Programs

  • Food Bank Capacity Building

    TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING: GFN provides capability-building services through subject matter experts, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and partner engagement and aligns these knowledge services with catalytic financing, with an aim of accelerating food bank social and environmental impact and effectiveness. The focus for knowledge services is determined through organizational assessment, and food banking members pursue a multiyear plan to increase organizational effectiveness in targeted ways. GFN provided knowledge resources through a variety of pathways in FY2025, including: Re-starting the rigorous, standards-based Certification Process; one-to-one advisory services conducted virtually and in person; training and experience-sharing at a regional meeting held in Accra, Ghana; subject-focused webinars; and Fellowship Exchanges among food banks. Common areas for capability building include food safety, logistics and supply chain efficiencies, product sourcing, nonprofit fundraising, governance, and data collection and decision-making. GFN PROVIDES SERVICES TO ALL NETWORK MEMBERS BUT OFFERS CONCENTRATED SUPPORT IN MARKETS THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY HUNGER AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES. Across the network in FY2025, nine of the 10 food banks that had the largest increases in people served year-over-year came from emerging and developing markets.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $9.6M

  • Food Bank Accelerator Program

    ACCELERATOR: GFN's Food Bank Accelerator program empowers new food banks to learn from other food banks, expand services and establish credibility through a cohort approach over three years. The program provides technical and financial support, mentoring, peer-to-peer connections and Fellowship Exchanges, and partnership opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable to partners establishing operations in areas where the food banking model is relatively unknown. Currently, the Accelerator supports two cohorts. The newest cohort consists of three food banks in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines) and five food banks in Africa (Cote D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Mauritius). Together, that cohort increased the number of people reached by 20% in 2024.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.1M

  • Mobilizing Food System Action

    MOBILIZING FOOD SYSTEM ACTION: Food banking organizations make a marked difference in the lives of millions of people and strengthen community and national resilience. They are also agents for change in transforming food systems. In FY2025, GFN united its network to increase understanding about the importance of connecting food surplus with those facing hunger through targeted engagements to food systems players and national governments. GFN continued its partnership with the Harvard Law School's Food Law and Policy Clinic on The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas to better understand national legal frameworks to discourage food loss and waste and encourage food redistribution. In FY2025, the Atlas promoted and encouraged improved food donation legislation in Brazil, Ecuador, France, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.7M