2024-2025 Community First Grant Open

Thank you to everyone who submitted a Team Member nomination this year! The 2024 CFG nomination period is now closed. Team Members will be notified in late July if their partner will be invited to complete an application. Check out our timeline below for more info. For any questions, email our team at whole.cities@wholefoods.com.

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CFG Resources

Explore the resources below to help you find out more about CFG or find additional ways to support the program: 

• Get prepared by viewing a community partner sample application here.
• Make sure to check out the CFG FAQ here.
• Learn more about the CFG by becoming a Whole Cities Champion here.

If you have additional questions, email our team at whole.cities@wholefoods.com.

Help spread the word about the CFG! 

Download and print an 8.5″x11″ CFG poster here to hang by time clocks, in break rooms and to post in logbooks.

Download and print huddle topics:

• Community First Grant
• Become a Whole Cities Champion
• Whole Cities Impact
• Whole Cities Approach

Important Dates

 

Team Member Nominations Open	May 1
Team Member Nominations Close STL Support Form Due	June 12
Eligible Orgs Invited to Apply	Late July
CFG Partners Notified	Late October

Team Member Eligibility

To nominate a community partner, you must:

• Be a Whole Foods Market Team Member in good standing.
• Ask your STL to complete an STL Support Form. If you’re an office TM, your Team Leader must complete the form and if you’re a Facilities TM, your FTL must complete the form.
• Be able to volunteer with your nonprofit community partner and must be done on personal time. No compensation will be provided from Whole Foods Market or Whole Cities when participating in the CFG program. The CFG program is separate from Whole Foods Market’s Community Connections program. 
• Nominate a community partner willing to complete an online Community First Grant Program Application. The application will include questions regarding the organization’s work, leadership, impact, community engagement, long-term plans, and finances.
• Nominate a community partner focused on expanding long-term fresh, healthy food access or offering healthy cooking classes. This grant will not be a good fit for food pantries, food banks, and other food donation/redistribution programs.
• Nominate a community partner primarily focused on serving adults. The Community First Grant will not be the best fit for community partners that focus primarily on children or schools. Visit Whole Kids to learn more about their grant programs. 
• Be willing to submit a short mid-year and optional end-of-the-year update including a brief summary of how things are going and photos of your partnership in action.

 

Team Member Expectations

• Submit one required update (optional end-of-the-year update) including a brief summary of how things are going and photos of your partnership in action. 
• Volunteer once per quarter from August 2024 through July 2025 – From monthly days in a community garden to hosting a mobile market team in your store to talk about merchandising, this can take any shape that works for your partner and your store and keeps everyone safe in the process.   
• Update your STL and Culture Champion Ambassador at least once per quarter.
• Read monthly CFG updates (optional webinars). 

 

Community Partner Eligibility

• Projects that will broaden long-term access to fresh, healthy food and/or nutrition education. The Community First Grant will not be a good fit for food pantries, food banks, and other food donation/redistribution programs. Learn more about our grants and what we fund/don’t fund here.
• US: Must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit and organizations partnered with a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
  Canada: Must be a Registered Charity or partnered with a Registered Charity. 
• Locally led organizations (Not all Team Members, board members, and volunteers must be residents of the community served, but robust community representation is important.). 
• Organizations with strong community engagement that request and use feedback from their community. 
• Programs focused on serving adults and/or older youth (ages 16-22). The Community First Grant will not be the best fit for community partners that focus primarily on children or schools. Visit Whole Kids to learn more about their grant programs. 

 

Community Partner Expectations 

• Complete a grant application. The application will include questions regarding the organization’s work, leadership, impact, community engagement, long-term plans, and finances. 
• Submit one required final report (optional mid-year report). 
• Allow the nominating WFM Team Member (and perhaps other WFM Team Members) to volunteer at least once per quarter during the grant year between August-July.

Get Inspired! 

Meet the Northeast Team Members that support a variety of CFG partners in the NY area including Queens County Farm Museum. 

Learn more about Whole Cities work in The Whole Story!