The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation – Q4 Community Grants (2026)

Grants of $500–$10,000 Supporting Food Access, Youth, Families, and Stronger Communities

The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations working to strengthen communities through fresh food, improved access to nutritious food, and programs that help children, youth, and families thrive.

The Foundation reviews grant applications quarterly. The Q4 2026 grant cycle is open to organizations meeting the general giving guidelines, with applications due November 10, 2026.

Organization: The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation
Support Type: Corporate foundation grants
Funding Amount: $500–$10,000
Geographic Focus: Communities within The Save Mart Companies’ store geographic areas, with the Foundation’s recent grantmaking focused primarily in California and Western Nevada
Deadline: November 10, 2026

New to corporate grant fundraising?

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

About the Funder

The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation is the philanthropic nonprofit organization of The Save Mart Companies, the grocery company behind Save Mart, Lucky, FoodMaxx, and other regional grocery brands.

The Foundation invests in community-based nonprofits that provide important resources to children and families and help build healthier, stronger communities.

The CARES Foundation has invested more than $6 million in nonprofit organizations since its inception, with recent funding supporting organizations addressing food insecurity, education, health, youth development, the arts, and other essential community needs.

What This Program Supports

The CARES Foundation’s primary focus is building stronger communities through fresh food, access to food, and programs that support youth and help them thrive.

Strong applicants may include organizations working in areas such as:

Food Access & Hunger Relief

Programs helping individuals and families access fresh, healthy, and nutritious food, including food banks, food pantries, and other community-based hunger relief initiatives.

Children & Youth

Programs providing resources, education, enrichment, healthy experiences, or other support that helps children and young people thrive.

Healthy Communities

Community programs that improve health, wellbeing, and access to resources that help individuals and families lead healthier lives.

Education & Community Resources

Organizations providing educational opportunities and other essential resources that strengthen families and communities may also align with the Foundation’s broader community investment priorities.

Eligible Support Types

The CARES Foundation provides:

• Grants ranging from $500 to $10,000
• Programmatic support for eligible nonprofit organizations
• Community-based funding aligned with the Foundation’s giving priorities

Organizations requesting grants of less than $500 should contact the Store Manager of their nearest Save Mart Companies store for consideration.

Product donations, youth sports team sponsorships, and community organization fundraiser requests should also be directed to a local Store Manager.

Eligibility & Preferences

The CARES Foundation provides grant funding to eligible nonprofit organizations operating within The Save Mart Companies’ geographic areas of operation.

Recent Foundation materials identify IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations as eligible grant recipients.

During its quarterly review, the Foundation considers factors such as:

• Breadth of the audience served
• Likely community impact
• Importance of the community need being addressed
• Organization or program reputation
• History of community service
• Financial stability

Organizations receiving grants for more than one year must be able to demonstrate meaningful outcomes from the Foundation’s previous investment.

Geographic Note: Recent CARES Foundation grantmaking announcements emphasize nonprofit organizations throughout California and Western Nevada. Organizations outside those areas should confirm geographic eligibility before applying.

Ineligible Requests

The CARES Foundation does not provide funding for:

• Individuals, except when individuals are supported through the work of an eligible nonprofit
• Fundraising activities or events
• For-profit organizations
• Professional associations or similar organizations
• Churches, temples, synagogues, or mosques
• Organizations or programs receiving the majority of their funding from federal, state, or local government or related agencies
• Staff costs
• Organizations carrying overhead expenses above what the Foundation considers best-in-class, generally around 20%

The Foundation may provide funding directly to an eligible organization or program but does not fund fundraising activities intended to raise money for that organization.

Funding Amounts

Grant Range: $500–$10,000

Requests submitted through the CARES Foundation grant program must be at least $500.

Organizations seeking less than $500 should contact their nearest Save Mart Companies Store Manager instead.

Timeline & Review

📅 Q4 Application Deadline: November 10, 2026
📅 Review Schedule: Quarterly
📅 Grant Cycle: Q4 applications are open to organizations meeting the Foundation’s general giving guidelines

Applications are considered competitively against other requests received during the same cycle.

Application / Request Process

Organizations should submit their application through The CARES Foundation’s online grant portal.

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate:

• A clear and significant community need
• How the proposed program aligns with CARES Foundation priorities
• The population and community that will benefit
• Expected community impact
• Organizational stability and a strong history of service
• Meaningful outcomes, particularly for organizations that have previously received CARES Foundation support

Apply / Learn More:

➡️ Giving Guidelines:
https://www.thesavemartcompanies.com/giving-guidelines

➡️ CARES Foundation Grant Application:
https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=savemart

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for organizations that:

• Serve communities where The Save Mart Companies operates
• Have IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
• Address food insecurity or increase access to fresh, nutritious food
• Provide programs benefiting children, youth, and families
• Deliver measurable community impact
• Have a strong local reputation and history of service
• Are seeking a relatively accessible grant of $500–$10,000

The CARES Foundation may be especially attractive to smaller and community-based nonprofits because the funding range is designed for localized programs where a modest corporate grant can make a visible difference.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Quarterly competitive review
Funding Range: $500–$10,000
Deadline: November 10, 2026
Best Suited For: Local 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on food access, children and youth, healthy communities, education, and essential community resources
Geographic Priority: The Save Mart Companies store communities, particularly California and Western Nevada