating habits in children
Application: By invitation
More Info: Cargill Foundation

9. Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund

Funder: Otto Bremer Trust
Award Range: $5,000–$100,000
Eligibility: Minnesota nonprofits addressing basic needs, including food security
Purpose: Provides flexible support for community-focused programs
Application: Rolling
More Info: Otto Bremer Trust

10. No Kid Hungry Grants

Funder: Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign
Award Range: Varies
Eligibility: Schools and nonprofits serving kids via federal nutrition programs
Purpose: Funds equipment, staffing, and resources to improve children’s meal access
Application: Rolling
More Info: No Kid Hungry

11. Clif Family Foundation – Open Call Grants

Funder: Clif Family Foundation
Award Range: $5,000–$50,000
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored organizations
Purpose: Supports projects and operations focused on food systems and community health
Deadlines: March 1 and August 1, 2025
More Info: Clif Foundation Grants

Tips for Successful Grant Applications

• Highlight Equity and Inclusion: Show how your work addresses food insecurity in underserved communities.
• Demonstrate Impact: Use clear data to show your reach and effectiveness.
• Collaborate: Partner with others to strengthen your proposal.
• Plan Ahead: Track deadlines and prep documents early.
• Use AI Grant Writer: Write strong proposals quickly with an AI Grant Writer like GrantOrb — write more grants, win more funding.