Great Plains Food Bank concentrates its giving on emergency food distribution and pantry support across North Dakota (and nearby communities), funding local food pantries, rescue missions, and faith-based social ministries. Grants are often earmarked to supply food inventory and operational support to front-line providers, including tribal pantry programs and regional Salvation Army/YWCA hubs. The foundation favors direct service organizations that operate neighborhood-level food assistance and meal programs.
Great Plains Food Bank’s grantmaking is built around moving food to neighborhood providers across North Dakota, with repeated support for pantries, rescue missions, and church-based food ministries that distribute directly to individuals. In the recent grants list, Emergency Food Pantry in Fargo received the largest award in both 2023 and 2024, totaling more than $4.1 million across those two years for food pantry distribution. Dream Center Bismarck also received seven-figure support in consecutive years, and Dorothy Day West in West Fargo followed a similar pattern. The foundation’s portfolio shows a clear emphasis on organizations that can turn warehouse-supplied food into local access points, including meal sites and pantry networks. Tribal and Indigenous food access is part of that mix as well, with Turtle Mountain Chippewa Food Pantry among the larger recipients. The giving pattern is highly local, with grants clustered in North Dakota communities and a smaller number reaching nearby Minnesota border towns. This is a food-distribution funder with a direct-service orientation and recurring relationships with frontline partners.
Emergency food distribution is the core of the foundation’s work. It gave $1,844,127 to Emergency Food Pantry in Fargo in 2024 and $1,496,110 to Dream Center Bismarck that same year, both for food pantries to distribute to individuals. Faith-based food ministries are another major channel: Spirit of Life Catholic Church in Mandan received $671,583 in 2024 for the same purpose, extending food access through a parish setting. Community meal and pantry programs also appear in the portfolio. West Fargo Eats received $412,830 in 2023, while Northlands Rescue Mission in Grand Forks received $469,976 in 2024. The foundation also supports tribally oriented food access, including $343,563 to Turtle Mountain Chippewa Food Pantry in Belcourt in 2024. Across these grants, the purpose text consistently centers on food for direct distribution.
Grant sizes are mid-sized overall, with a p25 of $13,097, a median of $29,984, and a p75 of $103,421. The recent grant list also shows a recurring pattern: many organizations appear in both 2023 and 2024, often with larger follow-on awards rather than one-time gifts. Great Plains Food Bank operates as a food bank rather than a traditional private foundation, and its grants are program-restricted to food distribution support. The active programs page shows partner-agency access to low- and no-cost food and grocery products, USDA commodities, and network participation, which aligns with its in-kind, service-delivery model. Unsolicited applications are accepted for at least some partner programs.
$16.7M
$16.4M
$29.5M
$27.3M
Most grants fall between $13K and $103K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$103K
About 94% of grants go to recipients in ND.
Melissa Sobolik
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Concentrated, program-focused grants primarily to repeat grantees: the foundation makes multiple mid-to-large grants to the same frontline food providers (many recipients received two grants), prioritizing operational and food-supply support rather than broad-policy or capacity-building investments.
Notable grantees: Emergency Food Pantry, Dream Center Bismarck, Dorothy Day West / Dorothy Day Food Pantry, Turtle Mountain Chippewa Food Pantry, Salvation Army Bismarck‑Mandan
Giving is concentrated in North Dakota, which accounts for 94% of grants. Fargo, Bismarck, West Fargo, Grand Forks, and Moorhead appear repeatedly in the recent grants list, showing a strong reach into the state’s population centers and border communities. Minnesota appears in the grant record through Moorhead, reflecting the small share of grants that extend beyond the HQ state. The overall geographic scope is local, with no non-U.S. recipient countries in the grant data.
The recent grants show support for emergency food pantries, rescue missions, church-based food ministries, community centers, and tribal food pantries. Examples in the data include pantry providers in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Mandan, Belcourt, and West Fargo, all funded to distribute food directly to individuals.
The grant-size distribution is p25 $13,097, median $29,984, and p75 $103,421. Recent awards also include much larger food-distribution grants, especially to partner pantries that move substantial inventory to local households.
The foundation gives most often in North Dakota, and 94% of grants go to recipients in that state. The recent grants list also includes a smaller number of awards in Moorhead, Minnesota, while the overall scope is local.
Yes. The active Food Assistance Partnership and Partner Agency Program both accept unsolicited applications from community organizations such as pantries, meal sites, schools, churches, and other nonprofits that want to partner for food and distribution support.
Yes. One active program is Commodity Transfer / USDA Commodities Access, which describes how partner agencies can access donated and government commodity food products through Great Plains Food Bank.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Current and upcoming funding from Great Plains Food Bank that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Typically available to partner agencies in the food bank network; specific eligibility and procedures outlined on the commodities/transfer page.
Who can apply: Food assistance programs must meet Great Plains Food Bank's partnership eligibility matrix and standards for food safety, client treatment, and barrier elimination. The organization reviews applications to ensure new partners are not duplicating services and are filling a gap in the community.
Deadline: Applications accepted at any time; processing typically 4-6 weeks, longer October-January.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Food Pantry | Fargo, ND | $1,844,127 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Dream Center Bismarck | Bismarck, ND | $1,496,110 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Dorothy Day West | West Fargo, ND | $982,896 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Spirit of Life Catholic Church | Mandan, ND | $671,583 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Dorothy Day Food Pantry | Moorhead, MN | $632,378 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| A Place For Hope | Moorhead, MN | $529,720 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Northlands Rescue Mission | Grand Forks, ND | $469,976 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| The Lord's Cupboard | Minot, ND | $386,058 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Turtle Mountain Chippewa Food Pantry | Belcourt, ND | $343,563 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| HC Community Care Center & Food Pantry | Grand Forks, ND | $335,883 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Ministry on the Margins | Bismarck, ND | $320,997 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Freedom Church Cares | Grand Forks, ND | $267,807 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Community Action Program Region VII | Bismarck, ND | $263,549 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| St Joseph's Social Care | Grand Forks, ND | $257,652 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Faith Food Pantry | Fargo, ND | $251,011 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| YWCA Cass Clay | Fargo, ND | $238,639 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Salvation Army BismarckMandan | Bismarck, ND | $236,724 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Hope Center | Devils Lake, ND | $234,781 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| West Fargo Eats | West Fargo, ND | $222,259 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Salvation Army Williston | Williston, ND | $220,785 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry | Bismarck, ND | $212,412 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Soup Cafe Heaven's Helpers | Bismarck, ND | $202,637 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Community Action Region VI | Jamestown, ND | $178,516 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Micah's Mission | Moorhead, MN | $163,265 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Our Lady of Grace Food Pantry | Minot, ND | $160,683 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Abundance of Grace Food Pantry | Mandan, ND | $158,884 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Richland Wilkin Emergency Food Pantry | Wahpeton, ND | $157,069 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| AMEN Food Pantry | Dickinson, ND | $155,979 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Progress Community Center | Jamestown, ND | $149,025 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| The Banquet | Bismarck, ND | $147,800 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| New Life Center | Fargo, ND | $140,634 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| AID Inc | Mandan, ND | $140,302 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| North Dakota Adult & Teen Challenge | Mandan, ND | $136,193 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Salvation Army Grand Forks | Grand Forks, ND | $134,486 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| The Arbors at McCormick Park | Fargo, ND | $133,142 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| River of Hope | Bismarck, ND | $115,544 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Belfield Medora Food Pantry | Belfield, ND | $114,526 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Bridgepointe Community Food Pantry | Moorhead, MN | $102,333 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Graver Food Pantry | Fargo, ND | $101,868 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Tri-City Haitian Ministry | Fargo, ND | $100,813 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Garrison Area Resource Center & Food Pantry | Garrison, ND | $96,348 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| McMerty Food Pantry | Fargo, ND | $94,164 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Second Harvest Heartland | Brooklyn Park, MN | $91,668 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| McHenry County Food Pantry | Granville, ND | $87,821 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| McKenzie County Food Pantry | Watford City, ND | $86,022 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Gackle Area Food Pantry | Gackle, ND | $84,169 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Bottineau Food Pantry | Bottineau, ND | $82,570 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Houge Estates | Dilworth, MN | $78,200 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Mountrail Community Food Pantry | Stanley, ND | $75,573 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
| Stepping Stone Resource Center | Fargo, ND | $66,492 | 2024 | To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals |
Emergency Food Pantry
$1,844,127To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Dream Center Bismarck
$1,496,110To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Dorothy Day West
$982,896To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Spirit of Life Catholic Church
$671,583To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Dorothy Day Food Pantry
$632,378To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
A Place For Hope
$529,720To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Northlands Rescue Mission
$469,976To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
The Lord's Cupboard
$386,058To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Food Pantry
$343,563To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
HC Community Care Center & Food Pantry
$335,883To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Ministry on the Margins
$320,997To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Freedom Church Cares
$267,807To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Community Action Program Region VII
$263,549To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
St Joseph's Social Care
$257,652To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Faith Food Pantry
$251,011To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
YWCA Cass Clay
$238,639To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Salvation Army BismarckMandan
$236,724To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Hope Center
$234,781To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
West Fargo Eats
$222,259To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Salvation Army Williston
$220,785To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry
$212,412To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Soup Cafe Heaven's Helpers
$202,637To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Community Action Region VI
$178,516To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Micah's Mission
$163,265To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Our Lady of Grace Food Pantry
$160,683To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Abundance of Grace Food Pantry
$158,884To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Richland Wilkin Emergency Food Pantry
$157,069To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
AMEN Food Pantry
$155,979To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Progress Community Center
$149,025To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
The Banquet
$147,800To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
New Life Center
$140,634To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
AID Inc
$140,302To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
North Dakota Adult & Teen Challenge
$136,193To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Salvation Army Grand Forks
$134,486To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
The Arbors at McCormick Park
$133,142To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
River of Hope
$115,544To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Belfield Medora Food Pantry
$114,526To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Bridgepointe Community Food Pantry
$102,333To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Graver Food Pantry
$101,868To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Tri-City Haitian Ministry
$100,813To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Garrison Area Resource Center & Food Pantry
$96,348To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
McMerty Food Pantry
$94,164To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Second Harvest Heartland
$91,668To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
McHenry County Food Pantry
$87,821To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
McKenzie County Food Pantry
$86,022To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Gackle Area Food Pantry
$84,169To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Bottineau Food Pantry
$82,570To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Houge Estates
$78,200To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Mountrail Community Food Pantry
$75,573To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals
Stepping Stone Resource Center
$66,492To provide food pantries with food to distribute to individuals