Become an Agency Partner

Agency partners are food programs that distribute groceries or cook meals for neighbors in their community. As rising costs and disruptions to SNAP benefits have more Minnesotans turning to the hunger relief network, we are primarily focusing resources on existing partners and onboarding a limited number of new partners. However, we encourage you to review the information below and complete an interest form if partnership sounds like a good fit!

Application Process

1. Review partnership requirements and partnership agreement
2. Complete Agency Partner Interest Form
3. Interest forms are reviewed quarterly, organizations meeting criteria invited to complete full application
4. Complete application
5. Pre-authorization site visit
6. Sign partnership agreement 

Requirements for Partnership

• Must be located within our service area
• Must be a 501c3 or meet church qualifier as defined by IRS
• Must have an active board and be a non-profit in good standing
• Must be open to the public with a goal to address hunger in your community
• Must serve all neighbors without requiring identification, proof of need or enforcing geographic restrictions
• Must have year-round hunger relief services (some exceptions for school/ college partnerships may apply)

Note: we are not currently accepting applications for one-time holiday meals or distributions, group homes, rehabilitation facilities, residential treatment centers or other non-emergency programs.

Requirements for Partnership

• Ordering food from Second Harvest Heartland does have some associated costs including a flat rate delivery fee and costs for some items. Because of this, it’s important for partners to have a sustainable source of funding for food programming.
• Partners must order at least once per quarter, and each order must be at least 500 pounds.
• Accessible truck receiving: 7 county metro may be able to receive a smaller box truck, but outside of these counties must be able to receive a semi-trailer safely.
• In most cases we prefer to partner with a food program that has been operating for at least 6 months with regularly scheduled days and hours.
• We aim to partner with organizations who also provide wraparound services in addition to food.

Review the partnership agreement here to learn more about eligibility.   We cannot guarantee partnership based on this information only, nor does meeting qualifications guarantee partnership

If you are unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to begin the process by completing an interest form. We’d love to hear from you! 

EXPRESS INTEREST IN PARTNERSHIP

Other Ways to Partner:

• If you are interested in distributing monthly senior food boxes, email CSFP here.
• If you are interested in cooking or distributing hot, refrigerated or frozen meals to people who face barriers to cooking, contact Kitchen Coalition here.