Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC) is a national organization that funds and supports community food programs across the country. Their model is built on the principle that good food is a basic right, and they provide grants, training, and resources to organizations that use food as a tool for community building, health promotion, and social inclusion.
For Alberta nonprofits running food programs — community kitchens, food banks, community gardens, food skills training, or food-based social enterprise — CFCC represents a significant funding and capacity-building opportunity.
The Good Food Organizations Program
CFCC's primary funding vehicle is the Good Food Organizations (GFO) program, which provides multi-year funding and support to community food organizations across Canada. Selected organizations receive:
- Annual grants typically ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 for program delivery
- Capacity building support including training, peer learning, and technical assistance
- Network membership connecting you with other food organizations across Canada for shared learning and advocacy
- Evaluation support helping you measure and communicate the impact of your food programs
CFCC funding is more than money — it's a comprehensive support package that helps organizations grow their capacity while delivering food programs. The peer learning network alone is worth the application effort.
What CFCC Looks For
CFCC funds organizations that use food programming to address broader social determinants of health:
- Community meals and cooking programs that bring diverse community members together and build social connections
- Food skills training that teaches participants to prepare healthy, affordable food
- Community gardens and urban agriculture that provide fresh food access while building community
- Food advocacy programs that address systemic food insecurity through policy change and community organizing
- Food-based social enterprise that creates economic opportunities while addressing food access
Eligibility
- Must be a registered Canadian charity
- Must operate community food programs that go beyond emergency food provision (food banks alone don't typically qualify — CFCC looks for programs that build community alongside providing food)
- Must demonstrate a commitment to dignity and inclusion in food programming
- Must be willing to participate in CFCC's peer learning network
Application Tips
Frame food as community building. CFCC is not primarily interested in how many meals you serve. They want to see how food programs create social connections, build skills, and empower communities. A community kitchen that teaches cooking skills while creating a welcoming space for newcomers to connect with neighbours is more aligned with CFCC's mission than a food bank that distributes hampers.
Demonstrate participant voice. CFCC values programs that are designed with community members, not just for them. Show how participants shape your programming through advisory committees, feedback processes, or co-design approaches.
Address food justice. CFCC is explicitly committed to food justice — the idea that everyone has the right to healthy, affordable food regardless of income, race, or geography. Applications that address systemic causes of food insecurity, not just symptoms, align strongly with CFCC's values.
Alpine Grants helps organizations access food security funding alongside other community grants. Book a 10-minute discovery call to explore your food program's funding potential.