Healthcare Costs and the Hidden Driver of Food Insecurity
When families spend significantly more on health insurance, fewer dollars remain for food. The expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies is an upstream driver of food insecurity that community foundations and food relief organizations cannot afford to ignore.
When a Food Bank Becomes a Foundation: What Maryland's Neighbor Impact Grant Reveals About the Future of Food Security Funding
The Maryland Food Bank isn't just distributing food. It's funding pathways out of hunger. Their Neighbor Impact Grant offers a glimpse of where food security philanthropy is headed, and the coordination challenges that come with it.
A Food Pantry on the Map Doesn't Mean a Family Gets Fed
A peer-reviewed study mapped 34,475 food pantries across the U.S. and found that nearly 1 in 4 neighborhoods have low access to food assistance. The findings reveal why density alone doesn't equal coverage, and what that means for foundations funding food relief.
The Poultry Industry's Immigration Contradiction
Poultry industry executives poured millions into supporting anti-immigrant campaigns while their processing plants depended on immigrant labor. Now, as TPS terminations strip work authorization from thousands of workers, those same companies are quietly reaching across the aisle for help.
Same Cart, Different Price: What Instacart's Pricing Experiments Mean for Food Security
A landmark investigation revealed Instacart was charging different customers different prices for identical groceries, with variations up to 23%. For families already struggling to put food on the table, the implications go far beyond convenience.
When the Safety Net Shrinks, Rural Communities Feel It First
SNAP benefits generate nearly $2 in economic activity for every $1 spent, but coming program cuts will hit rural communities hardest, where a single grocery store can anchor an entire local economy.
Food Insecurity Hit 16% in November. Here's What That Means for Community Foundations
New data from Purdue's Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability shows U.S. food insecurity spiked sharply in November 2025, with SNAP participants hit hardest. For community foundations funding food relief, the numbers reveal an urgent coordination problem.
How Mountaineer Food Bank Cracked the Code on Serving Food-Insecure Teens
Middle and high schoolers would rather go hungry than face the stigma of school food programs. One West Virginia food bank found a way to reach them through confidential home delivery and creative partnerships.
The Philanthropy Paradox: Why Fewer Donors Are Giving More (And What It Means for Community Foundations)
New research reveals affluent giving participation has dropped 10 percentage points since 2015, yet average gifts now exceed $33,000. This creates an urgent coordination crisis for community foundations.
Why MANNA Food Bank Excels at Website Advocacy (And Why It Matters for WNC)
Only 25% of food banks nationwide excel at website advocacy. MANNA Food Bank is one of them, and their approach offers a blueprint for how food relief organizations can drive both immediate impact and systemic change in Western North Carolina.
Technology AT Nonprofits vs Technology WITH Nonprofits: Lessons from the GoFundMe Controversy
When GoFundMe created 1.4 million unauthorized donation pages, it revealed a critical divide in nonprofit technology: platforms built FOR organizations versus those built WITH them.
Why Grassroots Groups Aren't a Risk for Funders (They're the Sure Bet)
A new piece from the Center for Effective Philanthropy makes a compelling case that funders don't need to 'bet' on grassroots organizations; they need to listen to them, resource them, and follow their lead.
American Red Cross Extends Relief to Resilience Funding with Additional $500,000 Investment
The American Red Cross has approved an additional $500,000 for Western North Carolina's Relief to Resilience project, enabling grassroots food organizations to deliver over 40,000 additional meals and nearly $200,000 in direct farm purchases through the FastRoots-coordinated initiative.
Mountain Xpress: New local tech venture supports sustainability for food-focused nonprofits
FastRoots co-founders Fuller and Corzine spoke with Xpress about how their company bridges a gap to help community-led efforts become more effective and sustainable.
Local Food Relief Groups Lead $1M American Red Cross Pilot, Supported by FastRoots Technology
With a $1 million investment from the American Red Cross, five visionary organizations unite to pioneer a data-driven food assistance system, transforming disaster relief into lasting resilience in Western North Carolina.