Arlington-Based Nonprofit 'Food Link' Awarded $500K Cummings Grant

ARLINGTON, MA — The Arlington-based nonprofit Food Link, Inc. was selected as one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program.

The organization was chosen from a total of 580 applicants during a competitive review process. It will receive $500,000 over 10 years.

With as many as 1.6 million Massachusetts residents facing food insecurity in the last two years, Food Link rescues 1.4 million lbs. of food a year – the equivalent of 1.2 million meals – and distributes it to over 80 community organizations serving 75,000 people facing food insecurity. As a result, Food Link prevents 411,600 lbs. of CO2 pollution, equivalent to removing 44 cars from the road for a year.

"Food Link is immensely honored by Cummings Foundation’s desire to make a long-term investment in our relationship-driven approach to food rescue, which centers the choice and dignity of recipients,” Rachel Albert, executive director at Food Link, said in a statement. “This grant comes at a pivotal time as Food Link develops its strategic plan to address rising food insecurity and increased environmental stressors in Massachusetts.

"It's hard to overstate the impact of knowing we will have $50,000 per year of guaranteed funding from Cummings Foundation as a solid base for our other fundraising efforts,” she continued.

The Cummings $25 Million Grant Program supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the areas where it owns commercial property.

“We are so fortunate in greater Boston to have such effective nonprofits, plus a wealth of talented, dedicated professionals and volunteers to run them,” Cummings Foundation executive director Joyce Vyriotes said in a statement. “We are indebted to them for the work they do each day to provide for basic needs, break down barriers to education and health resources, and work toward a more equitable society.”

With the help of about 90 volunteers, the Foundation first identified 140 organizations to receive grants of at least $100,000 each. Among the winners were first-time recipients as well as nonprofits that had previously received Cummings Foundation grants. Forty of this latter group of repeat recipients were then selected to have their grants elevated to 10-year awards ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 each.

"Our volunteers bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives, which is so critical to our grant selection process," Vyriotes said. "Through this democratized approach to philanthropy, they decide more than half the grants every year."

This year's grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes, including food insecurity, immigrant and refugee services, social justice, education, and mental health services. The nonprofits are spread across 45 different cities and towns.

The complete list of 140 grant winners, plus more than 900 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.