$310,000 in Grants Support 36 Regional Food Shelves
The Initiative Foundation has awarded $310,000 through two recent rounds of grantmaking to support 36 food shelves and supporting community organizations across Central Minnesota. The investment helps local partners meet growing demand as families contend with rising prices and increased seasonal need.
The Foundation’s most recent grants include $210,000 directed to 28 food shelves and supporting organizations located in Region Five—Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties. These awards were made through the Sourcewell Region Five Food Security Fund, a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation.
“Supporting local food shelves is critical to ensuring no family goes hungry and that communities remain resilient in times of need,” said Tammy Filippi, Sourcewell senior resource development administrator. “We hope this funding not only sustains essential operations but also expands access and strengthens emergency food distribution for thousands of our neighbors across our five-county service region.”
In addition, a philanthropic donor partnered with the Initiative Foundation to distribute a second round of $100,000 to 17 food shelves across the Foundation’s 14-county, two-Native-nation service area. These grants were delivered with a focus on communities of 1,000 or fewer residents. The goal: strengthen access to emergency food in rural areas that often lack larger philanthropic resources.
Together, these investments bolster a network of essential community resources working hard to meet rising local demand.
Food-Focused in 2025
Since July, the Initiative Foundation and its partners have delivered more than $400,000 in regional food shelf support to help meet local demand. A July grant round delivered $100,000 to 18 food shelves across Central Minnesota to help communities manage a surge in demand.
“Food shelves are telling us that more families are struggling to keep up with higher food prices,” said Amy Trombley, Initiative Foundation vice president for community. “This need becomes even more acute during the holiday season. These grants help local organizations respond with dignity and compassion.”
The Foundation encourages Central Minnesotans to support their local food shelf through financial gifts and food donations. Local generosity ensures food shelves can respond quickly and consistently to neighbors in need—especially during the winter months, when demand is highest.