The Food Security Grant is designed to strengthen or expand community-based programs that improve food security for Durham residents.
Donor Name: Durham County
State: North Carolina
County: Durham County (NC)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/17/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
Through the Durham County Food Security Grant program, funding is available to organizations that are working to improve food security for Durham County residents. Nonprofit organizations are invited to submit proposals that increase food access and/or address the causes of food insecurity.
Projects may use a wide range of strategies, including but not limited to:
- Providing direct food assistance
- Helping residents access nutrition programs
- Building organizational capacity
- Improving coordination between service providers
- Offering training in growing, preparing, or sourcing food
Funding Information
A total of $300,000 is available. Grants will range from $20,000 to $50,000, and anticipate awarding 5–10 organizations. The project period is 8 months.
Allowable Expenses
- Food (no more than 60% of project budget).
- Grocery gift cards are allowable only as part of a larger project (such as participation incentives or supplements to food distribution) and may not be the primary method of food distribution. Organizations must describe how gift cards will be distributed and tracked, and this process must be reviewed and approved by the County.
- Materials and supplies (e.g., bags, waxed boxes, cleaning products).
- Equipment (e.g., cold storage, freezer, shelving, hand truck, cart, tables).
- Compensation or stipends for employees and/or volunteers.
- Transportation (e.g., mileage reimbursement, gas cards) for staff or volunteers to complete project activities such as delivering food.
- Technological resources (e.g., hotspot).
- Staff time and expenses for reflection, strategic planning, and staff development.
- General operating support such as utility, overhead, rent, etc. (up to 20% of the total proposed budget).
- Sub-granting to up to two key project partners; a lead organization that also serves as the fiscal agent and takes on the responsibility for reporting must be identified, and partner roles must be clearly described.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be:
- A nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status or an organization fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3).
- Conducting work that takes place in and benefits communities within Durham County.
- Working to improve food security for households in Durham; applications must clearly describe how the proposed work improves food security.
Preference will be given to:
- Organizations that are located in or deeply connected to the communities they plan to serve.
- Projects that demonstrate shared decision-making with the community they propose serving, especially people who are most directly affected by food insecurity.
- Projects that include collaborations/partnerships with other local organizations.
- Projects that combine longer term food system changes in their own organization while addressing short term food access needs.
- Projects that expand food access for residents who face additional barriers (e.g., disabled or older adults with transportation challenges; families whose income is just above SNAP/WIC eligibility; communities in census tracts with higher levels of poverty).
For more information, visit Durham County.
