Toast Changemakers Program Returns, Offering $150,000 in Grants to Restaurants Fighting Hunger
BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Toast, the global technology platform built for restaurant and retail businesses, today announced applications are open for the Toast Changemakers Program, its grant program supporting restaurants fighting food insecurity. For the second year, Toast will award $150,000 in grants to 15 U.S. restaurants, with each recipient receiving $10,000 to support and scale their community feeding efforts. The program is part of Toast’s $5 million, five-year commitment to combating food insecurity, announced last year.
Food insecurity remains a critical issue in the U.S., affecting 13.7% of households in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Toast Changemakers Program works to support those who go above and beyond to give back to their communities in the fight against hunger, drawing more than 800 applications from restaurants across the country in its first year.
“One of the hospitality community’s greatest superpowers is its unique ability to bring people together. The Toast Changemakers Program harnesses Toast’s network and resources to support an industry-wide movement and accelerate our impact on the fight against food insecurity,” said Aman Narang, CEO of Toast. “We were proud to support 15 incredible community leaders in 2025, and we look forward to celebrating and bolstering the efforts of a new cohort of Changemakers this year.”
In partnership with Hello Alice and Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Toast named its inaugural cohort of grant recipients in November 2025, which included businesses like Azalina’s, which hosts free community dinners in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, The Porch Prescott, a community-oriented coffee shop in Prescott, AZ, which partners with local community organizations to distribute meals and other essentials, and Vegans on the Run, based in Shreveport, LA, whose complimentary events include pop ups that provide meals to seniors and free cooking classes for youth. In addition to grant money, Toast hosted the 2025 cohort in Boston for an opportunity to connect with each other, along with Toast leaders and industry experts.
“As restaurant owners we are so busy. It’s easy to get so focused on the work that you can become alone and isolated. It was wonderful to see how many people are also trying to maintain thriving businesses, while doing great work in their communities,” said Seth Pacey, co-owner of Lola’s Modern Kitchen in Seymore, Indiana, who attended the convening with his wife and co-owner, Tonya, and their 9-year-old daughter, Lola. “Some of us had started our efforts recently, while others had more experience. Meeting with other Changemakers was a great opportunity to learn and be inspired, giving us the opportunity to take our lessons back with us to amplify and scale our impact in our hometowns.”
Apply for the 2026 Toast Changemakers Program
The application for the 2026 Toast Changemakers Program is now open. The program is open to all eligible U.S. restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and bars, not exclusively Toast customers, as Toast aims to support changemaking solutions across the industry. Key details and dates include:
- Applications open: Thursday, September 10, 2026
- Application deadline: Thursday, October 1, 2026
- Grant recipients announced: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Applicants can visit the Toast Changemakers Program website for eligibility and selection criteria, terms and conditions. We look forward to celebrating another cohort of Changemakers who help their communities by making a difference in the fight against hunger and food insecurity.
About Toast
Toast [NYSE: TOST] is a global technology platform built for restaurant and retail businesses. From the busiest local restaurants and shops to large hospitality brands, Toast helps owners and operators manage their businesses more efficiently, drive guest demand, and build lasting success.
Toast integrates software, agentic AI, payments, financial technology solutions, and hardware with a broad partner ecosystem. Powering billions of purchases throughout local commerce, Toast delivers the precision and innovation required for modern restaurant and retail environments. For more information, visit www.toasttab.com.
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KEYWORDS: Massachusetts United States North America
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Restaurant/Bar Food/Beverage Retail Technology Software
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