The Boston Foundation announces multimillion-dollar commitment to strengthen region’s food systems
Rising food insecurity and cuts to federal food programs inspire new multi-part commitment, beginning with $1.5 million in grants to Greater Boston Food Bank and regional food organizations
August 5, 2025
Boston – The Boston Foundation today announced the launch of what will be a multi-part, multimillion-dollar commitment in support of stronger regional systems to address hunger and food insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts.
The initiative, Meeting the Moment: Sustaining Families is a long-term project to use the Foundation’s grantmaking, donor partnerships, research, convening, and advocacy power to distribute critical funding that responds to current need, identifies paths to protect critical systems and institutions, and collaboratively reimagines what a more resilient, robust safety net might look like.
“In Massachusetts, we are going to do everything possible to protect access to food for families despite the federal government's cuts. The leadership of philanthropic organizations like the Boston Foundation is essential to our ability to meet this moment and deliver for our people," said Governor Maura Healey. "TBF’s willingness to leverage its research and community connections in conjunction with its grantmaking is unmatched and greatly needed at times like these.”
“Recent federal actions to cut funding and limit access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will push our food distribution system to the brink of failure,” said Lee Pelton, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “No philanthropic institution can fill the federal gap with funding alone – but with targeted investments now and a longer-term strategy to highlight the issues, research the impacts, advocate for solutions and inspire us all to meet the needs of residents throughout the region, we hope to be an effective partner alleviating this tragic, and frankly cruel, situation for our families.”
"TBF’s willingness to leverage its research and community connections in conjunction with its grantmaking is unmatched and greatly needed at times like these.”
-Gov. Maura Healey
Initiative highlights:
→$1.5 million initial investment
→Support for Greater Boston Food Bank and regional systems
→First phase of longer-term "Sustaining Families" commitment
To launch the effort, the Boston Foundation Board of Directors approved a $1 million initial grant to the Greater Boston Food Bank, acknowledging its critical role as a hub for food supplies throughout Eastern Massachusetts. In addition, the Foundation has allocated $500,000 for other local and regional food-related organizations, targeting places our research suggests are most likely to bear the greatest burden from SNAP cuts.
“As a longtime partner of the Boston Foundation, I appreciate the power and impact TBF can provide with both its grantmaking dollars and its determination to lean into the biggest challenges we face as a region,” said Catherine D’Amato, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank. “At a time when 1-in-3 Massachusetts families have been food insecure in the past year, we thank TBF for this grant, and more broadly for its civic leadership on this issue.”
The Foundation is also building on donor and other philanthropic partnerships to bring together more dollars in additional resources for future rounds of grantmaking. Details of those efforts will be released at a later date. In addition, TBF is in the planning stages of a larger effort to engage community members, undertake research, convene groups large and small, advocate for systems change, and track the impact of both the cuts and potential solutions.