In 2025, Food Banks Canada (FBC) launched its new 5-year Strategic Plan with a key priority of strengthening the food bank network to meet demand. Despite the availability of surplus food across the network, persistent bottlenecks continue to limit its timely and effective distribution to those experiencing food insecurity. These bottlenecks include limited storage capacity (warehouse and cold storage facilities), challenges with transporting food, and insufficient options to process perishable items, among others. To meet both immediate and longer-term needs, the network must evolve from siloed organizations to a coordinated, resilient network. 

The 2026 Capacity Boost Grant, supported by FBC, aims to build the network’s capacity to accept, store, and distribute food with the ultimate goal of increasing the amount of food available to food-insecure households.  

Eligibility

The 2026 Capacity Boost Grant is open to Food Banks Canada’s food bank network including:

• Affiliate food banks (member of a provincial association);
• Provincial associations;
• Food banks and food security organizations located in the territories and the remote northern regions of provinces.

Please note: 

• Organizations applying for a grant may only submit one application for funds. 
  • Groups of food banks may submit a joint application where each participating partner organization will receive a shared and measurable benefit from the grant. We encourage those submitting a joint application to review it with their provincial association prior to submission to ensure that it aligns with provincial objectives. By working together, applicants can strengthen their proposals by pooling resources, aligning goals to address food insecurity, and maximizing impact. This collaborative approach fosters local partnerships, reduces duplication of efforts, and increases the potential for sustainable, community-driven outcomes
• Applications from organizations that have outstanding grant reports due to Food Banks Canada will not be considered until those reports are received and reviewed.
• To be eligible, organizations applying for a grant must have at least one person on staff or a volunteer who has completed safe food handling training by a recognized source (e.g. public health, Food Banks Canada, etc.)

2026 Capacity Boost Grant – Objectives

Through a competitive review process, funds will be allocated to organizations that can best demonstrate how their project will allow them to meet one or more of the following grant objectives in clear and measurable ways:

1. to improve the system capacity of the food bank network to accept, store, and distribute food. 
2. to increase the amount of food made available to food-insecure households.

Eligible Expenses

The 2026 Capacity Boost Grant will support the type of purchases and projects listed below if they allow the applicant organization to meet any of the 2026 Capacity Boost objectives. 

• Refrigeration equipment – e.g., fridges, freezers, cooler room, etc.
• Transportation equipment – e.g., vehicles including cargo vans, refrigerated vehicles, retrofitting vehicles, trailers, refrigerated or non-refrigerated, short-term vehicle leases, etc.
• Temporary off-site food storage options – e.g. warehouse rental (must include longer-term strategy in the application for food storage).
• Consultant fees for developing plans to increase organizational capacity. 
• New implementation of inventory management software and related equipment.
• Food transformation equipment for large-scale production, including large-capacity food processors, preparation tables, mixers, slicers, combination (combi) ovens, steamers, and other kitchen appliances such as vacuum sealers and freeze dryers.
• Product handling and warehouse equipment – e.g., forklifts, pallet jacks, etc. 
• Minor capacity-related construction projects – e.g., loading docks, walk-in freezer storage, etc. (must be incurred between February 1, 2026, and August 31, 2026).
• Safe food handling equipment to support cold chain maintenance. 
• Part-time staffing costs to support the grant’s objectives may be considered. 
• Other cold chain equipment and/or systems to support the storage and distribution of food.
• Emergency generators for power outages. 

Food Banks Canada prefers projects that can show they will use environmentally friendly equipment, including products that are ‘EPA compliant’ or save energy. This could include high-efficiency systems, models that focus on green manufacturing, EPA-approved refrigerants, quiet fan-blade technology, low-energy compressors, and more.

Expenses not eligible for funding:

• Rent/hydro/utilities.
• Food or other consumable products 
• Expenses or losses resulting from previous projects.
• Financial commitments that last longer than the term of the project (i.e. past August 31, 2026)
• Infrastructure improvements that are cosmetic rather than necessary for function

Grant Timeline

Note: We encourage food banks that support marginalized communities, specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour to apply. (Food Banks Canada’s EDI granting principles)

If you have any questions about how to complete this application, please do not hesitate to contact the Grants Team at grants@foodbankscanada.ca or call 1-800-986-5280 for assistance.

Applications are due by December 15, 2025, 5.00 p.m. EST