Announcing the Toast Changemakers Program
The Toast Changemakers Program, presented in partnership with Hello Alice and GEN, is here to support restaurants making a difference in their local communities by addressing food insecurity. The restaurant industry is known for its slim margins, yet restaurants frequently serve their communities with more than just great food – they find meaningful ways to give back and fight hunger.
Through the Toast Changemakers Program, fifteen restaurant owners will each receive a $10,000 grant to expand or enhance their existing community programs dedicated to addressing food insecurity. This program recognizes restaurants already giving back and provides the resources they need to do even more good while serving their communities.
The Toast Changemakers Program is your opportunity to amplify your community impact with the support of funding designed to help you expand efforts that make a real difference in fighting hunger.
This grant is ideal for restaurants that:
- Already provide community meals or food donations
- Partner with local food banks or nonprofit organizations to address hunger
- Have established ways to redirect surplus food to those in need
- Serve vulnerable populations through community outreach
- Want to expand their current work addressing food insecurity to reach more people
To be eligible, the applicant must be:
- The leading executive of the business
- A legal resident of one of the fifty United States, D.C., or Puerto Rico
- At least 18 years old (19 in AL and NE)
The business must:
- Be a for-profit restaurant, cafe, or other food service business registered and located in one of the fifty United States, D.C., or Puerto Rico
- Have an existing and active effort(s) addressing food insecurity in their community
- Own a maximum of 15 locations, and employ fewer than 50 people per location
- Have been in operation for at least 6 months
- Have revenues of $3M or less per location in 2024 and be independently owned
- Demonstrate a clear plan for expanding or enhancing food insecurity effort(s) with grant funding
For a full list of eligibility criteria, please see the Terms and Conditions. Questions? See FAQ.
About Toast
Toast is an all-in-one technology platform built for restaurants, and they have announced a $5 million philanthropic commitment over the next five years to address global food insecurity. They are focused on hunger relief because they strongly believe the restaurant industry as a whole has the power to better their communities.
Announcing the recipients for the 2025 Toast Changemakers Program
Toast, GEN, and Hello Alice are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2025 Toast Changemakers program! Each of the fifteen selected restaurants will receive $10,000 to expand their efforts in fighting food insecurity and serving their local communities. Through this initiative, Toast has awarded $150,000 to restaurant owners who are already making a meaningful difference by providing community meals, partnering with food banks, and finding innovative ways to address hunger in their neighborhoods.
These changemaking restaurants demonstrate that even with slim margins, the restaurant industry remains committed to nourishing communities beyond the dining room. The Toast Changemakers program empowers these establishments to amplify their impact and reach even more people in need.
Explore the full list of recipients below and visit the Small Business Funding and Growth Center for more grant opportunities.
