EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2022 CRF FUND REPORT

As part of its focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion, the Food Bank created a Community Redistribution Fund aimed at breaking down barriers and increasing access to culturally relevant foods for communities of color throughout Maine. According to the Ending Hunger in Maine by 2030 Task Force Report, 28 percent of households headed by people of color are food insecure, and 40 percent of households headed by Black Mainers are food insecure.

As part of its commitment to equity and breaking down barriers to culturally relevant food, Good Shepherd Food Bank substantially increased CRF funding available in 2022.

A community- and relationshipdriven strategy was instrumental in substantially raising awareness about the CRF and growing the applicant pool for the 2022 grant cycle.

The large pool of funding allowed flexibility for nearly 90% of eligible applications to be funded fully or partially.

Larger than average award amounts not only meant larger grants, but grants that were more right-sized depending on organizations' size, service population, and geographic reach.

The geographic distribution looks slightly different as compared to 2021 and 2020, because of an effort to more accurately reflect where funds were invested and to disaggregate regions. For instance, Bangor and Downeast was previously included as “Northern Maine,” but is now categorized as “Eastern Maine.”

NOTE: Some organizations overlapped or covered more than one region, and funding amounts were split evenly for the two regions.

Total Award Amounts to Tribal Communities

A total of $110,000 was redistributed to Indigenous-led organizations or organizations working closely with tribal populations, accounting for 14.7% of grant funds distributed. This is compared to 27.8%, or $115,300, in 2021, and 26.33%, or $79,000, in 2020. The CRF Team is using this datapoint to include outreach to the Passamaquoddy Tribe, which had not applied for CRF funding in 2022 as it did in 2021 and 2020.