Eligibility

The BRANDT Foundation Board of Directors will consider qualified letters of inquiry received from U.S.-based organizations that are exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c)(3) and have been incorporated for at least 3 years. If you are a 509 (a)(3) Supporting Organization, please be prepared to provide additional information. Grants are not made directly to individuals.

Funding Priorities

Food Security
Help make food more accessible to all. Support organizations that help produce food, provide food education and distribute food to those in need.

Initiatives:

• Agricultural Support: Fund progressive farming and innovative food production programs.
• Food Charities: Partner with nonprofits providing food to those in need.

Food Waste Reduction
Help reduce food waste by shining a light on the issue, educating consumers on how to reduce waste and providing alternatives to throwing away food.

Initiatives:

• Prevention Programs: Support nonprofits reducing food waste through redistribution & education.
• Creative Diversion: Support organizations that help divert unused food from the waste stream, paying particular attention to organizations that develop innovative uses for waste.

Agricultural Education 
Promote and support organizations who help develop future leaders in agriculture and advocate for agriculture.

Initiatives:

• Educational Support: Fund scholarships and training through organizations like FFA and 4-H.
• Advocacy: Support youth-focused agriculture advocacy programs.

Guardrails:

• Mission Alignment: Projects must directly address food insecurity, agricultural education, or waste reduction.
• 501(c)(3) Requirement: Funding will be considered only for U.S.-based organizations in good standing for at least three years as a 501(c)(3).
• Impact & Sustainability: Priority will be given to initiatives that demonstrate measurable impact and offer long-term sustainability. 

Geographic Target Areas
Grants are given in states where BRANDT has facilities, including Illinois, Florida, California, Utah and Nebraska.

GRANT RANGE
The average grant size is between $1,000 and $10,000.

Application Process

There are three steps to receiving a grant from The BRANDT Foundation. Grant application is by invitation only. 

1. Submit Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
To request an invitation to apply for a grant, organizations must submit a Letter of Inquiry via email. 

2. If Your LOI is Approved, Submit a Formal Grant Application
If your organization's LOI is approved, you will receive a website address to begin submitting a formal grant application via an online portal.

3. Application Review
The formal grant applications will be reviewed at The BRANDT Foundation's next board meeting. You will be notified of the board's decision shortly after.

Letter of Inquiry

Submit a letter of inquiry (LOI)
An organization must submit a letter of inquiry via email to The BRANDT Foundation before applying for a grant. Please keep the Letter of Inquiry as brief as possible. The LOI should include:

• Brief background about your organization
• Amount of funds requested
• Purpose of funds requested
• Organization’s tax status

Send your LOI to foundation@brandt.co

FAQ

Q: What types of organizations do you support?
A: The BRANDT Foundation is focused on helping charities, organizations and communities that reside in the same area of the company, geographically and industry related.

Q: How do I apply for a grant?
A: Grant requests are done in a few short steps. First, you must submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) via email. If your organization's LOI is approved, you will receive a website address to begin submitting a formal grant application via an online portal. View the Application Process page for more info. 

Q: What industries qualify for support? 
A: The BRANDT Foundation supports organizations focused on food security, food waste reduction, and agricultural education. This includes initiatives related to sustainable food production, redistribution of surplus food, and the development of future agricultural leaders through education and advocacy.

Q: Does my organization have to be in a certain area to qualify for support?
A: With locations in Illinois, Florida, California, Utah and Nebraska, the BRANDT Foundation prioritizes its support in these areas.

Q: What is the typical size of a grant from The BRANDT Foundation?
A: The average grant size is between $1,000 and $10,000.

Q: How long will it take for my grant application to be reviewed/approved?
A: The BRANDT Foundation board of directors meets twice a year, in July and December. This is when the board will review applications. 

Q: How will I know if my application has been approved or denied?
A: All communication for grant applications will be done via email.

Q: If my request is denied, can I submit again?
A: If your grant application is denied, you may submit another Letter of Inquiry to be reviewed by The BRANDT Foundation. 

Q: Can I edit my formal grant application after I've already started?
A: Of course! If you've received login credentials for a formal grant application, you can return to our website at any time and click "Login" in the top right corner. Here is where you can see all of your grant applications, which can be edited and updated until the application is closed. 

Q: When do applications close? 
A: The BRANDT Foundation board of directors meets semi-annually. Approximately one month before the next meeting, all applications with be closed so we can start the review process.