Capacity Investment Grant

The Capacity Investment Grant is administered by Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, an organization dedicated to increasing access to nutritious food and strengthening long term food security for residents across Mercer County, New Jersey. Mercer Street Friends operates as a central food bank and community support organization, working in partnership with local agencies to address hunger and related social needs. This funding opportunity is made possible through support from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Food Security Advocate, reflecting a broader statewide commitment to improving food access and public health outcomes. The purpose of the grant is to enhance the operational capacity of hunger relief organizations within Mercer County. Funding is intended to support expansion of food distribution, improve infrastructure, and increase access to nutritious foods for underserved populations. The program emphasizes investments that enable agencies to operate more effectively, including improvements to storage, logistics, and service delivery models. A particular focus is placed on advancing choice based food distribution systems that allow clients to select foods aligned with their preferences and dietary needs, thereby promoting dignity and better health outcomes. Allowable uses of funds include the procurement of nutrient dense foods, cold storage equipment such as refrigerators and freezers, and operational tools such as shelving, pallet jacks, and reusable bags. The grant also supports enhancements to choice marketplace models and other capacity building initiatives that improve food access. However, certain expenses are explicitly prohibited, including payments or stipends for staff or volunteers and general office or cleaning supplies. All purchases must be justified, documented, and supported by three vendor quotes, and detailed specifications such as make and model must be included in the application. Eligibility is limited to hunger relief organizations operating within Mercer County. Applicants must either hold a current 501(c)(3) designation or qualify as a religious organization that is exempt from such requirements under federal regulations. Each organization may submit only one application, and proposals must demonstrate the ability to increase service capacity, address a clear community need, and sustain operations over time. Applicants must also provide financial documentation, including their most recent budget and financial statements, along with proof of nonprofit status. The application process requires submission of a completed application form along with supporting documentation. Applicants must describe their current programs, identify the specific need or challenge they aim to address, outline project goals, and provide a detailed budget. Additional requirements include justification for all requested purchases and confirmation of any supplemental funding needed to complete those purchases. Applications can be submitted via email, postal mail, or in person delivery to the designated address. Questions may be directed to the program email inbox managed by designated staff. Applications are evaluated based on several criteria, including organizational capacity, demonstrated community need, projected impact on infrastructure and service delivery, feasibility of the implementation plan, evaluation metrics, and long term sustainability. Each criterion is weighted to ensure a balanced assessment of both immediate impact and future benefits. Strong proposals will clearly demonstrate how the requested funding will expand services, improve efficiency, and create lasting improvements in food access within the community. The grant follows a defined timeline, with applications opening in early July and closing later that month. A formal question and answer period is provided, and responses are shared publicly to ensure transparency. Award notifications are issued in early August, and the funding period is short, requiring all funds to be spent by the end of September. Grantees must submit progress and final reports, including documentation of expenditures and evidence of project implementation, such as photographs. This compressed timeline underscores the program’s focus on immediate, tangible improvements to food distribution capacity.

Demonstrate strong community need and clear impact; prioritize projects that expand food access and improve operational capacity; provide detailed and justified budgets with feasible timelines