• hsm grants

Available Hunger Solutions Minnesota Grantsdollar sign

If your food shelf is struggling financially or you’re finding it difficult to the meet the need in your community, we strongly encourage you to apply for an HSM emergency grant. If you are looking to replace a broken or old piece of equipment, please consider applying for an HSM equipment grant. Funds are currently available for residential freezers or refrigerators, scales or metal shelving. HSM also has a limited amount in funding for an Education/Training fund. These scholarships are for HSM member food shelf directors who want to attend training sessions but do not have the resources to do so.

Emergency grants

HSM is entrusted with $30,000 in state of Minnesota funds each fiscal year, funds are designated for food shelves in Minnesota that are experiencing an emergency. As funds available are limited, food shelves will be eligible to receive emergency funding no more than once every two state fiscal years. There will be two separate funding cycles each year, with the first running June through November and the second running December through May. As a guideline, $15,000 will be designated for distribution each funding cycle.

The Hunger Solutions Minnesota Staff will use the following criteria to consider funding applications:

  • Does the situation listed in the funding proposal pose a risk for the food shelf to continue serving its community?
  • Is the food shelf effective at serving its community?
  • Were other funding resources utilized or sought?
  • If funded, does the food shelf have the ability to overcome the challenge that has caused the emergency?

Emergency grant requests are accepted at any time during the year. Applications are reviewed by HSM staff. Upon reviewing the application, a HSM staff member may follow up with the requesting food shelf for more information. If funding is authorized, it will typically take three weeks for the food shelf to receive the funds since we need to apply for a funding draw down from the state.

Equipment grants

Hunger Solutions currently has funds available for the purchase by HSM of industrial scales, residential refrigerators and freezers, and metal shelving for food shelves in Minnesota without the resources to replace or add this type of equipment. HSM will use the following criteria to consider funding applications: the member is in good standing with HSM, a need is present and grant application is complete. HSM will accept applications until the funds are spent.

Education/Leadership Training

Hunger Solutions has set aside a limited amount in program funding for an Education/Training Fund. These scholarships are for HSM member food shelf directors who want to attend training sessions but do not have the resources to do so. Training sessions can focus on budgeting, grant writing, foreign language, volunteer management, leadership development, and more. The grants are limited to the class/training fee only. The funds can be used for upcoming sessions given by Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Minnesota Council on Foundations, the University of St. Thomas, and others. As funds available are limited, only one scholarship per food shelf each year is available.

Contact Jim Redmond at 651-789-9840/800-782-6372 or jredmond@hungersolutions.org for grant applications.