2025 Northern Capacity Fund

Application Information

The 2025 Northern Capacity Fund is made possible through Food Banks Canada to support sustainable capacity investments in Northern communities. This fund supports food banks and other food security organizations in implementing the infrastructure needed to improve and expand their existing food banking services into underserved northern communities with the ultimate goal of building sustainable food security initiatives that will provide ongoing support, food industry partnerships, and systems for those in need.

Objectives

Through a competitive review process, funds will be allocated to organizations that can best demonstrate how their project will allow them to meet one or more of the following grant objectives in clear and measurable ways:

Increased amount of food made available to food-insecure households.
Increased capacity to accept and distribute more food for those experiencing hunger.
Improved operational efficiency to increase the amount of food your organization can safely acquire and distribute.
Improved safe food handling practices.
Build sustainable initiatives that will provide Northern communities with ongoing support for those in need.

Eligibility

The 2025 Northern Capacity Fund is open to food banks and other food security organizations in the North that are incorporated as a non-profit entity or whose application is being sponsored by an incorporated non-profit entity. Indigenous groups such as Indigenous government organizations and band councils who are involved in food security initiatives are also eligible.

Eligible applicants must be located in or seeking funding to support communities located in a Northern community: located in Canada’s Provincial North or Territories (according to the attached map) https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/190704/mc-a001-eng.htm

Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations located in Northern communities that have been in operation for at least two years as a legal entity capable of entering into a legally binding agreement. Applicants must also be able to demonstrate the ability to maintain the proposed operations beyond the funding period. Municipalities may apply only if there are no not-for-profit organizations in the community currently working in this capacity.

Special considerations may be made for remote underserved communities in close proximity to the defined border. Priority will be given to the Territories and other remote isolated communities. Please contact the Grants Team at grants@foodbankscanada.caor 1-800-986-5280 for assistance. Eligible applicants consist of:

Food banks and food security organizations
Community or charitable organizations
Indigenous groups (such as Indigenous government organizations, band councils, etc.)
Not-for-profit co-operatives

Organizations applying for a grant may only submit one application for funds.

Groups of food banks may submit a joint application where each participating partner organization will receive a shared and measurable benefit from the grant.
To be eligible, organizations applying for a grant must have at least one person on staff or a volunteer who has completed safe food handling training by a recognized source (e.g. public health, Food Banks Canada, etc.)

We encourage all grant applicants within a community or region to collaborate and submit a single, unified application. By working together, applicants can strengthen their proposals by pooling resources, aligning goals to address food insecurity, and maximizing impact. This collaborative approach fosters local partnerships, reduces duplication of efforts, and increases the potential for sustainable, community-driven outcomes.

Eligible Expenses

The 2025 Northern Capacity Fund will support the following types of purchases and projects so long as they allow the applicant organization to meet any of the above objectives. Preference will be given to projects that can demonstrate a commitment to, or involve, the purchase of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliant products or equipment that promote environmental sustainability by conserving energy costs and promoting eco-friendly innovation (e.g., high-efficiency systems, models that focus on green manufacturing, EPA-approved refrigerants, quiet fan-blade technology, low-energy compressors, etc.). Funds must be incurred between September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026.

Food & meals – e.g., purchase of food, gift cards, vouchers. Please note Food includes Country foods such as Caribou, Moose, Musk Oxe, Reindeer, Seals, Whales, Polar Bears, Walrus, Artic Char, Snow Geese, Canada Geese, and Ducks.
Transportation costs associated with food & meal delivery.
Refrigeration equipment – e.g., fridges, freezers, cooler room, etc.
Refrigerated transportation equipment – e.g., refrigerated trucks, vans, retrofitting vehicles, short-term vehicle leases, etc.
Minor capacity-related construction projects – e.g., loading docks, walk-in freezer storage, etc.
Product handling and warehouse equipment – e.g., forklifts, pallet jacks, etc.
Safe food handling equipment – e.g., food-grade bins, stainless steel tables, etc.
Food processing equipment – e.g., meat grinder, meat saw, freeze dryer, vacuum sealer, etc.
Transportation and installation costs associated with equipment purchases.
Emergency Generators for power outages – purchase and installation costs

Expenses not eligible for funding:

Purchases unrelated to meeting the needs of Northern communities.
Rent/hydro/utilities.
Full-time staffing costs
Previously incurred expenses or losses resulting from previous projects.
Infrastructure improvements that are deemed to be cosmetic in nature.
Major construction projects
The purchase of land or buildings
The purchase or lease of private/personal vehicles
Financial commitments that last longer than the term of the project

Timeline

Successful applicants will be notified in August 2025. Please note that all grant funds must be spent by August 31, 2026. The report on how funding was used must be submitted by September 15, 2026.

Grant open for applications	May 20, 2025, 9.00 a.m. EDT
Grant deadline	June 30, 2025, 5.00 p.m. EDT
Grant review and approvals	July – August 2025
Fund dispersal	August 2025
Grant execution	September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026
Final report Due	September 15, 2026

How to Apply

Please apply online through the Food Banks Canada grant portal at https://foodbankscanada.smapply.ca/.

Once you have submitted your online application, you will receive an acknowledgment email. Your application will be reviewed, and you will be contacted by email with the funding decision.

Note: We encourage food banks that support marginalized communities, specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour to apply. Click here to read Food Banks Canada's Equity Diversity and Inclusion granting principles.

If you have any questions about how to complete this application, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Food Banks Canada Grants Team, at grants@foodbankscanada.caor 1-800-986-5280.

Applications are due by June 30, 2025, 5.00 p.m. EDT.

Grant applications may only be submitted online through the form provided. Hard copies or scanned applications will not be accepted. If you require special accommodation to complete this application, please contact the Program Manager, Kimberley Watkins at kimberley.watkins@foodbankscanada.ca.

APPLY ONLINE & MORE DETAILS HERE