Grant Opportunities

Overview

Project Bread’s Community Power Grants support community-led advocacy, leadership, and movement building to end hunger in Massachusetts. Rooted in the belief that hunger requires systemic change - not charity- these grants will invest in communities most impacted by food insecurity to build the power, capacity, infrastructure, and leadership needed to drive long-term policy and systems change.

Grant partners will be engaged in strategic opportunities to influence public perceptions and policies related to hunger through Project Bread’s anti-hunger movement-building work. This includes deep collaboration through Make Hunger History, a bold initiative to mobilize a broad, statewide coalition around a shared roadmap to permanently end hunger in Massachusetts. Participation in this coalition ensures that grantees’ community leadership, lived experience, and organizing efforts are directly connected to this statewide movement.

Why Movement Building Investments

Food insecurity is not just about food - it is about structural injustice. We must challenge harmful narratives, uplift community wisdom, and center leadership from those most affected. True transformation means redistributing power and ensuring these communities are shaping the solutions.

Movement-building is our strategy. By investing in community-led leadership and advocacy, we build long-term capacity for organizing and sustainable impact. This RFP supports projects that not only engage in systems change but build the infrastructure to lead it.

Who should apply

We are seeking proposals from community-based, grassroots organizations with annual operating budgets that do not exceed $250,000. Collaborative applications are encouraged. Applicants must either be a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit or have a fiscal sponsor.

Priority will be given to applicants that:

• Are led by individuals with lived experience of poverty, food insecurity, or who belong to disproportionately impacted communities.
• Have a strong track record of working within communities most affected by hunger.
• Propose initiatives that build long-term infrastructure for sustained advocacy and engagement
• Include cross-sector or cross-organizational collaboration to strengthen impact.

Funding Parameters

• Each grantee will receive $20,000 to launch a new, dedicated project that aligns with the Make Hunger History vision and strategy.
• Funds may be used for personnel/stipends, training, events, outreach, communications, materials, technical assistance, and evaluation in support of the identified dedicated project. Grants may be applied to areas of greatest need within the scope of the project. Please note that funding cannot be used for food distribution or emergency food assistance.

How to Apply

• Step 1: Submit a letter of interest by July 21​​​​​​: https://forms.gle/otCTqKQLUpZnyfS56
  • Before submitting a full proposal, interested organizations are required to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) by July 21
  • The LOI serves as an initial step to help Project Bread and the Make Hunger History Coalition better understand the scope of potential initiatives, ensure alignment with the coalition’s goals, and gauge applicant readiness and interest. This stage allows us to engage with applicants early in the process and offer guidance to support strong, strategic proposals. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application based on the strength and fit of their LOI. 
  • Letter of Interest Questions:

    • Tell us about your organization or group’s mission and history. How do its values and approach reflect a commitment to equity? If applicable, please include any experience with advocacy, movement building, or community organizing.  (250 words max). 

    • Who does your organization or group serve, and how does it support those most impacted by hunger and injustice (e.g., the Elderly, Veterans, Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant, Trans, and gender-expansive individuals)?  (250 words max). 

    • What is the core idea or focus of your proposed project? Please include what issue it will address, the number of people from your organization who will be involved, who will be impacted, and the change you hope to create? (250 words max). 

    • How will your project contribute to building community power and leadership, shifting narratives, and/or advancing policy to address hunger at a systemic level? (250 words max). 

    • This funding is intended as a two-year investment, with the second-year installment contingent on demonstrated progress and outcomes from year one. To support this, grantees will participate in two individualized technical assistance sessions with Project Bread’s Research & Evaluation Team. These sessions will guide grantees in developing a project-specific logic model, identifying key impact metrics, and exploring ways to capture qualitative data and stories. With that support in mind, how do you envision success at the end of each year?  (250 words max).  

    • How many people work at your organization? Please specify the number of paid staff and volunteers. 

    • If your organization is selected for funding, how much are you requesting from Project Bread (up to $20,000 annually)? 

• Step 2: Selected applicants invited to advance from Letter of Interest Phase, Submit full grant application by September 1st
  • Project Bread will select organizations to advance from the Letter of Interest phase by August 6 and invite them to submit the full grant application for funding including a detailed budget for the proposed use of funds. The deadline to submit the full grant application is September 1st.

About the Community Power Grants

The Community Power Grants are strategic investments to build collective power and advance the movement to end hunger in Massachusetts - permanently. Rather than funding standalone programs or direct services, the RFP will support new, advocacy-driven projects that:

• Center community voice and leadership
• Mobilize those most impacted by hunger
• Foster cross-sector collaboration
• Build grassroots capacity for long-term movement work
• Support one or more of the Make Hunger History Coalition’s five working group pillars:
  • Ensure all residents can access and afford food
  • Integrate food security with healthcare
  • Support access to nutritious, local food
  • Strengthen food programs for targeted populations
  • Address root causes of hunger

Examples of Funded Projects 

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Advocacy training or capacity-building sessions for local organizers and stakeholders
• Community meetings, listening sessions, or focus groups to gather feedback on the Make Hunger History Coalition’s goals
• Culturally relevant toolkits and trainings for advocacy
• Educational campaigns to raise awareness around key coalition issues
• Leadership development workshops for community members
• Storytelling, narrative shaping, initiatives to elevate community voice and advocacy

Participation Requirements 

Once funded, all grantees must:

• Be active members of the Make Hunger History Coalition, including participation in coalition meetings and at least one working group (e.g., attending meetings, taking action on shared priorities, and contributing to collaborative efforts).
•  Participate in Project Bread’s Community of Practice for peer learning and sharing
• Agree to site visits throughout the grant period. These visits may include members from the Project Bread team, the press, elected officials, and or funders.
• Meet with Project Bread's Research and Evaluation team to for technical assistance on metrics and project evaluation
• Collect qualitative data telling stories about the project and how it has impacted individuals and the community.
• Provide two points of contact, first and secondary, for communication with Project Bread.
• Recognize and promote Project Bread partnerships and Make Hunger Coalition work.
• Share data and information with Project Bread that is produced as part of the project during the funding period.
• Participate in training focused on foundational concepts of movement building.
• Serve as an ambassador in their community on behalf of the Make Hunger History Coalition

Technical Assistance & Support

To promote equitable access and success: 

• Project Bread's Community Engagement Team will offer office hours and application support
• Grantees will join quarterly check-ins with the Director of Community Partnerships and the Director of Make Hunger History.
• Grantees will take part in two individualized technical assistance sessions with Project Bread’s Research & Evaluation Team (R&E). These meetings will focus on developing a project-specific logic model and identifying key data to collect in order to measure impact.
• By the end of the sessions, each grantee will have created a customized logic model with measurable impact metrics to support outcome reporting throughout the grant period.
• In addition, the R&E Team will discuss with grantees best practices in capturing qualitative data and stories.

Reporting Requirements

• Quarterly progress updates and check-in meetings
• Submit a mid-year progress narrative on the logic model created with the assistance of the Research & Evaluation team. Project Bread will provide the format for these reports.
• Present annual evaluation. Project Bread will provide the format for this report.

Final Deliverable:

• Present an overview and impact of the project at a Make Hunger History (MHH) Coalition meeting; OR prepare a brief case study to support potential statewide replication. Project Bread will support this final output.

Timeline  

• July 1: LOI opens

• July 21: LOI submission deadline

• August 6: Notification of LOI advancement

• September 1: Full grant application deadline

• September 15: Selected proposals announced

• September 22: Deadline to submit required documentation

• September 30: Funding award process ends

• October 1: Project launch