Domestic Hunger

Sara Lee Corporation is a Chicago-based manufacturer and marketer of high quality brand-name products. Much of Sara Lee's sales come from life's material necessities such as food, so Sara Lee feels a special responsibility to address the significant issue of domestic hunger in its giving.

The Sara Lee Foundation places funding priority on grants to nonprofits that create collaborative and innovative initiatives focused on fighting domestic hunger. Food insecurity is a critical issue and significant consideration is given to programs that focus on food rescue, providing increased access to fresh produce and protein, meal programs when schools are not in session (as for many students, school lunch is their only meal of the day), and hunger awareness.

Programs and projects that are most competitive are those which clearly address domestic hunger and serve the larger community, specifically where Sara Lee operates. Programs can have dual purposes such as providing job training where individuals learn essential skills for careers in the food industry and where the prepared food is then distributed to students or seniors. Another example may include innovative community gardening programs where the fresh produce is distributed to individuals living in food deserts, farmers markets and combined with initiatives that help enroll eligible individuals in Federal nutrition programs. These are simply two examples and the Sara Lee Foundation is continually inspired by the many innovative programs that address domestic hunger in the communities where Sara Lee operates. We look forward to hearing about the unique programs that the nonprofit sector has created to address the significant issue of domestic hunger.

Nonprofit programs focused on addressing other important societal issues such as homelessness, recovery programs and domestic violence shelters that also provide meals at residential facilities are not considered competitive.

To be considered for support, a prospective applicant must first submit an Online Letter of Intent. For instructions on how to apply, please follow the link to our Giving Guidelines.