Restaurant Changemakers Program Returns with $150,000 in Grants to Support Restaurants Combating Hunger
Toast, a global technology platform serving restaurant and retail businesses, has announced the return of its Toast Changemakers Program, a grant initiative designed to support restaurants and food businesses that are taking meaningful action to combat hunger and food insecurity in their communities.
For the second consecutive year, Toast will distribute $150,000 in grants to 15 U.S. restaurants and food businesses. Each selected recipient will receive a $10,000 grant that can be used to strengthen, expand, and scale programs designed to provide food and other resources to people facing food insecurity.
The initiative is part of Toast’s broader $5 million, five-year commitment to fighting food insecurity, which the company announced in 2025. Through the Changemakers Program, Toast is seeking to recognize businesses within the hospitality industry that are using their position in local communities to create positive social impact.
Restaurants Playing a Role in the Fight Against Hunger
Food insecurity continues to affect millions of households across the United States. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 13.7% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2024. The ongoing challenge has highlighted the important role that community organizations, nonprofits, restaurants, and other food-related businesses can play in helping people access nutritious meals.
Restaurants are uniquely positioned to contribute to these efforts because they operate at the intersection of food, hospitality, and community. Many independent restaurants and small food businesses already provide free meals, organize community events, donate surplus food, support local organizations, or create programs specifically designed to help people who may otherwise struggle to access food.
The Toast Changemakers Program was created to provide financial support and visibility to these efforts.
In its first year, the program attracted more than 800 applications from restaurants across the country, demonstrating the breadth of community-focused work already taking place throughout the U.S. hospitality sector.
“One of the hospitality community’s greatest superpowers is its unique ability to bring people together. The Toast Changemakers Program harnesses Toast’s network and resources to support an industry-wide movement and accelerate our impact on the fight against food insecurity,” said Aman Narang, CEO of Toast.
Narang added that Toast was proud to support 15 community leaders through the program in 2025 and said the company looks forward to recognizing and strengthening the work of another group of Changemakers in 2026.
Supporting Community-Led Solutions
Toast developed the Changemakers Program in partnership with Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). The collaboration is intended to help identify restaurant and food-business owners who are developing practical solutions to food insecurity within their local communities.
The inaugural group of 15 grant recipients was announced in November 2025. The businesses represented a wide range of approaches to community support, demonstrating that there is no single model for addressing hunger.
Among the 2025 recipients was Azalina’s, a San Francisco-based business that hosts free community dinners in the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood. The dinners provide an opportunity for community members to access meals while creating a welcoming environment where people can gather.
Another recipient, The Porch Prescott, is a community-focused coffee shop in Prescott, Arizona. The business works with local community organizations to distribute meals and other essential resources to people who need support.
Vegans on the Run, based in Shreveport, Louisiana, was also recognized for its community programming. Its initiatives include complimentary pop-up events that provide meals to seniors, as well as free cooking classes for young people.
These examples illustrate the types of community-based programs that Toast hopes to help grow through the Changemakers initiative.
More Than Financial Support
While the $10,000 grants provide direct financial assistance, Toast says the program is designed to offer participants opportunities to connect, learn, and share ideas with other restaurant operators.
As part of the 2025 program, Toast brought the inaugural cohort together in Boston for a special convening. The gathering gave recipients an opportunity to meet fellow Changemakers, connect with Toast leaders, and engage with industry experts.
For many restaurant owners, the experience offered an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day demands of running a business and learn from others facing similar challenges.
Seth Pacey, co-owner of Lola’s Modern Kitchen in Seymour, Indiana, attended the gathering with his wife and business partner, Tonya, and their nine-year-old daughter, Lola.
“As restaurant owners we are so busy. It’s easy to get so focused on the work that you can become alone and isolated. It was wonderful to see how many people are also trying to maintain thriving businesses, while doing great work in their communities,” Pacey said.
He explained that members of the cohort were at different stages of their community initiatives. Some had only recently launched their programs, while others had been working on food-access initiatives for years.
According to Pacey, meeting other Changemakers created an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and take new lessons back to their hometowns. That peer-to-peer knowledge sharing can help restaurant operators improve existing programs and identify ways to expand their community impact.
Applications Open for the 2026 Program
Toast has now opened applications for the 2026 Toast Changemakers Program, inviting eligible food-service businesses from across the United States to participate.
Importantly, applicants do not need to be Toast customers. The program is open to eligible U.S. restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and bars, reflecting Toast’s goal of supporting community-led solutions across the broader hospitality industry.
The application timeline for the 2026 program is as follows:
- Applications open: September 10, 2026
- Application deadline: October 1, 2026
- Grant recipients announced: November 10, 2026
Businesses interested in applying can review the program’s eligibility requirements, selection criteria, terms, and conditions through the official Toast Changemakers Program website.
Investing in the Hospitality Community
The return of the Changemakers Program reinforces Toast’s broader effort to use its resources and industry network to address food insecurity. By providing direct grants to restaurants and food businesses, the company is helping operators invest in programs that can reach people within their own neighborhoods.
The initiative also highlights the growing role of restaurants as community institutions. Beyond serving customers, many independent restaurants and hospitality businesses have become important gathering places and sources of support, particularly during periods when families and individuals face economic challenges.
For small businesses, even a relatively modest grant can help fund additional meals, expand community events, purchase supplies, strengthen partnerships with local organizations, or increase the reach of an existing food-access program.
With applications now open, Toast is inviting another group of restaurant and hospitality leaders to step forward and demonstrate how their businesses are helping address hunger in their communities.
The 2026 cohort will receive both financial support and an opportunity to become part of a broader network of hospitality professionals working toward the same goal. Toast expects the program to continue building momentum around community-driven solutions while recognizing the restaurant owners and operators who are making food access a priority.
As food insecurity remains a significant challenge across the United States, initiatives such as the Toast Changemakers Program demonstrate how businesses can use their resources, relationships, and community presence to make a measurable difference. Through its five-year commitment and continued grant funding, Toast is positioning the hospitality industry as an important partner in the ongoing fight against hunger.
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