If your company is investing in social impact — especially in the area of food security — it’s time to think beyond short-term grants and transactional giving.

Trust-based philanthropy, a funding approach grounded in equity, transparency and partnership, offers a smart, scalable path to impact — one that honors local leadership and accelerates innovation.

At The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), we believe that when companies trust locally led food banks and invest in the systems that sustain them, they help unlock effective, efficient and equitable solutions to both hunger and food waste worldwide.

What is Trust-Based Philanthropy?

Trust-based philanthropy is rooted in flexibility, partnership and mutual accountability. Rather than tying funding to restrictive programmatic outputs, this model leaves space so that local nonprofit organizations — those closest to the challenges — can lead, adapt and innovate.

Trust-based philanthropy principles:

• Offers multiyear, unrestricted funding
• Features streamlined applications and reporting, with minimal special requests or requirements
• Prioritizes long-term partnerships over short-term deliverables
• Centers community-led decision-making

This approach is especially valuable in hunger relief, where local food banks must quickly respond to evolving crises, infrastructure gaps and community-specific needs.

How Trust-Based Philanthropy Works at GFN

GFN’s structure makes it easy for corporate donors to embrace trust-based philanthropy, supporting local solutions while ensuring accountability, impact and alignment with your CSR or ESG goals.

Here’s how:

• We’re a trusted global partner. Our network spans 54 countries, and we provide a rigorous vetting and credentialing process to ensure food banks meet high standards in safety, governance and financial management.
• We offer systems-level support. From food safety and supply chain logistics to grant compliance, we provide wraparound support so partners can focus on impact, not red tape.
• We simplify global grantmaking. The GFN team and our food bank partners across the globe offer wide and varied expertise and are well equipped to help your company navigate complex global contexts and use funding strategically.
• We provide invaluable advice on where and how to invest to ensure your dollars have the greatest impact. With strong partnerships across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America, we help you understand local dynamics and codesign the most impactful path forward.

Trust-Based Philanthropy Examples in Action

Several GFN corporate partners have embraced a trust-based approach, providing multi-year, flexible funding that strengthens food banks worldwide. These partners provide just a few examples of the many ways your company can make a meaningful difference through this model

• Starbucks invests in food bank infrastructure across Asia Pacific to help expand recovery and distribution of surplus food while pairing grants with employee volunteering that is locally led and community driven.
• The John Deere Foundation committed to a multiyear investment in food banks across Latin America and Australia, paired with support for agricultural recovery programs.

Whether supporting food banks directly or funding GFN’s core operations, companies can trust they’re investing in resilient, community-driven solutions backed by expert infrastructure.

The Strategic Value of Choosing Trust-Based Philanthropy

For companies serious about achieving real, lasting social impact, trust-based philanthropy is more than an ethical choice; it’s a strategic investment in scalable, systems-level change. Trust-based philanthropy can provide:

• Greater Impact, Faster. Flexible funding enables food banks to respond immediately to crises, from natural disasters to supply chain disruptions, without losing valuable time waiting on approvals or paperwork. That speed matters when lives and livelihoods are on the line.
• Sustainable, Long-Term Solutions. When flexible funding is paired with global infrastructure, food banks can make essential investments that allow their organizations to grow and scale such as cold storage, staff capacity, food recovery systems and local agricultural partnerships.
• Brand Credibility and Global Visibility. When corporations choose trust-based investments, they become more than donors; they become valued long-term partners and respected collaborators. And with partnership tools like storytelling support, employee engagement toolkits and global impact metrics, GFN can  help amplify your brand and showcase your leadership in hunger relief and environmental sustainability. 

Trust Builds Resilience and Results

If your company is committed to ending hunger and building sustainable food systems, it’s time to invest differently. Trust-based philanthropy isn’t just good ethics, it’s smart business.

Together, we can reduce food loss and waste, get more food to people who need it and build stronger, healthier communities. Join GFN in championing a model that honors leadership, accelerates results and brings us one step closer to a hunger-free world.

Let’s reimagine how we partner to nourish people and the planet —starting with trust. Contact Us.