Food Security Grants

Food Security Grants is sponsored by Arlington County Government. This competitive grant program supports the implementation of Arlington County's Food Security Strategic Plan. Funding is intended for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and public universities to address food insecurity, with funds available from January through June 2027.

Food Security Grants – Official Website of Arlington County Virginia Government opens in new tab or window The Notice of Funding Availability for the FY 2027 Grants will be released on August 31, 2026. Applications must be submitted via Submittable at https://arlingtoncounty. submittable.

com/submit no later than 10:00 p. m. on Monday, October 5, 2026 .

Applications require completing the application form, including a budget worksheet, and 501c3 verification letter.

Notice of Funding Availability (PDF, 385KB) [FY 2027 version coming soon] Budget Worksheet (XLSX, 13KB) [FY 2027 version coming soon] Grant Agreement Template for Nonprofits (PDF, 517KB) [FY 2027 version coming soon] Information Session Presentation (PDF, 885KB) [FY 2027 version coming soon] Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) released. September 9, 2026, 1 p. m.

Virtual information session. Grantees and awards announced; agreements executed. January 2027 - June 30, 2027 Funds available to be spent by organizations.

Are 501c4 organizations eligible for this funding opportunity? No, only organizations covered under 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible. Is it okay for a project to serve a very specific population (ex: the residents in a certain building)?

Yes, it is okay for a project to serve a specific population and not the whole community. My organization isn't based in Arlington, can we still apply? Yes, as long as your project serves mostly Arlington residents, you can apply.

Can this grant cover expenses we occur between writing the application and receiving notice of an award? No, this grant only covers expenses incurred after the grant agreement has been signed (October 2025 - June 2026). I don't have much experience writing grants, can I get help?

Yes! Feel free to reach out to the Food Security Coordinator to discuss your program idea. We encourage you to reach out to a fellow organization or volunteer to get help writing your application.

Establish an on-site mini food pantry at the AHC property, Terraces at Arlington View. Arlington Bridge Builders Purchase a used cargo van to pick up donated food from grocery stores and the food bank to distribute at their food pantry.

Arlington Retirement Housing Corporation (Culpepper Garden) Provide residents returning from a hospital stay with a few days of meals from the Culpepper Garden cafeteria to assist with their transition back to health and independence. Provide a series of infant and toddler feeding and nutrition classes to provide information and tools to help parents support their child's healthy development.

Aspire Afterschool Learning Strengthen nutrition education as a part of Aspire's afterschool programming with nutrition, wellness, and gardening education for students and parents. In addition, Aspire will establish a food pantry with a refrigerator to support families.

Central United Methodist Church Support the community café at the Central United Methodist Church in Ballston, providing hot meals and a warm and welcoming environment twice a week, particularly to unhoused or unstably housed individuals.

Community Association of Resources Education Enrichment & Economics (CARE), Inc. Provide funding to implement SNAP matching and other incentives for low-income shoppers at the Green Valley Farmer's Market as well as host cooking demonstrations at some markets.

Ethiopian Community Development Council Inc. (ECDC) ECDC will provide increased outreach and support, through workshops and one-on-one assistance to help people receiving SNAP benefits to understand and complete the renewal process to avoid losing their benefits. Meals on Wheels of Arlington, Virginia Inc. Provide home delivered meals to homebound individuals unable to prepare their own food.

This funding will support individuals under age 60 or any quantity of those over age 60 beyond what current funding covers. Northern Virginia Family Service, Inc. (NVFS) Provide breakfast, lunch, and snack daily to the low-income young children enrolled in NVFS's Early Head Start and Head Start Programs at two locations in Arlington County.

OAR of Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church Support OAR's work with individuals returning to the community after experiencing incarceration with food items, Welcome Home kits, gift cards and delivered meals when individuals are housed in hotels immediately after release.

Randolph Elementary School Food Pantry Purchase fresh produce, protein, and household necessities to distribute at monthly school food distributions to supplement what is received from Capital Area Food Bank. Shirlington Employment and Education Center (SEEC) Provide day laborers with hot meals from local Latino restaurants during winter months when there is less availability of work.

FY25 Mini-Grant Impact Report (PDF, 4MB) Expand program that provides teen-friendly food to middle and high schools to support students in need to one additional school to serve 6 Arlington schools. Friends of Urban Agriculture Hire an intern to increase organizational capacity and sustainability. Purchase supplies to support Plot Against Hunger gardens and gleaning efforts that provide free produce to small, local food pantries.

Kitchen of Purpose (Officially La Cocina VA) Expand Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to serve meals at after-school programs in Arlington. CACFP reimburses 50% of the cost of afterschool meals for programs in high need areas with federal funds. Meals on Wheels of Arlington, VA Provide a week's worth of shelf stable meals to participants to safeguard in case of emergency.

Mount Olivet United Methodist Church Community Assistance Program Purchase chicken on a bi-monthly basis to supplement what they receive from Capital Area Food Bank. Meat will be stored in a newly purchased freezer. Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church Food Pantry Replace and update food pantry equipment and purchase additional produce to keep up with increased participant numbers.

Support the launch of a community café at the Central United Methodist Church in Ballston, providing meals and case management twice a week, particularly to unhoused individuals. Randolph Elementary School Food Pantry Purchase fresh produce, protein, and household necessities to distribute at monthly school food distributions to supplement what they receive from Capital Area Food Bank.

Implement Fresh Food Explorers, an eight-week nutrition education program for VPI preschool students, in four classes at two schools, including weekly produce bags for participating students' families during the program. Saint George's Episcopal Church Purchase and provide fresh and culturally relevant foods to better support increased participant numbers.

Shirlington Employment and Education Center Provide day laborers with 3 hot meals per week from local Latino restaurants during winter months when there is less availability of work. FY24 Mini-Grant Impact Report (PDF, 3MB) Purchase a freezer for the Bridges food pantry to be able to offer frozen vegetables, proteins, and prepared meals to clients.

Randolph Elementary School Food Pantry Supplement Capital Area Food Bank offerings to provide more fresh produce and proteins at monthly school food distributions. Provide rolling grocery carts to seniors, nutrition education and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) outreach and enrollment clinics at AHC properties.

Provide teen-friendly food to middle and high schools to support students in need and transition the program from grant funded to fully supported by community donations. Supports five APS schools. Quarterly nutrition education events with cooking demonstrations, food assistance resource navigation and SNAP enrollment.

Participants receive grocery gift cards to purchase ingredients to replicate meals at home and Breadcoin tokens which can be used as tender at local restaurants. Set up Share Tables at 10 APS elementary and middle schools so students can leave unopened foods they are not eating for others to eat. Kitchen of Purpose (formerly La Cocina) Expand Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsorship to 4 after-school programs in Arlington.

CACFP reimburses 50% of the cost of afterschool meals for low-income students with federal funds. Meals on Wheels of Arlington, Virginia Cover the cost of Meals on Wheels for homebound people under age 60 who are ineligible for Area Agency on Aging funding.

YMCA of Metropolitan Washington YMCA-VHC Outpatient Clinic partnership to serve 50 participants with diet-related chronic disease with diabetes prevention/management education, blood pressure monitors, and weekly produce boxes over a 12-week period.

The Salvation Army Arlington Corps Increase capacity by hiring a part-time staff person focused on food assistance programming, starting a delivery program for seniors, increasing food rescue, improving storage, and providing rolling carts and reusable bags to seniors. Any questions about this NOFA should be directed to Stephanie Hopkins, Food Security Coordinator, at shopkins@arlingtonva.

us or 703-228-1065 before the application deadline. Arlington Food Security Coalition Food Assistance and Free Food Resources Arlington Food Security Data Dashboard (PDF, 3MB) (PDF, 641KB) FY25 Mini Grants Impact Report (PDF, 4MB) FY24 Mini-Grants Impact Report (PDF, 3MB) Volunteer Arlington Food-Related Volunteer Opportunities