Surplus Food Donation Equipment Grants

The Surplus Food Donation Equipment Grants, administered by StopWaste, aim to bolster the capacity of nonprofit organizations engaged in food recovery and redistribution within Alameda County. This grant program is designed to support the reduction of edible food waste while enhancing food security through increased access to surplus food. By providing targeted financial support for the acquisition of food handling and storage equipment, the program contributes directly to the implementation of SB 1383, California’s state legislation mandating a reduction in organic waste. The grants fund a variety of equipment critical to food recovery operations. Eligible items include refrigerators, freezers, shelving units, pallet jacks, food scales, reusable crates, cooling blankets, and food preparation tools such as blenders and dehydrators. These resources help improve the efficiency and reliability of food recovery programs, especially for organizations that rely on volunteer labor and operate within limited budgets. Equipment funded through this program must meet specific energy-efficiency requirements if related to cold storage, aligning with standards defined by the California Department of Energy. Eligibility for this program is limited to nonprofit entities operating in Alameda County. This includes food pantries, food banks, community-based organizations, faith-based groups, and food recovery services. Importantly, for-profit businesses are not eligible, and organizations with an active grant from StopWaste cannot apply. Projects must be explicitly focused on reducing the volume of edible surplus food being discarded. Ineligible proposals include those based solely on recycling or composting, capital improvements requiring structural or electrical upgrades, vehicle purchases, or organizations that do not participate directly in food recovery from commercial sources. The grant application period initially opened on September 8, 2025, and closed on September 22, 2025. Following the first round of awards announced on October 10, 2025, the program reopened on a rolling basis starting October 13, 2025. As of January 14, 2026, the grant remains open, with applications accepted until either all funds are expended or until the final closing date of June 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM, whichever occurs first. Awards are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis during this period. Each applicant may request up to $10,000 in funding, drawn from a total grant pool of $100,000. Although past recipients may reapply, priority is given to new applicants and proposals that meet one or more strategic criteria. These include scaling edible food recovery capacity, redistributing prepared foods from Tier 2 commercial edible food generators, implementing client choice distribution models, demonstrating strong community partnerships, or replacing aging equipment essential for ongoing operations. The application review process considers how each proposal aligns with the goals of SB 1383 and contributes to the county's food recovery infrastructure. Grantees are required to submit final reports within six months of receiving their equipment. Reporting options include either tracking the total weight of surplus food stored in the equipment or using a provided calculator that estimates food volumes based on equipment usage frequency. These reports are submitted through an online platform and help measure the impact of the funding. Dedicated grant management support is available to assist awardees throughout the reporting process. Interested organizations are encouraged to contact the grant manager to confirm eligibility prior to applying.

Prioritize projects focused on prepared food recovery, client choice distribution, or replacing aging equipment.