Grants
Food Waste Prevention + Recovery Grant
The Food Waste Prevention + Recovery Grant provides up to $20,000 for food donors, nonprofit organizations and college food shelves in Ramsey and Washington counties to start or expand food recovery or gleaning efforts. In addition, up to $5,000 of the total grant award may be used for community capacity, innovation and education projects addressing food waste prevention.
The second Food Waste Prevention + Recovery Grant application period for 2026 is now open. The application period has been extended by one week. Applications are now due by August 14, 2026. Applicants will receive award notification approximately eight weeks after the submission deadline.
Download full grant guidelines here.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Eligible entities include:
- Businesses (food donors)
- Food producers
- Distributors
- Grocers
- Cafeterias
- Nonprofits
- Food shelves and banks
- Gleaning organizations
- Colleges (donation and food shelves)
- Farmers’ markets
- Businesses (food donors)
- Be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State and the Minnesota Department of Revenue at time of application
- All food recovery, gleaning and other activities associated with this grant must take place in Ramsey or Washington counties of Minnesota
Use of Funds
Food Recovery, Gleaning & Donation
- Supplies for food recovery activities, including collection materials (buckets, boxes, etc.)
- Equipment for food recovery activities, including Energy Star rated refrigerators and freezers, shelving, carts, reusable pallets, pallet jacks, etc.
- Storage costs, including facility rental and/or purchase
- Transportation costs, including vehicle rental/purchase and mileage reimbursement
- Staffing costs related to food recovery/gleaning work
- Equipment and materials for processing recovered food for preservation, value-add or upcycling
Education, Capacity Building & Innovation
- Materials for workshops and demonstrations
- Capacity building and innovation costs such as volunteer outreach/coordination, development of organization-specific best practices for food recovery/gleaning, food waste tracking software implementation, etc.
- Staffing costs related to food waste prevention education and capacity building
- Participation incentives related to food waste prevention
To Apply
Applications are currently being accepted.
Applicants must work with a BizRecycling Recycling Expert to submit a grant application. The Recycling Expert will conduct an initial site visit of your location. At the site visit, the Recycling Expert will provide recommendations for food recovery and waste management improvements and discuss your project plan. They will help assemble needed documentation and price quotes for the grant application. Applications who have not had a site assessment will not be reviewed.
To set up your site assessment email info@bizrecycling.com or call 651-768-6670.
Other grant opportunities to reduce food waste are sometimes available through Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy. Please contact programs@recyclingandenergy.org for more information.
Additional Application Information
Additional information on eligibility, application process and evaluation criteria were shared at an online info session. Access the session materials below:
Kayla from Open Cupboard in Oakdale used a Food Recovery Grant to rescue more food from their partners with more equipment and drivers. They rescue about 45,000 pounds of edible food every week to stock their indoor market, which allows anyone who needs food to get about 15- 20 pounds per visit to stretch their food budget for free.