Healthier Food for All
We seek to find innovative and creative solutions to connect people around the world with healthier food options, all while promoting culturally relevant nutrition education.
For over a decade, we’ve made significant strides in improving food access for those in need through food donations and by strengthening the charitable meal system. Our U.S. food donation program started in 2006 through the efforts of a single Sam's Club. Since then, we have provided more than 7.5 billion pounds of food from our network of stores, clubs, and distribution centers to Feeding America food banks. In FY2023 alone, stores, clubs, and distribution centers in the U.S. donated more than 665 million pounds of food, 57% of which were fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meats.
As part of our ongoing effort to ensure people have access to healthier food, we’re directing our resources to programs and initiatives that work to increase confidence in consistently consuming healthier meals.
And, through our Fight Hunger. Spark Change program, we’re also fighting food insecurity nationwide by working with associates and customers to donate to Feeding America member food banks.
We’re also prioritizing investments in rural geographies, and in racial and ethnic communities that continue to experience disproportionate rates of food insecurity. No one should ever have to wonder where their next meal is coming from — and everyone deserves access to healthy options.
The team at Walmart.org solicits proposals from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations whose work directly relates to the above focus areas.
Our Focus Areas
Our philanthropy is focused on three areas:
In order to ensure healthier food for all, creating access must be a priority. We use philanthropy to improve access to healthier foods by strengthening the federal nutrition safety net and investing in community food systems — especially in food deserts/swamps.
To create a human-centered and tech-enabled federal nutrition safety net, we support:
- Technology and trusted partners working to help eligible households navigate the public safety net. Continue connecting benefits assistance with health care systems
- Partnerships with state agencies to build proof points and movement for toward a human centered safety-net
To improve access to healthier foods in communities with no or limited food access, we support:
- Indigenous initiatives designed to solve for the specific food access needs
- Working at scale to increase capital for community-based food access organizations and entrepreneurs in geographic areas that have limited access to healthier foods.
To see other grantees in this portfolio, click here.
2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have long committed to addressing food and nutrition security and the overall health and well-being of our customers and the communities we serve. The September 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the first of its kind in over 50 years, gathered elected officials, leaders fighting against hunger from the public, private and non-profit sectors and many others from across America to mobilizing toward meeting a shared, bold goal: "end hunger in America and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030 so fewer Americans experience diet related diseases." In support of the White House Conference, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have shared how our commitments address the pillars outlined in the Biden-Harris national strategy to achieve the shared goal. Read our submission here.
Through philanthropy, we support the creation of culturally relevant and positive experiences around trying and cooking healthier foods. In an effort to address the areas where the greatest needs exist, we specifically focus our resources on scalable and evidenced backed nutrition programming that occurs in conjunction with food access initiatives and provide
- Culturally relevant taste testing and exposure to healthier foods for young children
- Culturally relevant culinary skills for pregnant women and parents of young children
Grantee Spotlight
Sesame Workshop
In 2022, Sesame Workshop launched a new suite of resources, funded by the Walmart Foundation, to support kids and families in developing healthy relationships with food, plus strategies for planning and making easy, budget-friendly meals and snacks. The Healthy Habits for All initiative features Chef Lily, “Sesame Street” Muppet and ambassador for healthy eating.
Click here to access videos, printables and a new storybook available in English and Spanish.
The team at Walmart.org solicits proposals from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations whose work directly relates to the above focus areas.
To see other grantees in this portfolio, click here.
We seek to advance food safety through efforts designed to increase transparency and improve producer and consumer education.
As a leader in the retail food business, Walmart believes that maintaining a progressive and effective food safety management system is a critical part of our continued success.
Our philanthropy in this area is focused on the three areas of transparency, producer education and consumer education. In 2016, Walmart.org announced a plan to invest $25 million over five years to help advance food safety in China. In 2021, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation met our original investment goal of $25 million.
Following are focus areas for Food Safety:
Transparency
Walmart.org supports work that accelerates data transparency in supply chains to address critical food safety issues. Philanthropic investments include scaling test equipment, risk-prevention systems and shared data approaches across supply chains.
Grantee Spotlight
A 2016 Walmart Foundation grant to MIT and its sub-awardees, Beijing Business Management College, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Zhejiang University, is supporting the development of predictive supply chain analytics and new testing technology to develop more effective management systems to address food supply chain risks in China and around the world.
To see other grantees in this portfolio, click here.
Producer Education
To help improve food safety for smaller producers along supply chains, philanthropic investments are testing food safety education, training and certifications, and promoting standardized practices among producers.
Grantee Spotlight
In 2016, a Walmart Foundation grant was awarded to the China Chain Store and Franchise Association to support the development of a comprehensive food safety education platform designed to advance best practices.
To see other grantees in this portfolio, click here.
Consumer Education
Through philanthropy, we are committed to furthering the research of food safety practices and to developing the educational tools and programming to increase adoption of food safety practices.
Grantee Spotlight
In 2018, a Walmart Foundation grant to the National Children’s Food Safety Protection Campaign, organized by the China Children and Teenagers Foundation, helped to educate 1 million people (including 310,000 children) from 196 schools and communities in 29 cities. They showed significant gains in their food safety knowledge and dietary behaviors as a result.
To see other grantees in this portfolio, click here.
The team at Walmart.org solicits proposals from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations whose work directly relates to the above focus areas.
Reference and Research
