A sharp rise in food insecurity has sparked a wave of emergency funding from foundations across the U.S. This response follows the nationwide government shutdown in November, which greatly disrupted food assistance programs. Nearly 42 million Americans rely on federal food support, primarily through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The MacArthur Foundation has stepped in with a $1.5 million initiative to combat food insecurity in Chicago. Local organizations, like the Inner-City Muslim Action Network’s Food and Wellness Center, have benefited from these grants. In Illinois alone, about 2 million people felt the impact of stalled SNAP benefits. “The government shutdown has set families back who were already struggling,” said Kate Maehr, Executive Director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Other foundations have also responded. The Heinz Endowments awarded $1.1 million for food assistance in southwestern Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, the McKnight Foundation provided $1 million to help Minnesota families during Thanksgiving. The Prebys Foundation in San Diego announced $3 million in emergency funds to improve food access and support local farms.
In Washington, the Philanthropy Northwest network revived the WA Food Fund to aid residents in need. Recent statistics from the Annie E. Casey Foundation highlight a troubling trend in child poverty rates—after a drop to 5% in 2021, the rate has jumped to 13% in 2024 as pandemic relief waned, with predictions that it could have reached 25% without government support.
These funds are essential. Many families affected by food insecurity have at least one working parent. However, Black and Latino children have faced the steepest increases in poverty levels. Community efforts from foundations are crucial as these families navigate hardship and seek stability.
For more insights into how these changes affect communities, see [this report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation](https://www.aecf.org/resources/measuring-access-to-opportunity-a-10-year-update).
