UNFI Foundation Makes Historic $1.8 Million Donation to 80 Non-Profits Across North America
September 4, 2025 2 minute read

The UNFI Foundation is committed to supporting people and organizations working to make food systems more equitable and sustainable. Today, the Foundation announced $1.8 million in impact investments and grants, the largest investment in its history, benefiting 80 non-profits across North America that are driving meaningful change in the food sector. The 2025 grantee cohort represents a diverse mix of national and local organizations across 32 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.
“Since its founding, the UNFI Foundation has partnered with community organizations to support growers, improve access to quality food, and help protect the planet we share. Our latest cohort of 80 grant recipients reflects our commitment to supporting initiatives that deliver better food to more communities in a more sustainable way. We are inspired by their dedication and look forward to supporting their progress,” said Matt Echols, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of UNFI and UNFI Foundation Board Chair.
With this historic round of funding, the 2025 cohort of grantees is leading transformative efforts in their communities—advancing food systems that are more equitable, sustainable, and resilient. The UNFI Foundation is proud to support their work, which reflects our shared commitment to better food and a better future.
Advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture
Grantees such as the Nature Conservancy and the Sustainable Food Lab are bringing together farmers, conservationists, and policy makers to find practical ways to make climate-friendly farming more achievable. Programs like Farm Connect Montana pair farmers who are shifting to organic practices with experienced mentors. Through these efforts, hundreds of producers will get help working toward organic certification and sustainable land stewardship.
Accelerating Food Recovery and Access
Innovative non-profits like RePlate are using technology to rescue surplus food and deliver prepared meals to those facing food insecurity. With support from organizations like York Region Food Network, millions of pounds of extra food will be rerouted to communities in need, helping reduce waste and fight hunger—especially in times of emergency or disaster.
"The support of the UNFI Foundation has enabled us to expand our reach, recover more surplus food, and deliver nutritious meals to communities facing food insecurity," said Maen Mahfoud, CEO RePlate, a 2025 UNFI Foundation grantee.
Improving Food Equity
Organizations such as Project Potluck and NMSDC’s ACRES program are empowering underserved food entrepreneurs by offering mentorship, hands-on guidance, and funding. Together, they’re expected to support over 1,500 entrepreneurs—helping them earn new certifications, grow their business, and gain access to the capital they need to thrive.
Strengthening Local Food Economies
Through investments in place-based organizations like the Common Market and the Good Acre, local food hubs will reach more families with fresh, healthy food, while also strengthening local farms and food systems. These programs foster direct farm-to-table connections, increase purchases from local producers, and build the infrastructure needed to make food more available and reliable, especially in times of need.
To learn more about the 2025 recipients and past impact, visit the UNFI Foundation website.
2025 UNFI Foundation Grantees
Sustainable Food Lab
3 Linden Road, Hunt House, Hartland, VT 05048
https://sustainablefoodlab.org/
The Nature Conservancy
4245 N Fairfax Dr. Ste 100, Arlington, VA 22203
www.nature.org
Mandela Partners
1344 7th St, Oakland, CA 94607
www.mandelapartners.org
Food Banks Canada
77 City Centre Dr. Suite 501, Mississauga, Ontario L5B 1M5, Canada
https://foodbankscanada.ca/
National Minority Supplier Development Council Inc
65 W. 36th Street, New York, NY 10018
www.nmsdc.org
York Region Food Network
350 Industrial Parkway South, Aurora, Ontario L4G 3V7, Canada
www.yrfn.ca
DC Central Kitchen
2121 First Street SW, STE 140, Washington, DC 20024
https://www.dccentralkitchen.orgRe-Plate (DBA Replate)
149 New Montgomery St, 4th floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
www.replate.org
Freedmen Heirs Foundation Inc
21030 Frederick Road Ste G, #124, Germantown, MD 20876
www.freedmenheirs.org
Mad Agriculture
728 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302
www.madagriculture.org
The Good Acre
1790 Larpenteur Ave. W., Falcon Heights, MN 55113
thegoodacre.orgSprout Nola
P.O. Box 19374, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119
www.sproutnola.farm.org
Southside Community Land Trust
404 Broad Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02907
www.southsideclt.org
Second Chance Foods
120 Marvin Avenue, Brewster, NY 10509-1507
www.secondchancefoods.org
San Diego Food System Alliance
P.O. Box 3185, San Diego, CA 92163
https://sdfsa.org/
Rhode Island Public Health Foundation Inc
7 Central St, Providence, RI 02907
https://riphi.org/
Rhode Island Food Policy Council
10 Davol Sq, Suite 100, Providence, RI 02903
http://www.rifoodcouncil.org/
Regenerative Agriculture Alliance
301 Division St S, Northfield, Minnesota 55987
www.regenagalliance.org
ReFED Inc
122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1390-L74, Chicago, IL 60603
refed.org
Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation
4035 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70125
https://www.gopropeller.org/
Project Potluck
2261 Market Street STE 86103, San Francisco, CA 94114
www.potluckcpg.org
Organic Farming Research Foundation
P.O. Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
https://ofrf.org/
Oregon Tilth Inc
301 SW 4th Street, Suite 110, Corvallis, Oregon 97333
https://tilth.org/
Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust
101 Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
www.montereybayfisheriestrust.org
Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association
MOFGA, P.O. Box 170, Unity, ME 04988
www.mofga.org
Loaves and Fishes Too
721 Kasota Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
https://www.loavesandfishesmn.org
Land For Good Inc
PO Box 625, Keene, NH 03431
www.landforgood.org
Kitchen of Purpose
918 S. Lincoln Street, Suite 2, Arlington, VA 22204
www.kitchenofpurpose.org
Just Roots Inc
50 Glenbrook Dr, Greenfield, MA 01301
https://justroots.org/
Hope & Main
691 Main Street, Warren, RI 02885
https://www.makefoodyourbusiness.org/
Hmong American Farmers Association
149 Thompson Avenue East, West St. Paul, MN 55118
https://www.hmongfarmers.com/
FoodRecovery.org
4410 Massachusetts Ave NW, #397, Washington, DC 20016
https://foodrecovery.org
Food Forward Inc
7412 Fulton Ave Ste #3, North Hollywood, California 91605
https://foodforward.org
Farm Connect Montana
P.O. Box 7025, Missoula, MT 59807
www.farmconnectmontana.org
Alchemist CDC
4625 44th Street, Suite 33, Sacramento, CA 95820
https://alchemistcdc.org/
Farm Fresh Rhode Island
10 Sims Avenue, Unit 103, Providence, RI 02909
https://www.farmfreshri.org
CCOF Foundation
877 Cedar Street, Suite 248, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
https://www.ccof.org/foundation/
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
P.O. Box 99100
Seattle, WA 98139
https://www.unitedindians.org/
15 Minute Field Trips
45 Dean Ave
Johnston, RI 02919
https://15minutefieldtrips.org/
Hilltown Community Development Corporation
PO BOX 17
Chesterfield, MA 01012
https://www.hilltowncdc.org/
Anoka County Brotherhood Council (ACBC Food Shelf)
PO Box 774
Anoka, MN 55303
https://www.acbcfoodshelf.org/
McAuley Ministries
PO Box 73195
Providence, RI 02907
https://mcauleyri.org/
The Food Group Minnesota, Inc.
8501 54th Ave N
New Hope, MN 55428
https://www.thefoodgroupmn.org/
Interfaith Human Services of Putnam
P O Box 281
Putnam, CT 06260
https://www.interfaithhumanservicesofputnam.org/
Venture Café Foundation
Branchfood in c/o Venture Café Global Institute
One Broadway, 14th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
Nourish Colorado
501 South Cherry Street Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80246
https://www.nourishcolorado.org/
The Food Trust
1617 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 900
Philadelphia, PA 19103
https://thefoodtrust.org/
Kim's Krew, Inc.
PO Box 14152, Bradenton, Florida 34280
https://www.kimskrew.org
La Tiendita
2309 North Ridge Rd, McKinney, Texas 75069
https://latienditamckinney.org/
Reaching Beyond the Walls RVA
9519 Brocket Drive, Midlothian, VA 23112
Sustainable Food Center
2921 East 17th Street, Bldg C, Austin, TX 78702
https://sustainablefoodcenter.org
Paul's Pantry
1513 Leo Frigo Way, Green Bay, WI 54302-1163
https://paulspantry.org
21 Roots Farm
10361 110th Street N, Grant, MN 55082
21 Roots Farm
Common Ground Collective
810 Kokomo Road, Suite 150, Haiku, Hawaii 96708
https://www.commongroundhawaii.org
C.A.S.E. Community Alliance to Support and Empower
PO Box 1585, El Segundo, CA 90245
https://casepantryelsegundo.org/
Bountiful Basket Food Shelf Of Eastern Carver County
1600 Bavaria Rd, Chaska, MN 55318
https://bountifulbasketfoodshelf.org
CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank
1121 S Gilbert Ct, Iowa City, IA 52240
https://builtbycommunity.org/
Extra Table Feeds
101 Madison Plaza, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
https://www.extratable.org/
Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.
1204 Greenbush St, Lafayette, IN 47904
https://www.food-finders.org/contact/
Food Recovery Network
1012 14th St NW, Suite 903, Washington, DC 20005
http://foodrecoverynetwork.org
Good Neighbors Community Kitchen and Food Pantry
55 Turner Ave, Riverside, RI 02915
https://www.goodneighborsri.org/Higher Ground International
21 Peace Street, Providence, RI
https://highergroundintl.org/
Hollywood Food Coalition
PO Box 480157, Los Angeles, CA 90048
https://hofoco.org/
Hunger Task Force
5000 West Electric Avenue, West Milwaukee, WI
https://www.hungertaskforce.org
Lebanon Food Pantry
PO Box 534, Lebanon, OH 45036
https://www.facebook.com/LebanonFoodPantry/about
Monocacy Farms
395 Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017
https://www.monocacyfarmproject.org/
Mothers Helping Mothers
5933 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240
https://www.mhmsarasota.com/
Mountain Roots Project
PO Box 323, Gunnison, CO 81230
https://www.mountainrootsfoodproject.org/
Not Our Farm
4623 Palo Alto Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
https://www.notourfarm.org/
Open Arms of Minnesota
2500 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
https://openarmsminnesota.orgPeople Reaching Out to People (PROP)
14700 Martin Dr., Eden Prairie, MN 55344
https://propmn.org
Plates With Purpose
5C Nicole Circle, Smithfield, RI 02917
https://www.plateswithpurpose.org/
Policy Partners Inc
4801 5th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33703
https://www.policypartners.org/
Reap (Raytown Emergency Assistance Program)
9300 E 75th St., Raytown, MO
https://raytownreap.org/
Smart Bellies
PO Box 8374, Breckenridge, CO 80424
https://www.smartbellies.org/
The Common Market
428 E Erie Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134
https://thecommonmarket.org
Climate Collaborative
3150 Orleans St, PO Box 30738, Bellingham, WA 98228
Zero Foodprint
2370 Market St. Suite 103 Box 332, San Francisco, CA 94114