The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation – Feeding Forward Grant Cycle (2026)
Grants Supporting Retail Food Recovery Infrastructure
The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation supports community-based nonprofit organizations working to build stronger communities through fresh foods, access to food, and programs that help youth thrive. The foundation’s Q3 2026 grant cycle is a special Feeding Forward cycle, open exclusively to organizations engaged in retail food recovery efforts with funding requests related to infrastructure needs.
Organization: The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation
Support Type: Community grants / food recovery infrastructure grants
Geographic Focus: Communities served by The Save Mart Companies, including Save Mart, Lucky, and FoodMaxx store communities
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About the Funder
The Save Mart Companies operates Save Mart, Lucky, and FoodMaxx stores and supports local communities through The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation. Established in 2000, the CARES Foundation is the company’s philanthropic nonprofit organization.
The foundation supports programs and organizations that provide vital resources for children and families in the communities The Save Mart Companies serves. Its giving focuses on building stronger communities through fresh foods, access to food, and programs that support youth and help them thrive.
What This Program Supports
The Q3 2026 Feeding Forward Grant Cycle is focused specifically on retail food recovery efforts.
For the August 2026 cycle, eligible requests must be related to:
Retail food recovery efforts
Infrastructure needs that support food recovery work
Programs that improve access to fresh food
Community-based food access initiatives serving children, families, or residents in need
This is not a general giving cycle. Q3 grants are limited to Feeding Forward–related applications only.
Eligible Support Types
Grant requests may range from $500 to $10,000.
Requests should support programs or organizations that align with The CARES Foundation’s focus areas and, for the Q3 cycle, must be connected to retail food recovery infrastructure needs.
Programs or organizations requesting less than $500 should contact the store manager of the nearest Save Mart Companies store location for local request consideration.
Eligibility & Preferences
The CARES Foundation reviews applications quarterly and considers factors such as:
Breadth of the audience served
Likely community impact
Importance of the community need being addressed
Community reputation of the organization or program
Service history
Financial stability
The foundation notes that no single factor is necessarily weighted more heavily than another. Each application is reviewed in comparison with other groups and programs seeking funding during the same cycle.
Organizations receiving grants for more than one year must demonstrate meaningful outcomes from the foundation’s previous investment.
Ineligible Requests
The CARES Foundation does not provide funding for:
Individuals, except when supported through selected nonprofit programs
Fundraisers or fundraising activities
For-profit groups
Professional associations or similar organizations
Churches, temples, synagogues, or mosques
Groups or programs that receive the majority of their funding from federal, state, or local government or related agencies
Staff costs
Organizations with overhead expenses above best-in-class standards, generally 20%
Product donation requests, youth sports team sponsorships, and community organization fundraiser requests should be directed to a local store manager rather than submitted through the grant application.
Funding Amounts
Grant requests should be a minimum of $500 and may be up to $10,000.
The CARES Foundation contributes approximately $500,000 annually in small grants to support community-based nonprofit organizations.
Timeline & Review
📅 Application Deadline: August 10, 2026
📅 Grant Cycle: Q3 Feeding Forward Grant Cycle
📅 Review Type: Quarterly review
The August 10, 2026 deadline is open exclusively to organizations engaged in retail food recovery efforts with funding requests related to infrastructure needs.
Application / Request Process
Applicants should submit requests through The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation online grant application.
Apply / Learn More:
➡️ https://www.thesavemartcompanies.com/community/
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This opportunity is a strong fit for nonprofit organizations that:
Are engaged in retail food recovery efforts
Need infrastructure support to strengthen food recovery work
Serve communities connected to Save Mart, Lucky, or FoodMaxx store areas
Work to improve access to fresh food
Can demonstrate meaningful community need and likely local impact
Because the Q3 cycle is limited to Feeding Forward–related applications, this deadline is best suited for organizations with a clear food recovery infrastructure request rather than general food access, youth, or community programming proposals.
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Quarterly review
Deadline: August 10, 2026
Funding Range: $500–$10,000
Best Suited For: Nonprofits engaged in retail food recovery infrastructure work
Application Notes: The Q3 cycle is limited to Feeding Forward–related applications only. General giving requests should be considered for other quarterly cycles.
