Convened in 2021 by Galesburg Community Foundation, the Hunger Collaborative is comprised of individuals and leaders from more than 30 local nonprofits both directly and indirectly involved in food assistance.
The Community Foundation brought these organizations together after observing how they had already begun collaborating in new ways in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We saw an opportunity to help keep that collaboration moving forward and to direct resources in a different way.
The focus of the Hunger Collaborative isn’t getting food on the table—though that is a critical piece of the puzzle. Together, they are working to develop strategies to reduce hunger by addressing its root causes in Knox and Warren Counties. Those strategies will become realities thanks to more than $1.4 million entrusted to the Community Foundation by Knox County through ARPA funding, along with $750,000 invested by the Community Foundation itself and more than $100,000 generously contributed by local residents.
In addition to direct, immediate need for food, the Hunger Collaborative has identified four priority root causes of hunger: access to and awareness of services, workforce and skills readiness, housing and homelessness, and transportation.
For each area, small groups are crafting proposals for multi-year grants. The Hunger Collaborative Grant Cycle is open and ongoing to give nonprofits the time and flexibility to develop solutions organically. The $1.4 million in Knox County funds must be allocated by 2024 and spent by 2026.
The advisory committee is a grantee led committee of five leaders from local nonprofits. They serve to facilitate conversations around the root causes of hunger and evaluate grants for Hunger Collaborative funding. Members of the advisory board include:
These organizations have contributed to the conversations and are working toward solutions to combat food insecurity through the root causes of hunger in Knox and Warren Counties.
If you would like to be a part of the Hunger Collaborative or receive our newsletter, call Jillian Isaacson, Director of Grants & Programs, at 309.344.8898.
Charitable Giving Coordinator
Haley provides support to enhance the function and success of the Charitable Giving and Affiliate Teams. She ensures donors receive a personal approach to philanthropy through outstanding customer service by supporting charitable giving for donors and fund holders across the state.
