Food Security: Rapid Response Community Fund

Who makes funding decisions?

A committee of the following 9 people make 2026 funding decisions:

• Andrea Jackson-Jennings, Regional Response Team
• Annissa McCaskill, Forward through Ferguson
• Tamyka Perine, Gateway Early Childhood Alliance
• Riisa Rawlins, Community Health Commission of Missouri
• Bethany Springer, St. Louis Community Foundation
• Michael Doss, East Side Aligned

Due to the influx of applications at launch, 2025 decisions were made by the above members plus the following former members, who we deeply appreciate:

• Marissa Hardwrict, Washington University in St. Louis
• Michelle Higgins, St. Johns Church
• Val Joyner, St. Louis Housing Authority

The committee is guided by the following decision-making structure. Members decided whether to extend their service to 2026, with fewer applications allowing for a smaller minimum number of reviewers.

Meeting Minutes:

• November 10th minutes
• November 14th minutes

How is the Rapid Response Community Fund different and why should I donate?

First, if you donate directly to a grassroots group working on immediate food access, please continue! If you support a food pantry or large food distribution organization, excellent! This Fund supplements – not replaces – the amazing food access and justice work happening every day. Unfortunately, the need is so great that the food system as it stands now is not enough. If it were, we would not have ongoing food insecurity and inequity.

Small grassroots organizations, community groups, churches, and neighbors are filling the gaps, but many are unable to plug into large distribution efforts. Our region needs flexible funds that trusted groups rooted in community can leverage to meet changing needs.

This fund is unique in the philanthropic and food delivery landscape for several reasons, some of which include:

1. Regional, bi-state approach. We are not limited by county lines or politics.
2. 100% out-the-door policy, quick spend-down commitment, and clear decision makers from day 1. This level of transparency is rare in the local pooled fund landscape.
3. Flexible funding for staff time, transportation, and supply costs organizations to actually distribute food.
4. Low(er) barrier application process and the ability to fiscally sponsor qualified groups without 501(c)3 status.
5. Intentionally bringing food distribution into neighborhoods, reaching people where they already are.
6. No membership requirement. The region’s large food distribution systems usually work with specific member organizations, and there are steps, processing periods, and/or fees to join. RRCF prioritizes small groups with limited access to the local food bank and 211 infrastructure.
7. Ability to sub-grant public dollars and restricted grants while providing the one-on-one technical assistance and coaching many small recipients need to make compliance and reporting feasible.

I was going to donate directly to a grassroots group – should I donate to you instead?

No. We do not advocate for donors to divert funding you would otherwise send directly to grassroots groups. We are also to glad to help you connect directly to a group to donate directly rather than through RRCF.

Can I earmark dollars for a more specific purpose or type of group?

Typically, no. Donations made directly to the Fund go into one pool. Completed donations cannot retroactively be restricted.

That said, we can and have accepted restricted grants and public funding streams. If you have a significant funding source that you would like RRCF to distribute, manage, and/or advise on, please email RRT Director of Operations Alaina Smith at asmith@stlgives.org. We will explore whether we can facilitate a donation directly to groups that meet your criteria, or if it is feasible to meet your needs within the Food Security Rapid Response Fund.

RRCF has distributed rapid funding for 3 public funding streams and multiple restricted foundation grants. We have:

• Worked with funders who want RRCF’s existing infrastructure to distribute their dollars to a specific type of group (historically $10k+)
• Created and managed a custom grantmaking process for funders and public entities who require more rigorous sub-grantee reporting (historically $30k+)

If you don’t necessarily need to “restrict” funding but want to make sure that a specific need or population is being served, please reach out to Alaina at asmith@stlgives.org. We can talk through high-level information on the number and type of requests so you can judge if the Fund aligns with your mission.

Where can I donate to the Fund?

Donations are processed by St. Louis Community Foundation, and you can donate directly here: https://stl.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=8029

What expenses are eligible?

Direct expenses that help more people get food are eligible. We have broken down examples in more detail below. If you think an expense is required to put food in hands and it isn’t clearly listed, please include it in your request.

Eligible expenses:

1. Food and food production
2. Supplies required for food distribution/access
3. Direct staffing and administrative costs
4. Direct cash assistance

Food & Food Production: Food and ingredients to be distributed, ingredients organizations use to prepare food, and farming supplies. Food must be distributed free of charge. For example:

• Non-perishables, pantry items, fresh produce and meet, water, drinks, etc.
• Ingredients to cook & make meals (at the individual or organizational level), hot meals, frozen meals
• Seeds, saplings, inputs to farmed and home-grown food

Related Supplies: Items necessary to distribute food and/or increase access. For example:

• Supplies to cook, package, process, farm, raise, or harvest food
• Boxes, bags, supplies to transport and distribute food
• Items to eat and serve food like serving trays, napkins, plates, utensils, etc.

Direct Staffing & Administrative Expenses: If the administrative support helps get food directly to a family, then it is an allowable expense. For example:

• Staff/personnel expenses related to food access (e.g. compensation & benefits for staff to extend food pantry hours, farming shifts, contract delivery drivers)
• Gas, new storage fees, delivery costs, etc. to receive, transport, and distribute food
• Compensation for canvassers to reach food insecure families
• Community navigators or outreach workers who are immediately and directly connecting families with resources
• Gas card stipends for families or volunteers who are picking up and/or delivering food

Cash Assistance: Grocery cards, cash, and other cash means of supporting people struggling to access food.

Does this fund cover operational overhead?

No. Unfortunately, while we recognize that organizational utilities, rent, and non-direct service staff have a large impact on a group’s ability to serve families, funds from the Rapid Response Community Fund may not be used for these purposes.

Are these general operating grants?

Yes. Grants are made as general operating dollars. We do not expect you to set up grant-specific expense coding and we will not ask for expenditure reporting.

That said, we ask that you calculate your ask according to the allowable expenses and honor the purpose of the Fund. The Funding Request form asks applicants to briefly describe how they came to their dollar request.

What is the minimum and maximum request amount?

Current 2026 grants range from $2,500 to $5,000.

Groups have the option to also share their total need, if it is above $5,000, which we use to help mobilize donations and demonstrate the full picture for larger funders. If the rate of donations starts to catch up to the number of requests, we could increase the award maximum.

Submissions that requested over $5,000 before we implemented the maximum will be considered at the $5,000 level and their total need will be kept on file. We introduced the cap to maximize our impact on small organizations who are eligible for fewer institutional resources, and to align grants with the pace of donations.

Do people receiving services have to be SNAP eligibile?

No.

What organizations can apply?

The current 2026 funding round only funds requests focused on LGBTQIA+ communities, Metro East residents, and immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities.

Any neighborhood group, church, organization, or other community group that can distribute quality food quickly and equitably within the following geographic areas is eligible to apply:

• Madison & St. Clair Counties in Illinois
• The City of St. Louis, St. Charles County, & St. Louis County in Missouri

501(c)3 status is not required. For example, a mutual aid group without nonprofit status and a small neighborhood restaurant ready to give out free food can both apply. Community Health Commission manages these grants.

Intermediaries that can sub-grant dollars or distribute food to a larger network are also encouraged to apply.

What types of food distribution are accepted?

Applicants can choose distribution methods that work best for their community. Single distribution events, hot meals, food deliveries, and grocery cards are all acceptable methods of ensuring neighbors are well-fed. Partnerships between community gardens and neighborhoods are also welcome.

If you have an idea that isn’t listed, feel free to reach out to us at rrt@stlgives.org to see if it’s a good fit for the Fund.

How and when are grants paid out?

Applicants will be notified by email about 30 days after the close of the application window. Funded groups submit a short form and select a mailed check or ACH bank transfer. Payments currently go out the week after grantees submit their payment method of choice. Grants are processed by St. Louis Community Foundation through Commerce Bank.

What reporting is required?

First, the application asks

• Organizational contact information
• Main 1-5 zip codes served by the request
• Type of services in request, short description, and multiple-choice questions about people served
• Estimated number of people to be supported
• Short description of expenses (formal budget not required)

Post-grant reporting

After receiving funds, recipients will be asked to complete either a short call or a short written update including:

• Estimated number of people supported
• Services provided
• Short description of the impact and ongoing need

There is no expenditure reporting or receipt submission.

Our goal is to minimize administrative burden. “Short description” means bullet points or 1-2 paragraphs. Information we do request is critical to mobilize funders to action and/or recruit partners in neighborhoods with the biggest gap between the need and the available supports.

How will my information be shared?

Aggregate information on total requests and community needs will be shared publicly for the purpose of mobilizing funding, addressing service gaps, and maintaining a transparent funding process. Full request details will be accessed on a need-to-know basis by the fund’s decision-making Committee, Regional Response Team staff, St. Louis Community Foundation staff, and staff involved in the logistics of fund disbursement. 

We are committed to transparent fund distribution. All funded asks will have group name, amount funded, and a summary of services listed on the public fund website. If funded, you will approve final information prior to its posting, and you will have the opportunity to request anonymity if there are safety concerns.

I heard that Governor Mike Kehoe announced state food assistance. Why do we need this fund?

At the end of October, Gov. Kehoe did direct transfers of funds to Missouri Areas on Aging and food banks; however, these funds were already earmarked for pay out. Gov. Kehoe’s order simply moved up the pay date, so the transfer does not address the November SNAP lapse or lost benefits directly. 

I heard that President Trump is providing half of the usual amount of SNAP benefits. What does this mean for the Fund and our region?

While this decision, prompted by a federal judicial ruling, will pull money from an Agriculture Department contingency fund to cover some costs, it won’t fully address the gap. Unfortunately, the $4.65 billion available not only fails to cover the $8 billion monthly cost, it also puts local offices in a challenging position of determining how to distribute limited funding to families. While we don’t yet know what the full impact will be, administrative offices will have to recode systems so they offer partial payouts, which could delay access to benefits for weeks or longer.

Why was the Rapid Response Community Fund established?

The Rapid Response Community Fund was formed in response to the Fall 2025 federal shutdown, November 2025 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) lapse, SNAP eligibility changes, and economic consequences caused by removal of federal funding. The Fund seeks to fill gaps in on-going food access caused from lack of access to stable paychecks and government subsidies.

What is the Fund’s purpose?

The fund prioritizes small community groups and food justice organizations ready to scale existing farming and food work, provide direct cash assistance to communities impacted by SNAP loss, deliver food to homes, or become a food distribution partner. 

Where can I donate to the Fund?

The Fund is held by the Regional Response Team’s fiscal sponsor, the St. Louis Community Foundation. You can donate directly to the fund here: https://stl.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=8029

Past Grantees

Action St. Louis

City Seniors

Community Hope Center

Community Life Line

Da Hood Connect

East St. Louis Chapter of Serving Neighbors

Food Outreach

Freedom Arts & Education Center

Hoyleton/Puentes de Esperanza

Keeping Pushing Inc

LifeWise

Loaves and Fishes

Metro Trans Umbrella Group

Monarch

New Roots Urban Farm

Northside Youth and Senior Service Center

People’s Health Center

Propel Kitchens

R.I.S.E. Impact

Send Relief St. Louis Ministry Center

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Josephine Bakhita Conference

Soup n Share

St. Andrews Charitable Foundation

St. Luke AME Church

St. Pius V St. Vincent De Paul Conference

Thomas Terry Apartments

The UnGUN Center

Ward Chapel AME Church

The Waymakers

The Wellson Center

Wesley House Association

Welcome Neighbor StL