Originally published on 9 August 2022 and updated on 19 August 2025.
Aliviar el hambre es una tarea ardua y compleja que solo es posible mediante asociaciones creativas y comprometidas. Cuando las empresas se asocian con bancos de alimentos, apoyan soluciones lideradas por la comunidad que alivian el hambre y reducen la pérdida y el desperdicio de alimentos mientras trabajan para alcanzar los objetivos de la empresa.
Why are food banks such agile business partners? Because they work at the intersection of food systems, civil society and the private sector.
Las empresas pueden trabajar con bancos de alimentos de muchas maneras y, dado que los bancos de alimentos existen en comunidades locales de todo el mundo, la asociación ayuda a las empresas a tener un impacto importante y significativo en la inseguridad alimentaria a nivel mundial.
Aquí hay cinco formas en que las empresas pueden asociarse con los bancos de alimentos:
Personal del Banco de Alimentos de Uruguay descargando mariscos congelados donados por Holland America Line. El banco de alimentos distribuyó estos alimentos a 14 hospitales y otros socios comunitarios. (Foto: 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.
Otra forma de conectar a los empleados con causas impulsadas por la misión es a través del voluntariado basado en habilidades. Los empleados pueden usar su experiencia de manera única e impactante mientras brindan servicios de alivio presupuestario a los bancos de alimentos.
Por ejemplo, PYXERA Global's Reimaginando Soluciones Green(er) para el Desafío del Hambre liderado por La fundación PIMCO reunió a empleados de Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bayer y Western Digital para desarrollar soluciones significativas para hacer que la banca de alimentos sea más respetuosa con el medio ambiente.
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 Metodología FRAME, 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 desarrollo@foodbanking.org.
