The Community First Grant Program supports nonprofits focused on long-term fresh, healthy food access and nutrition education that are engaged with Team Members. This includes community gardens, mobile markets, healthy cooking classes and more.


Since 2016, we have awarded 477 grants in 161 cities, investing over $3.4M. Nearly 285 Team Members from 153 Whole Foods Market stores and all Store Support offices have participated!


Check out our resources below for more info.

CFG Nomination Steps

 

 

CFG Resources

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

• Reference these email & phone templates to help you engage with your potential partner and loop in your STL. 
• Get prepared by viewing a Team Member sample nomination form here.
• Make sure to check out the CFG FAQ here.
• Learn more about WFM Foundation by taking a Cornerstone training here. If the link does not take you directly to the course, search for “Whole Foods Market Foundation” in Cornerstone. 

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

 

Webinars

Register for an upcoming 30-minute webinar. You can ask a question live or submit a question HERE ahead of time. 

Get Started

Learn more about the CFG program, how to look for and nominate an organization and more!

Wednesday, June 11 at 8:30a PST | 9:30a MST | 10:30a CST | 11:30a PST

Register here.

CFG Q&A

Come with live questions or submit yours beforehand at the link above. 

Wednesday, July 9 at 8:30a PST | 9:30a MST | 10:30a CST | 11:30a PST

Register here.

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 a huddle topic one-pager: Community First Grant
  • Learn more about Whole Cities and WFMF by taking the WFM Foundation Cornerstone Training.

Important Dates

 

Team Member Nominations Open	June 9
Team Member Nominations Close STL Support Form Due	July 21
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 mid-program update, including a brief summary of how things are going and photos of your partnership in action. Optional: submit an end-of-year update.
• Volunteer once per quarter from September 2025 through August 2026 – 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!