DSS Emergency Assistance Program for Non-Foodshare Pantries in Connecticut

OVERVIEW

United Way of Connecticut (UWCT) is partnering with Connecticut’s Department of Social Services (DSS) on a new exciting opportunity for food pantries that are not Members of the Connecticut Foodshare Agency Network. Organizations that operate a food pantry in Connecticut are eligible to apply for funding to provide food to the general public in the communities they serve using our online application (https://ctunitedway.submittable.com/submit).

FAQs; https://www.ctunitedway.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/F.A.Qs_Food-Pantry-Grants-1.pdf

ELIGIBILITY

1. Operating and located in Connecticut. 
2. Cannot be associated with Connecticut Foodshare Agency Network. 
3. Be a 501c3 organization in good standing or a municipality that operates a food pantry. 
4. Provided food for human consumption to the general public at no charge for at least twelve (12) months prior to submission. 
5. Provide documentation of the food pantry’s annual food purchase costs for their most recent fiscal year. 
6. Be listed in 211 Connecticut (https://www.211ct.org) or agree to creating a 211 listing within 30 days of award. 

REQUIREMENTS

The following documents are required to complete an application. We suggest you gather them ahead of starting your application to save time. 

1. NONPROFITS: must provide a certificate of legal existence from the Connecticut Secretary of State and copy of IRS exemption letter.
2. MUNICIPALITIES: must provide municipal authorization documentation such as a letter from mayor, first selectman, town manager, municipal department head, or finance director confirming the pantry is municipally operated or authorized to apply.
3. All applicants must upload a completed and signed W9. Find a blank form via https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf
4. All applicants must upload substantiation of their expenditures on food purchases from their most recent fiscal year.  Examples include: General ledger report showing food purchases; Accounting system expense report; Vendor statements; Invoices; Receipts; Check register or payment report; Credit card statements tied to food purchases.
5. All applicants must provide their budgeted amount for food expenditures for the current fiscal year.

In addition, all organizations must be prepared to show proof of operation as a food pantry in Connecticut but will not be required at the time of application.

FUNDING AMOUNTS

Applicants may apply for up to 25% of their annual food purchase cost (excluding donations) from the most recent fiscal year or fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), whichever is less. 

• Example: Your food pantry's annual food purchase cost (excluding donations) is $50,000; 25% of that is $12,500. Therefore, you are able to ask for any amount up to and including $12,500. 

PROCESS

1. Organizations must login or create a Submittable Account below. Create an Account or Login or via https://manager.submittable.com/signin.
2. Once you have created and/or logged into your account, go to https://ctunitedway.submittable.com/submit 
3. Scroll down, complete the Eligibility Form, and click next
4. If eligible, you will be directed to complete the application form, upload required documents, and agree to the conditions of the award.
5. Once submitted UWCT will review applications and award applicants on a rolling basis with a quick turn-around time.
6. All documents including award letters will be sent via email from Submittable, so make sure submittable.com is an allowed and trusted address in your email account and check your spam folder.
7. Grants will be issued as soon as individual applications are complete, fully reviewed, and processed.
8. Funds will be disbursed over four payments and reporting will be required after each allocation of funds is spent.         

DATES

• May 20, 2026 - Application Launch
• May 20 - November 30, 2026 - Applications accepted on a rolling basis 
• March 31, 2027 - All funds must be obligated 
• May 31, 2027 - Grants end and all funds must be spent
• June 15, 2027 - Last grant report due
• July 1, 2027 - Any unspent funds must be returned to UWCT by this date

QUESTIONS?

Please review the FAQ. For questions not answered by the FAQ, email us at FoodPantry@ctunitedway.org 

Tips on using Submittable: 

• You will need to create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit to these forms.  
• You can return to a saved draft or via https://submittable.help/en/articles/904868-how-can-i-return-to-a-saved-draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date. There is an autosave feature, but you can also manually save your draft by clicking the button at the bottom of the form. Delete your saved draft and start the application over if necessary. 
• Submittable works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Please make sure you are using a supported browser. 
• We will follow up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails or via https://submittable.help/en/articles/3221476-how-can-i-safelist-notification-emails-from-submittable from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable Account regularly. 

Technical Questions? 

Having trouble with your password or uploading a form? Check out the Submitter Resource Center (https://submittable.help/en/collections/185534-submitters) or contact Submittable Customer Support (https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter/).