2024-2025 Community First Grant

Step 1:

Interested Team Members complete a 10min training to make sure their nonprofit community partner is a good fit.

  

Step 2: 

Get STL/FTL (store) or TL (office) approval to participate in the CFG program then have them submit a support form by June 12.

Step 3: 

Submit your Team Member nomination from May 1 through June 12 by 10pm CST.

Note: Submittable does not support Internet Explorer. Please use Mozilla FireFox or Google Chrome for your application.

 

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CFG Resources

Explore the resources below to help you get started with your CFG nomination or find additional ways to support the program: 

• Get prepared by viewing a sample Team Member nomination form here, the Team Member eligibility form here and a community partner sample application here.
• Make sure to check out the CFG FAQ here.
• When you’re ready to reach out to a potential community partner, download this email template if you’d like help starting the process!
• Learn more about the CFG by becoming a Whole Cities Champion here.

We typically receive a rush of questions in the last couple days of an open window and 90% of nominations on the last day. Don’t wait! The earlier you ask your questions and start your nomination form, the less stressful the process will be.

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

 

Webinars

Register for a webinar to learn more about the CFG process and program. 

Get Started 

Watch our recorded webinar to learn about the CFG program, the types of community partners and how to engage with a new potential partner.

CFG Q&A

Register for our Q&A to ask questions about the CFG, the nomination process, ways to find a partner and more. This will be two weeks away from the nomination deadline so bring all your questions!

 

Wednesday, May 29 1-1:30 PT | 2-2:30p MT | 3-3:30p CT | 4-4:30p ET 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 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 by June 12. If you’re an office TM please have your Team Leader complete the form and if you’re a Facilities TM, please have your FTL 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!