Community Impact Hunger Grant Guidelines

What We Fund

Food pantries, food banks and charitable organizations that:

  • Directly serve kids battling hunger through programs and services that provide access to food (groceries & meals) and/or hands-on training in growing or preparing food

  • Are within geographic proximity to Dunkin'

Programming must align under one of these two focuses:

Food Access: We give kids convenient access to healthy food so they can focus on the joys of childhood. We support children when they are out of school and do not have access to free or reduced-price school meal programs. Examples include: BackPack programs, school pantries, summer food service programs, afterschool programs & Kids Cafes, mobile meals for kids/families.

Food Skills: We support hands-on programs teaching families how to create affordable, nutritious meals that they can enjoy together. Examples include: programs that increase participation in school breakfast and lunch programs, cooking and menu-planning classes for food insecure families, community and school gardens.

What We Do Not Fund

Children's Hunger Disqualifications:

  • Unrestricted Food Bank grants

  • Programs that do not primarily serve children

  • Research

  • Advocacy, coalition-building and awareness programs without direct service component

  • Medical screenings for food insecurity

  • Pre-natal nutrition

  • Technology used for tracking and not directly serving food insecure children

General Disqualifications

The Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation does not fund:

  • Organizations/programs that do not fit guidelines

  • Organizations that do not have a 501(c)3 status

  • Organizations that have received funding from the Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation for three consecutive years (organizations may apply again after a year off)

  • General operating support for the organization (general operating support for the specific program being funded is acceptable, i.e. staffing cost)

  • Individuals (including GoFundMe campaigns)

  • Capital campaigns

  • Advertising including website development or sponsorship ads

  • Technology or medical equipment unrelated to creating a more joyful experience for the child being treated

  • Endowment funds

  • Event sponsorship, including dinner and events

  • Feasibility studies

  • National organizations that do not have local chapters operating in the Foundation's geographic area of grant focus

  • Organizations that discriminate against certain groups or individuals in the delivery of programs and services on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability

  • Organizations influencing legislation and/or elections; for political candidates, political campaigns