Hunger Free Campus

Helping colleges and universities achieve and sustain a Hunger Free Campus designation.

 

Hunger Free Campus Grants

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:

1. Have an established on-campus food pantry or partnership with a local food bank to provide regular,  on-campus food distributions;  
2. Provide information to students on SNAP, MFIP, and other programs that reduce food insecurity.  The institution shall notify students in work-study employment of their potential eligibility for SNAP benefits and provide information to those students that includes eligibility criteria and how to apply for benefits; 
3. Hold or participate in one hunger awareness event per academic year;  
4. Have an established emergency assistance grant that is available to students; and
5. Establish a hunger task force that meets a minimum of three times per academic year and includes a minimum of two currently enrolled students.

Institutions must reapply at least every four years to maintain the designation.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Eligible applicants include the following organizations, located in Minnesota, that provide eligible services to eligible participants:

• Public postsecondary institutions 
• Nonprofit, degree-granting, private postsecondary institutions physically located in Minnesota and registered with the Office of Higher Education under section 136A.63
• Tribal colleges 

Competitive applicants should: 

• Be able to demonstrate student-need on their campus
• Have capacity to maintain all five designation criteria for at least one year after post-grant closeout

1. Have an established on-campus food pantry or partnership with a local food bank to provide regular, on-campus food distributions;  
2. Provide information to students on SNAP, MFIP, and other programs that reduce food insecurity.  The institution shall notify students in work-study employment of their potential eligibility for SNAP benefits and provide information to those students that includes eligibility criteria and how to apply for benefits; 
3. Hold or participate in one hunger awareness event per academic year;  
4. Have an established emergency assistance grant that is available to students; and
5. Establish a hunger task force that meets a minimum of three times per academic year.

• Secure institutional funds, in addition to grant funds, in order to sustain the designation criteria
• Incorporate student-feedback and perspective into the implementation process, and
• Institutions applying for a Sustaining Designation Grant must demonstrate a partnership with a local food bank or organization or other source of funding that ensures regular, on-campus distributions

Funding

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.

2025 Request for Proposals

Proposal expected to be Available: June 2, 2025

Proposal Submission Deadline: July 9, 2025

Fiscal Year 2024 Grant Recipients

2024 Hunger Free Campus Grant RFP 

• Alexandria Technical & Community College
• Augsburg University
• Bemidji State University
• Central Lakes College
• College of St. Scholastica
• Concordia College
• Concordia University, St. Paul
• Inver Hills Community College
• Macalester College
• Metropolitan State University
• Minnesota State College Southeast
•  Minnesota State University, Mankato
• North Hennepin Community College 
• Northwestern Health Sciences University 
• Pine Technical & Community College 
• Riverland Community College
• Rochester Community and Technical College
• Saint Paul College 
• Southwest Minnesota State University
• St. Olaf College
• St. Cloud State University
• University of Minnesota Duluth
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Winona State University
   

Who do I contact with Questions?

If you have questions about Hunger Free Campus Grant, please contact the Office of Higher Education at GWI.OHE@state.mn.us

Institutional Designation

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:

1. Have an established on-campus food pantry or partnership with a local food bank to provide regular, on-campus food distributions;
2. Provide information to students on SNAP, MFIP, and other programs that reduce food insecurity. The institution shall notify students in work-study employment of their potential eligibility for SNAP benefits and provide information to those students that includes eligibility criteria and how to apply for benefits;
3. Hold or participate in one hunger awareness event per academic year;
4. Have an established emergency assistance grant that is available to students; and
5. Establish a hunger task force that meets a minimum of three times per academic year.

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 

For Students:

If you are a student seeking resources to address food, housing, or other basic needs insecurities, see our Student Homelessness in Higher Education webpage.