Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $5,369,327 (tax year 2023, from 990-PF field: contrpdpbks)
- Geographic Focus: United States and Canada
- Application Method: Invitation-only (requires Team Member nomination)
- Number of Grants: Based on recent reports, the Community First Grant programme awarded 94 grants in 2025
- Total Assets: $4,019,756 (tax year 2023)
Contact Details
- Website: https://www.wholefoodsmarketfoundation.org/
- Email: [email protected]
Funding Priorities
- Food access initiatives (community gardens, mobile markets, healthy cooking classes)
- Children's nutrition and nutrition education programmes
- Edible learning spaces in schools (K-12 garden grants)
What They Don't Fund
- Food pantries, food banks, and food donation/redistribution programmes
- Gift card donations or in-kind donations (for store-directed giving)
Application Process & Timeline
The Community First Grant has a unique nomination-based process. Organisations cannot apply directly - they must first be nominated by a Whole Foods Market Team Member. Each year, Team Members nominate community partner organisations they currently engage with (or would like to start engaging with). The Foundation team then reviews nominations and invites eligible organisations to submit a full grant application.
The process begins each summer, with the grant year ending the following autumn.
Eligibility: US organisations must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or partnered with one; Canadian organisations must be a Registered Charity or partnered with one. Projects should broaden long-term access to fresh, healthy food and/or nutrition education.
Additional programmes include the Whole Kids Garden Grant (direct online application at wholekidsfoundation.org/gardengrant) and Store Giving (submitted through Whole Foods Market's Community Engagement Portal).
References
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