The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) is responsible for administering the Hunger Free Campus grant program. The statute governing the grant program is located in Minnesota Statutes 135A.137 Hunger Free Campus Designation (Sec. 135A.137 MN Statutes). It correlates with 2023 Minnesota Session Laws, Chapter 41, Section 2, Subdivision 35, that includes up to $500,000 to institutions for equipment necessary to operate an on-campus food pantry.
A Hunger Free Campus is a public or nonprofit degree-granting postsecondary institution physically located in Minnesota and registered with the Office of Higher Education under section 136A.63 that has received a designation from the Student Advisory Council (SAC) under section 136A.031, in partnership with OHE.
Campuses may use grant funding to achieve and/or sustain the necessary criteria for designation. In order to receive the designation, campuses must meet the following minimum criteria:
Institutions must reapply at least every four years to maintain the designation.
Eligible applicants include the following organizations, located in Minnesota, that provide eligible services to eligible participants:
Competitive applicants should:
The total appropriation is $2,500,000 and of this amount, up to $500,000 in one-time funding is available for equipment grant.
Sustaining Designation Grant (Sustaining Grant): For the purpose of supporting colleges and universities who have already received a Hunger Free Campus designation and are requesting funds to sustain and continue their work. The maximum grant award for an institution pursuing the Sustaining Designation Grant is $15,000.
Pathways to Designation Grant (Pathways Grant): For the purpose of supporting colleges and universities who have not received a Hunger Free Campus designation and will be seeking designation within the next year. The maximum grant award for an institution pursuing the Pathways to Designation Grant is $25,000.
Equipment Grant: For the purpose of supporting colleges and universities in purchasing the equipment necessary to operate an on-campus food pantry. Institutions may apply for this grant alone or in addition to a sustaining or pathways grant. The maximum award amount for an institution requesting an equipment grant is $25,000. Up to $500,000 in one-time funding is available for equipment grant.
Please Note: There is a 50% match requirement, in-kind or monetary, to receive funding for Sustaining and Pathways grants.
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is currently accepting proposals for the Hunger Free Campus Grants.
Please review the FY24 HFC Grants Request for Proposals before beginning the submission process.
2024 Hunger Free Campus Grant RFP - Revised RFP coming soon. The only update is the funding – see above funding section for corrected amount.
Date | Description |
April 22, 2024 | Request for Proposals available to applicants |
May 16, 2024 | Technical Questions Deadline |
May 23, 2024 | Deadline for receipt of full proposals at 11:59 p.m. |
June 6, 2024 | Committee begins review of applications |
June 20, 2024 | Committee recommendations submitted to OHE for review |
July 8, 2024 | Applicants notified of award decisions |
July 17, 2024 | Mandatory grantee orientation (2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) |
Applicants must complete a proposal cover sheet through this form: 2024 Hunger Free Campus Grant Cover Sheet
Once submitted, applicants will be able to save their responses to the form, or may email GWI.OHE@state.mn.us to request a copy.
In addition, applicants must email the following items to GWI.OHE@state.mn.us:
Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 pm on May 23, 2024.
If you have questions about Hunger Free Campus Grant, please contact the Office of Higher Education at GWI.OHE@state.mn.us
Proposals are reviewed and scored by a panel of community reviewers who have professional or lived experience with: basic needs insecurity, youth homelessness, financial aid, low-income student support, and human/social services, among many other content areas. If you are interested in being a community reviewer, please contact GWI.OHE@state.mn.us. Community members that are a part of groups traditionally underrepresented in college are encouraged to sit on a review panel and may qualify for a small stipend for participation.
A Hunger Free Campus is a public, private, or tribal college that is actively taking strides to reduce food insecurity and improve basic needs resources on their campus. To receive a Hunger Free Campus designation, institutions must meet the following criteria:
Hunger Free Campus designations are given out by the institutions’ student organization in partnership with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. In order to apply for a designation, connect with:
Two-year public colleges - LeadMN
Four-year public colleges (not UMN) - Students United
University of Minnesota, any campus: UMN Student Senate
Private Institutions: MN Private College Council
If you are a student seeking resources to address food, housing, or other basic needs insecurities, see our Student Homelessness in Higher Education webpage.
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