Local Food Purchase Grants for Food Pantries in Oregon

The Roundhouse Foundation offers the Local Food Purchase Grants for Food Pantries, Gleaners & Backpack/Summer Meal Programs to support food access initiatives in rural, remote, and reservation communities in Oregon. Rooted in the Foundation’s mission to promote community wellbeing, these grants aim to bolster local food systems by enabling the purchase of fresh food from regional producers, such as farmers, ranchers, dairymen, fishers, and local grocers. The program addresses barriers to food access while simultaneously supporting regional economies and producers. This funding opportunity is available to food pantries, gleaners who provide direct distribution, and backpack/summer meal programs. Organizations applying must be partner agencies of a Regional Food Bank in Oregon. Additional eligibility requirements specify that applicant communities must be rural, remote, or reservation-based, and not located in metropolitan areas defined as having populations of over 40,000. Eligible applicants must also be IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or government entities, including Tribal governments. Faith-based institutions cannot receive direct funding from Roundhouse but may still apply to be matched with other supportive funders. Award amounts vary depending on the type of applicant. Food pantries and gleaners are eligible for grants up to $6,000, while backpack and summer meal programs can apply for up to $2,500. Organizations serving as both a food pantry and a meal program are eligible for only one grant from the Foundation. Funding is intended strictly for purchasing fresh food from local sources. The Foundation emphasizes its commitment to connecting grantees with regional food producers and has resources available to assist in locating suppliers. If awarded, recipients are required to submit a brief report within 12 months of receiving the grant, outlining successes and challenges experienced in utilizing the funds. The application process is open until October 31, 2025, or until funds are fully expended, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The Roundhouse Foundation estimates that funding decisions and disbursements will take between 4 to 8 weeks following submission. The grantmaking process allows applicants to collaborate on applications, upload supporting documentation, and save progress within the online system. The Foundation encourages applicants to prepare materials offline beforehand and contact staff with questions. Applicants must upload organizational documents such as a Board of Directors list and, if applicable, fiscal sponsorship agreements. They must also identify their Regional Food Bank affiliation and confirm their nonprofit or governmental status. Additional optional sections collect data about program capacity, volunteer numbers, and local food sourcing percentages. Although these do not impact eligibility, they help the Foundation better understand statewide food access infrastructure. Questions about the application can be directed to the Foundation via email at grants@roundhousefoundation.org or by phone at 541-904-0700. All application materials, including a detailed application packet, are accessible on the Foundation’s website. The program does not provide previous recipient lists, and no specific scoring rubric or evaluation criteria is publicly disclosed. However, alignment with the Foundation’s rural food access mission is a clear priority.

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