Toast Changemakers Program

The Toast Changemakers Program is a grant initiative launched by Toast in partnership with Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) to support restaurant owners addressing food insecurity in their communities. Through this competitive opportunity, 15 selected restaurants will each receive an unrestricted $10,000 grant to scale their hunger relief initiatives. The program highlights Toast’s commitment to recognizing and empowering food service businesses that contribute meaningfully beyond their daily operations, with a special focus on those creating measurable community impact. This program is designed for independently owned, for-profit restaurants, cafes, or food service businesses operating in the United States, District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. Eligible businesses must have been operational for at least six months, employ fewer than 50 people per location, and have no more than 15 locations. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate an active and existing initiative that addresses food insecurity. Businesses must also have earned no more than $3 million in revenue per location in 2024. Applications for the program opened on September 22, 2025, and will remain open until October 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM Eastern Time. All entries must be submitted online via Hello Alice’s grant portal. Only one entry per business is allowed, and entries may not be altered after submission. Following the application window, a review period will take place between October 22 and November 7, with award notifications expected in mid-November 2025. Submissions will be judged by a panel from Toast, Hello Alice, and GEN using a four-part review rubric: demonstration of past efforts addressing food insecurity (40%), clarity and feasibility of how the grant will be used (40%), creative approaches to hunger relief (10%), and thoughtful engagement with the community (10%). Final decisions are made at the discretion of the review panel. Tied entries will be evaluated using the first criteria until a winner is selected. Selected grantees will receive recognition on Toast, Hello Alice, and GEN platforms. Grantees must execute an affidavit of eligibility and liability release within 48 hours of notification. If a selected recipient does not respond, an alternate may be selected. All awarded funds are considered unrestricted and must be used to benefit the business’s hunger relief efforts. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible applications received. For full eligibility and application details, applicants should refer to the official terms and conditions. Questions can be directed to Hello Alice’s support channels or accessed through the program FAQ. No purchase or payment is required to enter. All activities related to the program are governed under Delaware law and disputes must be settled individually, with arbitration required for qualifying issues outside of small claims court.

Focus on measurable community impact, clarity of use of funds, and existing hunger relief activities.