The mission of Operation Food Search is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.
Operation Food Search Inc’s largest recent grants are all multi-million-dollar food distribution awards to broad networks of agencies rather than single-site awards. In 2025, the foundation gave $29,951,964 to more than 170 agencies for its Food Distribution Program, following similarly large grants of $28,200,823 in 2023 and $28,013,756 in 2024. That pattern points to a funder built around in-kind food access and partner delivery, with resources moving through community agencies that serve people facing hunger. The foundation’s program design centers on immediate food access for children, families, and other vulnerable groups. Its active programs include Operation Backpack for school-age children, Summer Meals for summer food service, AfterSchool ReFuel for after-school meals, and Nourishing Healthy Starts for pregnant people and families. It also supports emergency food distribution, gleaning and food rescue, and a partner agency network that reaches more than 600 community partners. Recent grant records show the same operating model at scale: large food distribution grants routed to agency networks, not isolated project grants. Across that portfolio, Operation Food Search Inc uses direct service, program-specific funding, and short-term support tied to food delivery and nutrition access.
Child nutrition is one of the clearest threads in Operation Food Search Inc’s grantmaking. Its active programs include Operation Backpack, Summer Meals, and AfterSchool ReFuel, each designed to move food through schools, partner sites, and community organizations serving children. Maternal and family nutrition is another distinct area. Through Nourishing Healthy Starts, the foundation provides weekly fresh produce and grocery boxes, cooking classes, benefits enrollment assistance, and care connections for pregnant people and families. Emergency food access also sits at the center of the portfolio. The foundation’s partner agency network distributes food and necessities to more than 600 community partner agencies, and its Gleaning Program recovers surplus produce from farms and growers for redistribution through those channels. It also operates a College Campus Pantry Program for campus-based food access.
Operation Food Search Inc gives at very large, tightly clustered amounts: the typical grant falls between $28,107,290 and $29,076,394, with a median of $28,200,823. The three largest recent grants were all Food Distribution Program awards, including a 2025 grant of $29,951,964. The pattern suggests recurring support rather than one-off funding, since the same Food Distribution Program appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 at nearly the same scale. The foundation is a regular funder and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals. Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including Operation Backpack, Summer Meals, College Campus Pantry Program, AfterSchool ReFuel, Gleaning, and Nourishing Healthy Starts.
Current and upcoming funding from Operation Food Search that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Meal sites must serve children 18 and under and be located in low-income areas that qualify under federal SFSP guidelines; sites partner with OFS to receive meals and run daily service.
Deadline: Seasonal application period each year prior to June (specific dates vary annually).
$32.5M
$37.8M
$43.7M
$40.1M
Most grants fall between $28.1M and $29.1M, with a median of $28.2M.
25th Percentile
$28.1M
Median
$28.2M
75th Percentile
$29.1M
KRISTEN WILD
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Operation Food Search Inc’s giving is centered in the St. Louis metro area and across Missouri and Illinois. The active program portfolio reaches the St. Louis region, selected counties in both states, and a 24-county bi-state service area. Recent grants are entirely U.S.-based, with all three recorded awards going to domestic recipients. The grant programs also show layered geography: some are metro-focused, while others extend to surrounding counties and bi-state partner networks.
Its active programs focus on food distribution and nutrition access: Operation Backpack, Summer Meals, AfterSchool ReFuel, Emergency Food Distribution, Gleaning, Nourishing Healthy Starts, and a College Campus Pantry Program. The portfolio serves children, families, pregnant people, and community partner agencies.
Some programs accept unsolicited requests, including Operation Backpack, Summer Meals, College Campus Pantry Program, AfterSchool ReFuel, Gleaning, and Nourishing Healthy Starts. Emergency Food Distribution is listed as not accepting unsolicited requests.
Typical grant sizes are very large and tightly grouped: p25 is $28,107,290, median is $28,200,823, and p75 is $29,076,394. The largest recent grant was $29,951,964 in 2025.
The recent grants shown go to agency networks rather than individuals, including awards to more than 170 agencies for a Food Distribution Program. The broader partner model includes food pantries, meal sites, schools, campus pantries, and other community organizations.
Its active programs operate in the St. Louis metro area, Missouri, and Illinois, with some reaching selected counties and a 24-county bi-state region. The recent grant record shown is entirely U.S.-based.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Who can apply: The program is built to aid qualifying organizations that can receive and distribute nutritious meals to kids.
Who can apply: Nonprofit partners and agencies engaged in food distribution can receive gleaned product through OFS partnerships and distribution processes.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVER 600 COMMUNITY PARTNER - DETAIL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST | — | $32,532,069 | 2026 | FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM |
| OVER 170 AGENCIES - DETAIL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST | — | $29,951,964 | 2025 | FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM |
| 171 AGENCIES - DETAIL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST | — | $28,013,756 | 2024 | FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM |
| 171 AGENCIES - DETAIL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST | — | $28,200,823 | 2023 | FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM |
OVER 600 COMMUNITY PARTNER - DETAIL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
$32,532,069FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
OVER 170 AGENCIES - DETAIL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
$29,951,964FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
171 AGENCIES - DETAIL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
$28,013,756FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
171 AGENCIES - DETAIL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
$28,200,823FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
