Second Harvest is pleased to be one of 2 organizations selected by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to receive funding from the Local Food Infrastructure Fund: Community Support Stream (LFIF-CSS). These funds will be further distributed to eligible non-profit and charitable organizations across Canada (referred to as ultimate recipients) and are to be used to improve the distribution of nutrient-dense, culturally appropriate food.
LFIF-CSS is delivered as Canada is facing a growing food affordability and food access crisis while the non-profit sector is struggling to withstand the steadily increasing demand for food supports.
To be considered for funding through the LFIF-CSS, ultimate recipients must apply through one of the initial recipient organizations, Second Harvest or Food Banks Canada. Key project outcomes include:
- Organizations have increased capacity to supply nutritious food.
- Food environments are improved within community programs.
- Strengthened community food security.
Qualified Areas of Support
- Applicant must be a registered nonprofit or charitable organization that operates food security initiatives
- LFIF-CSS grants must be used for the purchase of food, with a small allocation for associated non-food costs.
- Eligible non-food costs (up to a total 25% of entire request) include: fridges, freezers, storage racks.
- For approved food types, see the Food Eligibility List.
Application Guidelines
- Applications can be completed online, via Survey Monkey Apply (SMA). Should you require support, please reach out to our Grants Coordinator at grantadministrator@secondharvest.ca.
- Deadline to submit your application is November 30, 2026.
- Applications will be reviewed and granted based on our scoring criteria.
- Funding decisions will be communicated to applicants by January 11, 2027.
- Minimum Requests: $20,000
- Maximum Requests: $200,000
- Applicants requesting $100,000+ will be required to provide financial statements that have been audited by a licensed public accountant.
- Proposals will be assessed based on their cost-effectiveness, feasibility and overall impact.
- All awarded funding must be spent by March 31, 2027.
Who Can Apply to Second Harvest
- Applicant must be a registered nonprofit or charitable organization operating a food program.
Ineligible Costs
Please review our guidelines for a full list of ineligible costs. Please note, grants awarded through the LFIF-CSS funding CANNOT be used towards any of the following:
- Refundable costs. Any project-related costs that are eligible for reimbursement from another source cannot be claimed for reimbursement and should therefore be excluded from the project budget. For example, if your organization qualifies for a rebate or refund on HST or has secured additional funding that will offset the project cost, these amounts must be excluded from the budget submitted with this application.
- Administration costs.
- See additional guidelines in our LFIF-CSS Handbook (LINK)
Reporting Requirements
- Successful applicants will be provided with the report upon the disbursement of funds.
Before you complete this application
- Please be prepared to submit a grant budget that itemizes how you will spend the funding amount you are applying for.
- The ultimate recipient is responsible for retaining these quotes and subsequent receipts for a minimum of seven (7) years after project end, in case of an audit.
- Applications requesting $100,000+ will be required to provide financial statements that have been audited by a licensed public accountant.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the LFIF-CSS Grant through Second Harvest, ALL the following criteria must be met. Your organization:
- is a nonprofit, charitable organization, or Indigenous community
- operating an existing food program
- is not part of the Food Banks Canada network
The following types of organizations are NOT ELIGIBLE to receive funding through this granting stream.
- Municipal or school bodies, including local governments, health authorities, school boards or schools
- Academic and educational institutions
- For-profit entities
- Programs from not-for-profit organizations supporting schools
- Food Banks Canada members
Local Food Infrastructure Fund: Community Support Stream (LFIF-CSS)
Second Harvest is pleased to be one of 2 organizations selected by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to receive funding from the Local Food Infrastructure Fund: Community Support Stream (LFIF-CSS). These funds will be further distributed to eligible non-profit and charitable organizations across Canada (referred to as ultimate recipients) and are to be used to improve the distribution of nutrient-dense, culturally appropriate food.
LFIF-CSS is delivered as Canada is facing a growing food affordability and food access crisis while the non-profit sector is struggling to withstand the steadily increasing demand for food supports.
To be considered for funding through the LFIF-CSS, ultimate recipients must apply through one of the initial recipient organizations, Second Harvest or Food Banks Canada. Key project outcomes include:
- Organizations have increased capacity to supply nutritious food.
- Food environments are improved within community programs.
- Strengthened community food security.
Qualified Areas of Support
- Applicant must be a registered nonprofit or charitable organization that operates food security initiatives
- LFIF-CSS grants must be used for the purchase of food, with a small allocation for associated non-food costs.
- Eligible non-food costs (up to a total 25% of entire request) include: fridges, freezers, storage racks.
- For approved food types, see the Food Eligibility List.
Application Guidelines
- Applications can be completed online, via Survey Monkey Apply (SMA). Should you require support, please reach out to our Grants Coordinator at grantadministrator@secondharvest.ca.
- Deadline to submit your application is November 30, 2026.
- Applications will be reviewed and granted based on our scoring criteria.
- Funding decisions will be communicated to applicants by January 11, 2027.
- Minimum Requests: $20,000
- Maximum Requests: $200,000
- Applicants requesting $100,000+ will be required to provide financial statements that have been audited by a licensed public accountant.
- Proposals will be assessed based on their cost-effectiveness, feasibility and overall impact.
- All awarded funding must be spent by March 31, 2027.
Who Can Apply to Second Harvest
- Applicant must be a registered nonprofit or charitable organization operating a food program.
Ineligible Costs
Please review our guidelines for a full list of ineligible costs. Please note, grants awarded through the LFIF-CSS funding CANNOT be used towards any of the following:
- Refundable costs. Any project-related costs that are eligible for reimbursement from another source cannot be claimed for reimbursement and should therefore be excluded from the project budget. For example, if your organization qualifies for a rebate or refund on HST or has secured additional funding that will offset the project cost, these amounts must be excluded from the budget submitted with this application.
- Administration costs.
- See additional guidelines in our LFIF-CSS Handbook (LINK)
Reporting Requirements
- Successful applicants will be provided with the report upon the disbursement of funds.
Before you complete this application
- Please be prepared to submit a grant budget that itemizes how you will spend the funding amount you are applying for.
- The ultimate recipient is responsible for retaining these quotes and subsequent receipts for a minimum of seven (7) years after project end, in case of an audit.
- Applications requesting $100,000+ will be required to provide financial statements that have been audited by a licensed public accountant.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the LFIF-CSS Grant through Second Harvest, ALL the following criteria must be met. Your organization:
- is a nonprofit, charitable organization, or Indigenous community
- operating an existing food program
- is not part of the Food Banks Canada network
The following types of organizations are NOT ELIGIBLE to receive funding through this granting stream.
- Municipal or school bodies, including local governments, health authorities, school boards or schools
- Academic and educational institutions
- For-profit entities
- Programs from not-for-profit organizations supporting schools
- Food Banks Canada members