Food Security Access Fund is sponsored by The Tepper Foundation (in collaboration with the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate and other funders). This fund aims to strengthen the food security system in New Jersey by helping nonprofit organizations build capacity and secure more pre-existing public grant opportunities.

How the Food Security Access Fund Will Equip New Jersey Nonprofits to Address Hunger How the Food Security Access Fund Will Equip New Jersey Nonprofits to Address Hunger Each year, the federal and local government sets aside millions of dollars in grants to alleviate food insecurity. However, much of that money goes untapped by New Jersey nonprofits due to staff capacity and other limitations.

To tackle these obstacles, The Tepper Foundation — in collaboration with the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate — recently launched the Food Security Access Fund.

This first-of-its-kind initiative is working to meet the urgent need for increased food access through pooled funding from The Tepper Foundation, The Community Foundation of New Jersey , Novo Nordisk, The Taub Foundation , The Grotta Fund for Older Adults , The Campbell’s Foundation , The O’Toole Family Foundation and The Schumann Fund for NJ .

Available to local nonprofit organizations working to solve food insecurity, the fund will provide recipients with the support necessary to expand and strengthen the food aid network. According to the latest Feeding America survey , 1 in 11 people and 1 in 10 children face hunger in New Jersey. In recent years, increased food costs and unemployment rates have worsened food insecurity across the state.

Among New Jerseyans, there was an 89% spike in food insecurity in 2022, compared to 30% nationwide. Access to nutritious and affordable food is a basic, essential need. Without it, people face serious consequences, from poor physical and mental health to lowered performance at school or work.

Emergency food providers — like food banks and food pantries — play a critical role in helping families meet their nutrition needs across the state, but many of these organizations lack the resources to respond to the surge in demand we’re seeing today.

While most people were aware of the dramatic spike in food insecurity at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, individual donations have largely dropped off in the past two years , making it harder for New Jersey’s food aid system to meet current demand. To address this growing crisis, we must turn to new, innovative solutions.

Our 2021 Hunger and Critical Needs Outreach report found that upgraded capacity was an urgent need within the New Jersey food systems network. The Food Security Access Fund was created as a solution.

Recipients of the fund will receive professional support — through either a grant navigator or capacity building grant — to ensure they can utilize existing public resources to fill the current gaps limiting their ability to provide for their communities.

Whether that looks like an appointed expert to help them navigate a complicated government grant application process, additional funding to support overall organization efficiency and capability expansion, or technology support for research, data and evaluation systems, this flexible fund will allow recipient organizations to reach more New Jerseyans working towards food security for themselves and their families.

In the few weeks since our Food Security Access Fund grants were announced, recipient grantees have already been able to submit applications for available grants. When we invest in meeting the needs of food security organizations working on the frontlines, we are able to meet the needs of New Jerseyans and ensure families can put nutritious food on the table.

Click here to learn more about this year’s recipients and the vital work they’re doing to ensure a healthy, thriving New Jersey!