To enrich lives in our community by eliminating food insecurity
South Michigan Food Bank’s recent giving is defined by very large, recurring awards to "Various Organizations" for food assistance, with grants of $18,939,902 in 2023, $22,489,722 in 2024, and $20,433,811 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder built around direct food distribution rather than small discretionary awards. The organization’s stated purpose is to eliminate food insecurity, and its active programs show how that mission is carried out: it partners with community agencies, schools, soup kitchens, and food pantries to move food and fresh food resources through local networks. The food bank also uses an online ordering portal for authorized partners, which suggests a structured, agency-based model for getting inventory where it is needed. Its program descriptions include backpack programs, school pantries, and fresh food distributions, placing children, families, and low-income households at the center of its work. Because its recent grants are recorded to broad recipient groupings rather than named nonprofits, the clearest picture of the funder comes from the operating model: large-scale food assistance routed through partner organizations and direct resource allocation.
Food insecurity is the core theme. The largest recent grant, $22,489,722 in 2024, went to "Various Organizations" for food assistance, matching the organization’s direct-service approach. A second food-assistance grant of $18,939,902 in 2023 shows that this is a sustained operating pattern rather than an isolated award. The funder also supports fresh food distribution through its agency partnerships, which are designed to supply food and other direct food resources to authorized nonprofits. Beyond general hunger relief, South Michigan Food Bank supports child- and family-centered food access. Its agency partnership program explicitly includes backpack programs and school pantries, while its focus areas also name senior food support through CSFP. The organization further emphasizes nutrition and health through food-as-medicine work, tying food access to health outcomes rather than emergency relief alone.
Recent grants cluster tightly around a very large ticket size: the median grant is $20,433,811, with the 25th percentile at $19,686,856 and the 75th percentile at $21,461,766. The three latest grants also show a recurring year-to-year pattern, with awards recorded in 2023, 2024, and 2025 at similar levels. The recipient line is broad, using "Various Organizations" rather than named grantees, which fits a pooled-distribution model. The organization does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. It also accepts unsolicited interest from partner agencies through its agency-partnership and online-ordering pathways.
$20.1M
$8.8M
$24.9M
$23.7M
Most grants fall between $19.7M and $21.5M, with a median of $20.4M.
25th Percentile
$19.7M
Median
$20.4M
75th Percentile
$21.5M
PETER VOGEL
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The recipient distribution in the available grant data is entirely domestic, with 3 grants to U.S. recipients and none listed outside the country. The active grant programs point to a specific operating area in Barry County, Branch County, and Calhoun County, Michigan. Those county-level references, along with agency partnerships for local pantries, soup kitchens, school pantries, and backpack programs, suggest a locally routed food-distribution model rather than broad multi-state philanthropy.
The agency partnership program is open to 501(c)(3) community organizations, including food pantries, soup kitchens, school pantries, and backpack programs. Authorized partners can also use the online ordering portal to request food and inventory support.
The grant-size distribution is very concentrated at a high level: the 25th percentile is $19,686,856, the median is $20,433,811, and the 75th percentile is $21,461,766.
Yes. The recent grants list shows food-assistance awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, each at roughly $19 million to $22 million, which indicates a repeated annual pattern.
Its stated focus areas include food security and hunger relief, nutrition and health through food as medicine, fresh food distribution, senior food support through CSFP, and children’s and family food programs such as backpack programs and school pantries.
Yes. The agency food inventory suggestions and requests form allows partner agencies to request additional food products, culturally appropriate items, or suggest inventory additions so the food bank can better meet partner needs.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS | — | $20,075,713 | 2026 | FOOD ASSISSTANCE |
| VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS | — | $20,433,811 | 2025 | FOOD ASSISSTANCE |
| VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS | — | $22,489,722 | 2024 | FOOD ASSISSTANCE |
| VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS | — | $18,939,902 | 2023 | FOOD ASSISSTANCE |
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
$20,075,713FOOD ASSISSTANCE
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
$20,433,811FOOD ASSISSTANCE
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
$22,489,722FOOD ASSISSTANCE
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
$18,939,902FOOD ASSISSTANCE
Current and upcoming funding from South Michigan Food Bank that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Must be a partner agency (or prospective partner) served by South Michigan Food Bank.
Who can apply: Organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) or sponsored by a church/other religious organization (requires verification). Agencies complete an application providing program type, hours, number of households served, volunteers/staff, physical distribution address, annual budget and ability to use online ordering/reporting.
Who can apply: Must be an authorized partner agency with SMFB and able to use online ordering and reporting (agencies are asked on the Become a Partner form whether they can use a computer for online ordering/reporting).
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