Key Takeaways
- Walmart announced a $15 million grant to Feeding America on September 30, 2026, aimed at the equipment, storage, transportation and technology that move donated food.
- Walmart and Feeding America expect the money to help rescue 500 million pounds of food over 18 months, which works out to about 3 cents per pound.
- The grant equals roughly 0.3% of Feeding America's $5.0 billion in annual revenue, according to its latest Form 990.
Walmart is giving Feeding America a $15 million grant, the retailer announced on September 30, 2026. The money is aimed at the capacity to move food that stores already donate. Walmart says getting that food to families requires food banks and local agencies to have the people, equipment, storage, transportation and technology to rescue and distribute it.
Walmart said a significant portion will go directly to food banks and local agencies to expand retail food rescue infrastructure and help them collect, store and distribute more food. The grant will also support technology to manage and move food across the network, and efforts to improve food access for families. Feeding America expects the investment to help its network rescue 500 million pounds of food over the next 18 months. The network includes more than 250 food banks and more than 60,000 agency partners, food pantries and meal programs.
"This investment is about helping give them more of the resources and tools they need to get food where it can do the most good," said Julie Gehrki, senior vice president of philanthropy at Walmart, in the announcement.
What the records show
The announcement gives two numbers, and dividing one by the other gives a third. Fifteen million dollars against 500 million pounds is 3 cents for every pound of food the grant is expected to rescue. That is the case for capacity grants in one figure.
The filings put the check in proportion.
- Against Feeding America's budget. Feeding America reported $5.00 billion in total revenue on its Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 2025. Of that, $4.85 billion, about 97%, was contributions. The $15 million grant equals about 0.3% of a year's revenue.
- Against Walmart's own food donations. Walmart says its stores and Sam's Clubs donated 769 million pounds of food in the US in its fiscal 2026. Five hundred million pounds over 18 months is about 333 million pounds a year, or roughly 43% of what Walmart's stores already give annually.
- Against the Walmart Foundation's giving. The announcement does not say whether the grant comes from the company or its foundation. For scale, the Wal-Mart Foundation reported $119.9 million in charitable disbursements on its most recent Form 990-PF, for the fiscal year ending January 2025. A $15 million grant is about 12.5% of that, or one-eighth.
- Against Feeding America's own overhead. Compensation for Feeding America's officers, directors and key employees was $7.44 million in fiscal 2025, up 69% from $4.40 million in fiscal 2020, the same filings show. Revenue rose 40% over the same period. The fiscal 2025 filing lists then chief executive Claire Babineaux-Fontenot at $1.05 million.
Those filings predate the current leadership. Denis McDonough, the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs and White House chief of staff, was named chief executive effective April 14, 2026.
How it compares with other hunger gifts this year
The grant is the second-largest hunger relief gift WYDE Newsroom has tracked in 2026, behind Publix Super Markets Charities' $25 million and ahead of the $8.5 million Jeff Green's DataPhilanthropy gave toward a new food bank in Ventura County. The full list is on our ranking of the largest hunger relief gifts of 2026.
It is also smaller than what Walmart's annual hunger campaign raises. The company said its Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign generated more than $18 million this year from Walmart, customers, members and suppliers, and has helped secure more than 2.4 billion meals since 2014.
Why it matters
Feeding America's revenue is almost entirely contributions, and Walmart's announcement frames the constraint as capacity: the people, equipment, storage, transportation and technology it takes to get food from stores to families. A grant that costs 3 cents per pound rescued is priced for that problem. The timing sharpens it. Feeding America estimates nearly 48 million people in the US experience food insecurity, and on October 1 states began covering 75% of SNAP's administrative costs, a shift food banks expect to push more families toward them.
"At a time when neighbors are facing higher costs for food and other essentials, communities need every part of the food system working together," Denis McDonough said in the announcement. The 500 million pound target gives outsiders something to check in 18 months.
People Also Ask
How much did Walmart donate to Feeding America?
Walmart announced a $15 million grant to Feeding America on September 30, 2026. Separately, Walmart says its stores and Sam's Clubs donated 769 million pounds of food in its fiscal 2026.
What will the Walmart Feeding America grant pay for?
Walmart says the $15 million will build capacity at food banks and local agencies, including equipment, storage, transportation and technology. Feeding America expects it to help rescue 500 million pounds of food over 18 months.
What is Feeding America's annual revenue?
Feeding America reported $5.00 billion in total revenue on its Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 2025. About 97% of that was contributions.
Who is the CEO of Feeding America?
Denis McDonough is chief executive of Feeding America. His appointment took effect April 14, 2026, and he succeeded Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, who led the organization for nearly a decade.
Sources: Walmart, Feeding America Form 990 via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Wal-Mart Foundation Form 990-PF via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Feeding America.