FLEXIBLE FUNDING GRANTS (2021-2022)
Background
COVID-19 brought incredible challenges to Washington’s hunger relief network (made up of 500+ food pantries, meal programs, and tribal organizations) and a rise in food insecurity. Thousands of families in Washington State are currently struggling to meet their nutritional needs.
Lessons of the pandemic are informing current strategies to equip our state’s hunger relief network and help meet the needs of our State. The Washington State Legislature has authorized new flexible funding to support innovative and creative solutions within the Washington hunger relief network, including this grant program.
Grants Overview: [English] [Amharic አማርኛ] [Arabic عربي] [Chinese 中國人] [Farsi فارسی] [Khmer ភាសាខ្មែរ] [Korean 한국인] [Laotian ໄທລາວ] [Russian Pусский] [Samoan Samoa] [Somali Af-soomaali] [Spanish Español] [Tagalog] [Tigrinya ትግርኛ] [Ukrainian Украініан] [Vietnamese Tiếng Việt]
Purpose
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Food Assistance Program (FA) is administering up to $4 million of grant funding to the hunger relief network of Washington this fiscal year (ends June 30, 2022) for the purpose of strengthening and equipping the entire hunger relief network to meet current and emerging community needs.
WSDA FA is offering three (3) grant opportunities to all hunger relief agencies, tribal governments, and tribal organizations across Washington. Agencies do not need to be currently contracted with Food Assistance to be eligible. Full eligibility requirements and all other information are below.
Flexible Funding Grants Program Subcommittee Mission and Vision Statements
Mission
The Flexible Funding Grants Subcommittee serves as an advisory group to WSDA Food Assistance for the purpose of facilitating grant opportunities that equip hunger relief organizations and tribes to: support and improve client access to nutritious and culturally-relevant foods, increase food distribution efficiencies, and encourage innovation within the food system.Our mission is to meet the legislative intent and strategically strengthen the entire hunger relief network of Washington, emphasizing rural and underrepresented communities, meal programs, and local agriculture. We are dedicated to transparent and inclusive processes, expanded outreach, and consider our end-user in all that we do.