Originally published on 9 August 2022 and updated on 19 August 2025.

기아를 완화하는 것은 창의적이고 헌신적인 파트너십을 통해서만 가능한 어렵고 복잡한 작업입니다. 기업이 푸드 뱅크와 파트너십을 맺으면 회사 목표를 달성하면서 기아를 완화하고 식품 손실과 폐기물을 줄이는 지역 사회 주도 솔루션을 지원하게 됩니다.

Why are food banks such agile business partners? Because they work at the intersection of food systems, civil society and the private sector.

기업이 푸드뱅크와 협력할 수 있는 방법은 다양하며, 푸드뱅크는 전 세계 지역 사회에 존재하기 때문에 파트너십을 통해 기업은 전 세계적으로 식량 불안에 중요하고 의미 있는 영향을 미칠 수 있습니다.

기업이 푸드뱅크와 협력할 수 있는 5가지 방법은 다음과 같습니다.

Banco de Alimentos de Uruguay의 직원이 Holland America Line에서 기증한 냉동 해산물을 내립니다. 푸드뱅크는 이 음식을 14개 병원과 기타 지역사회 파트너에게 배포했습니다. (사진: Banco de Alimentos de Uruguay)

1. Donate food and in-kind products to help alleviate hunger.

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.

2. Incentivize employee engagement through corporate matching.

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.

3. Start a cause marketing campaign.

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.

4. Offer skills and expertise to support food banks.

직원들을 사명 중심의 대의명분에 연결하는 또 다른 방법은 기술 기반 자원 봉사를 통해서입니다. 직원들은 푸드 뱅크에 예산 경감 서비스를 제공하는 동시에 독특하고 영향력 있는 방식으로 자신의 전문 지식을 활용할 수 있습니다.

예를 들어, PYXERA Global의 기아 문제에 대한 친환경 솔루션 재구성 PIMCO 재단이 이끄는 Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bayer 및 Western Digital의 직원들이 함께 모여 의미 있는 솔루션을 개발했습니다. 푸드뱅킹을 더욱 친환경적으로 만듭니다.

5. Sponsor food bank storytelling and thought leadership.

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 방법론, 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.