Retail Capacity Grant

The Retail Capacity Grant is a funding opportunity administered by Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin to support and expand retail food recovery efforts across its service region. Second Harvest Foodbank operates as a regional hunger relief organization, coordinating partnerships with local food pantries and community organizations to redistribute surplus food to individuals and families in need. This grant initiative reflects the organization’s broader mission to reduce food waste while improving access to nutritious food, particularly in underserved and rural communities. By strengthening the infrastructure and operational capacity of its partner network, the program aims to enhance the scale and efficiency of retail food recovery systems. The primary purpose of the Retail Capacity Grant is to enable eligible partner organizations to either expand existing retail recovery programs or establish new ones. Retail recovery involves collecting surplus food from grocery stores and other retailers, including fresh produce, dairy, meat, prepared foods, and shelf-stable goods, and redistributing it to communities. The grant provides funding to support investments that directly increase the volume and consistency of recovered food. These investments may include equipment, cold storage, transportation assets, staffing support, and technology solutions that improve coordination and tracking of food donations. Funding through this opportunity totals 600000 dollars and is distributed as one-time awards ranging from 5000 dollars to 150000 dollars per recipient. Allowable uses of funds include infrastructure improvements such as cold storage expansion, refrigerated vehicles, and loading systems; technology enhancements such as MealConnect integration; and limited-term staffing to support increased operational capacity. All funded activities must directly contribute to increased retail recovery capacity and must be completed within the defined grant period. Funds must be obligated for equipment or vehicle purchases by October 31 following award notification, though delivery may occur later within the grant period. Eligibility for this grant is restricted to active partners of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin that are current on reporting requirements and operate within the organization’s sixteen-county service area. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to expand capacity, manage awarded funds responsibly, and comply with reporting obligations. The application requires submission via email and must include a completed application form, a corresponding budget document, and responses to a series of narrative questions addressing current operations, proposed projects, anticipated impacts, and implementation strategies. The evaluation process is based on a structured scoring rubric that considers retail growth potential, operational readiness, community need, and commitment to data reporting. Specific evaluation factors include anticipated increases in food pickup frequency, expansion of donor relationships, service to underserved populations, and the applicant’s ability to execute and sustain the proposed project. Applicants are also expected to demonstrate alignment with grant goals such as improving infrastructure, increasing data quality, and strengthening engagement with diverse retail partners. The application timeline begins with the opening of the application window in mid June, with a submission deadline at the end of July. Award notifications are issued by the end of August, and the grant period begins shortly thereafter in September. The grant period extends through the end of August of the following year, during which recipients must complete all funded activities and comply with reporting requirements. Reporting occurs every four months and includes submission of receipts, progress updates, and documentation of impact such as stories or testimonials. Applicants may submit questions via email during the application period and are encouraged to attend optional information sessions to gain clarification. All communications and submissions are managed through the program’s designated email contact. The structured timeline, defined eligibility requirements, and detailed reporting expectations ensure that the program maintains accountability while supporting meaningful growth in retail food recovery efforts across Southern Wisconsin.

Focus on demonstrating measurable increases in retail recovery capacity strong implementation planning and alignment with community need especially in underserved or rural areas; emphasize operational readiness and data reporting capability