Next Step Grant Application

Thank you for your interest in Vermont Foodbank's Next Step Grant.

The Next Step Grant is a flexible, deliverables-driven funding opportunity designed to help Vermont Foodbank Network Partners strengthen their organizational resiliency and financial sustainability through learning and practical application at their organization. This grant supports partners who are ready to take a focused next step for their organizational learning. The focus of the next step can vary, depending on the current needs of your organization but we hope next steps will help partners:

Clarify roles, systems, and expectations
Build stronger leadership and succession plans
Strengthen financial and fundraising practices
Gain organizational clarity around strategy and scope

Projects are meant to focus on only one clear deliverable at a time in order to produce outcomes that clearly connect learning to meaningful organizational improvements.

Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. To be responsive to our partners' needs, it is the intent of this fund to have applications reviewed and determined within a two work week timeframe. Applications must be submitted no later than August 31, 2026.

The application will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, or would like support in completing the application, please contact Zach Hebert at zhebert@vtfoodbank.org

Eligibility Criteria and Fund Requirements:
+ You must be a formal, active Network Partner of Vermont Foodbank.
+ Funds must be expended by September 30, 2026.
+ Awardees are asked to submit a brief "Report of Impact" related to the funds upon completion of initiative, but no later than October 31, 2026.