Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation – Fall/Winter Hunger Relief Grants (2026)

Grants Supporting Food Purchases for Hunger-Relief Programs

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations working to address hunger in communities served by Food Lion stores.

Foundation grants are specifically intended to help hunger-relief organizations purchase food for distribution to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. The 2026 Fall/Winter grant cycle is open from July 13 through September 17, 2026, with awards expected in early December.

Organization: Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation
Support Type: Hunger-relief grants
Geographic Focus: Communities within 20 miles of a Food Lion store in 10 eligible states
Application Deadline: September 17, 2026
Award Timing: Early December 2026

New to corporate grant fundraising?
Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

About the Funder

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Food Lion and supports nonprofit feeding partners working to eliminate hunger across the grocery retailer’s operating area.

The Foundation invests in local organizations that help individuals and families access food, including food pantries, community feeding programs, meal distribution organizations, and other hunger-relief initiatives.

Food Lion Feeds works with local feeding organizations, customers, associates, and community partners to increase access to nutritious food and help communities respond to food insecurity.

What This Program Supports

Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation grants are focused exclusively on hunger relief.

Grant funds may only be used for:

• Purchasing food for hunger-relief programs
• Stocking food pantry shelves
• Purchasing food for community distributions
• Supporting meal programs
• Providing groceries to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity
• Purchasing food for eligible backpack or child hunger programs
• Supporting other direct food-access initiatives

Applicants should clearly explain how the requested funds will be used to purchase food and how that food will be distributed to people experiencing hunger.

Important Funding Restriction

Foundation grant funds may only be used for the purchase of food in support of the applicant’s hunger-relief work.

Organizations should not request funding for:

• Salaries
• General operating expenses
• Equipment
• Vehicles
• Facility improvements
• Refrigeration or storage systems
• Transportation
• Administrative expenses
• Marketing or communications
• Non-food program costs

Applications should include a clear plan for using the full award to purchase food.

Geographic Eligibility

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation limits grants to organizations based in or providing services within Food Lion’s 10-state operating area.

Eligible organizations must serve communities within approximately 20 miles of a Food Lion store in one of the following states:

• Delaware
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia

Applicants should confirm that the people served by the proposed hunger-relief program are located within the required geographic area.

Organizations may use Food Lion’s store locator to determine whether their program operates within 20 miles of a Food Lion location.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants should be established organizations providing direct hunger-relief services within the eligible geographic area.

Eligible applicants may include:

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Food pantries
• Food distribution organizations
• Community meal programs
• Hunger-relief organizations
• Qualifying government institutions or agencies providing food assistance

Applicants must also provide a letter from a local food bank partner that is part of the Feeding America network.

Organizations should establish or confirm this relationship before beginning the application.

Application Frequency

Organizations are eligible to apply only once every 12 months.

Applicants should review the date of their most recent Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation application or award before applying.

An organization that applied during another Foundation cycle within the previous 12 months may not be eligible for the Fall/Winter opportunity.

Funding Amounts

Food Lion does not publish a standard minimum or maximum grant amount for this opportunity.

Award amounts may vary based on:

• The number of people served
• The scale of the hunger-relief program
• The organization’s food purchasing needs
• Geographic reach
• Available Foundation resources
• The strength and completeness of the application

Applicants should request an amount that can be used entirely for eligible food purchases and supported by a clear program plan.

Required Application Documents

A complete application must include:

Completed Online Application

All sections of the online application must be completed.

Applicants should provide clear information about:

• The organization
• The population served
• The hunger-related need
• The proposed use of funds
• The amount of food expected to be purchased
• How food will be distributed
• The anticipated number of people reached

IRS Determination Letter

501(c)(3) nonprofit applicants must upload a copy of their IRS determination letter confirming tax-exempt status.

Signed 2025 Form W-9

Applicants must upload a signed and dated 2025 IRS Form W-9.

Organizations should confirm that the legal name and taxpayer identification information on the form match the information entered in the application.

Current Board of Directors List

Nonprofit applicants must submit a current list of board members.

The list should accurately reflect the organization’s current governing board at the time of application.

Government Affiliation Documentation

Government institutions must provide written verification from the appropriate state or local municipality confirming the department or agency’s affiliation.

Government applicants must also provide an applicable staff list or city or county board list.

Feeding America Partner Letter

Applicants must provide a letter from their local food bank partner within the Feeding America network.

The letter should confirm the organization’s relationship with the food bank partner and support the organization’s hunger-relief work.

Applicants should request this letter well before the September deadline.

Timeline & Review

📅 Application Opens: July 13, 2026
📅 Application Deadline: September 17, 2026
📅 Award Notification: Early December 2026
📅 Application Frequency: Once every 12 months

Applications should be submitted before the deadline with all required documents attached.

Organizations should not wait until the final day to request the Feeding America partner letter or gather tax and governance documents.

Application / Request Process

Applications must be submitted through the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation’s online application process.

Before applying, organizations should confirm that:

• Their hunger-relief work operates within 20 miles of a Food Lion store
• Their organization serves one of the 10 eligible states
• Grant funds will be used exclusively to purchase food
• They have not applied within the previous 12 months
• Their IRS determination letter is available
• Their 2025 Form W-9 is complete, signed, and dated
• Their current board list is ready
• They have obtained a letter from a local Feeding America network food bank partner
• All required sections of the online application are complete

Questions may be directed to flcf@foodlion.com.

Apply / Learn More:
➡️ https://foodlion.com/pages/food-lion-feeds?tab=charitable-foundation

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for organizations that:

• Operate food pantries or food distribution programs
• Provide meals or groceries to individuals and families experiencing hunger
• Serve communities within 20 miles of a Food Lion store
• Work in one of Food Lion’s 10 eligible states
• Have a relationship with a Feeding America network food bank
• Need funding specifically to purchase food
• Can document the number of people served and the impact of food assistance
• Have not applied to the Foundation within the previous 12 months

This grant is best suited for established hunger-relief organizations with direct food distribution programs and the ability to use the full award for food purchases.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Deadline: September 17, 2026
Application Period: July 13–September 17, 2026
Award Timing: Early December 2026
Funding Amount: Not publicly specified
Eligible Use: Food purchases only
Geographic Requirement: Within 20 miles of a Food Lion store
Eligible States: Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
Application Frequency: Once every 12 months
Required Partnership: Letter from a local Feeding America network food bank partner
Best Suited For: Food pantries, community feeding programs, and other organizations providing direct hunger relief
Important Restriction: Grant funds cannot be used for non-food program, operating, staffing, equipment, or administrative expenses