Originally published on 9 August 2022 and updated on 19 August 2025.
Alleviating hunger is a daunting, complex task that is only possible through creative, committed partnerships. When businesses partner with food banks, they support community-led solutions that alleviate hunger and reduce food loss and waste while working toward company objectives.
Why are food banks such agile business partners? Because they work at the intersection of food systems, civil society and the private sector.
There are many ways for companies to work with food banks, and because food banks exist in local communities around the world, partnering helps businesses make a significant and meaningful impact on food insecurity globally.
Here are five ways businesses can partner with food banks:
Staff from Banco de Alimentos de Uruguay unload frozen seafood donated by Holland America Line. The food bank distributed this food to 14 hospitals and other community partners. (Photo: Banco de Alimentos de Uruguay)
Food banks recover surplus food and efficiently distribute it to people facing food insecurity. While doing so, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food that would have been left to decompose in fields or landfill sites and ensure resources are stewarded responsibly. Because food banks receive donations from partners at every stage of the supply chain — including farmers, manufacturers, distributors, transporters, the hospitality sector and consumers — they can redirect surplus inventory for many kinds of businesses. By donating food and product surplus to food banks, businesses play a vital role in long-term solutions to food insecurity and climate change.
Corporate matching programs offer significant value to employees, employers and the communities they serve. Matching programs show employees that the organization is committed to social impact while fostering a culture of giving, collaboration and compassion. When employees see their volunteer hours and donations multiplied, through company support, they feel a stronger sense of purpose and connection to their workplace. Often, companies report that this even results in improved morale and higher productivity.
It can be simple to offer a corporate match with GFN to incentivize volunteerism and workplace giving at your next day or month of service. Employees take action, generously giving their time or money while knowing that every act unlocks meals for people facing hunger around the world. Partnering with GFN is a truly global opportunity, with food banks operating in more than 50 countries to alleviate hunger, and our work is associated with a high-impact ROI ($1 = 14 meals).
Food banks not only serve their communities — they’re powered by them. Across 46 countries, 436,000 people volunteered at food banks in 2024, a 40% increase over the previous year. That included employees from Northern Trust , which turns service hours into volunteer grants, donating meals for each hour served during their month of service. Northern Trust witnessed a significant increase in employee volunteerism globally, resulting in $240,000 in volunteer grants donated in 2024 alone.
In April 2025, during Starbucks’ 15th anniversary of their annual “Month of Good,” employees across the globe volunteered at local hunger relief and food recovery organizations. In support of partners taking action, Starbucks donated 7 million meals via The Global FoodBanking Network.
Cause marketing is a collaboration between a for-profit business and nonprofit organization for mutual benefit, aiming to increase profits and support societal causes. More than 75% of consumers trust purpose-driven brands more, indicating that aligning with social causes can significantly enhance brand credibility.
Now more than ever, consumers want to support brands that are doing good in their communities. Whether offering a point-of-sale campaign (customers can donate at checkout), buy one/give one or percentage of sale donation, companies can involve consumers and create change.
In 2024, Unilever’s “Natura’s” brand partnered with GFN on the “Giving Back to our Roots” campaign to help build community resilience across Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. With engaging social content like Chef Bryan Ford cooking with their salsa, as well as a $100,000 donation, Unilever and GFN helped extend their impact in core markets.
Another way to connect employees to mission-driven causes is through skill-based volunteering. Employees can use their expertise in unique and impactful ways while providing budget relieving services to food banks.
For example, PYXERA Global’s Reimaging Green(er) Solutions to Hunger Challenge led by The PIMCO foundation brought together employees from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bayer, and Western Digital to develop meaningful solutions to make food banking more environmentally friendly.
Authentic storytelling can build credibility by illustrating the real stories behind the impact numbers, and they can help connect the audience to the CSR, sustainability and marketing goals of the business.
For example, GFN and Microsoft are partnering to tackle climate change through the innovative FRAME methodology, helping food banks quantify the avoided methane through food donation. Together, GFN and Microsoft harnessed the power of storytelling to bring these actions to life, sharing real stories of communities impacted by sustainable food systems in Ecuador.
Join us in alleviating hunger in your community. To explore ways that businesses can partner with food banks and GFN, please contact us at development@foodbanking.org.
