2025 Food Insecurity & Nutrition RFP

Request for Proposals

Deadline to Apply: November 17, 2025

About the Foundation

The Horizon Foundation is the largest independent health philanthropy in Maryland. We are committed to a Howard County free from systemic inequities, where all people can live abundant and healthy lives. We fight for equitable and compassionate health and mental health care, access to affordable and safe homes, a community where healthy food is accessible and affordable and where all residents can generate and pass down wealth. Our mission is to work side by side with community to build power, power, advocate for policy change and dismantle structural racism to achieve better health for everyone in Howard County and greater Maryland.   

We also recognize that we can’t do this work alone. We value our community partners and believe that together we can make big change happen in Howard County and greater Maryland. We seek to work with partners that are committed to and/or working toward the goals below.  

  • Are community led. We recognize that community leadership and expertise are necessary to address health and racial inequities and that they are closest to the issues and solutions. Partners will demonstrate and use community wisdom, expertise, and leadership. 
  • Build power.  We recognize that building power within communities most impacted by systemic racial inequities will address a history of exclusion and marginalization. We aim to build the voice, leadership, and engagement of African American, Asian American, Hispanic, and Native American communities.  
  • Dismantle structural racism within organizations and institutions. We seek partners that will change the status quo and erase long-standing structural inequities that exist across our community institutions of power.  
  • Mobilize for policy change. We seek partners that advocate for policy change at the local, state, and regional levels. We recognize that this type of systemic change takes long-term solutions, and we seek to work with partners over a period of time to build the base, create policy wins, and catalyze sustained movements.  
  • Embody effective stewardship. We seek partners who use disaggregated data and use internal systems to foster learning and accountability of racial equity outcomes. Partners can demonstrate policies and practices that reflect organizational and fiscal health. 

We recognize that each organization is on their own unique anti-racism journey and may not have experience in each area above. We seek to strengthen the capacity of organizations so they can more effectively change policies/systems that will eliminate structural racism throughout Howard County.

Please see the “How to Apply” section below to better understand how the above goals are assessed in the application process.

Hunger and Food Insecurity Fuel Chronic Disease in Howard County

The Foundation’s strategic plan goals were informed by a comprehensive set of listening activities that included more than one hundred 1:1 conversations with community leaders and Foundation grantees; polling and door knocking in lower-income and black, brown and Asian communities (i.e., we knocked on doors and had conversations with 1700 households); and conducting 100 listening sessions with individuals and groups of Spanish speaking people. We consistently heard that food insecurity was a key challenge to health in Howard County.       

In addition, the 2024 Howard County Health Assessment Survey (HCHAS) indicated that 20% of Howard Countians are chronically food insecure meaning that the food they bought either often or sometimes did not last and that they didn’t have money to get more. That’s nearly enough people to completely fill M&T Bank Stadium where the Baltimore Ravens play. Those who are temporarily food insecure due to job loss and/or or experiencing a health challenge add to the overall food insecurity of our County. Food insecurity is even more dire for our Black/African American and Hispanic neighbors. 37% and 54% of which respectively reported that they were chronically food insecure in 2024. And most food insecure residents live in Columbia, Elkridge, and Laurel areas of Howard County.  

Hunger is a well-documented risk factor for chronic disease. For example, people who are food insecure are 2-3 times more likely to have type 2 diabetes (a leading cause of death) compared to those who are not and being food insecure makes it harder to control diabetes (e.g., skipped meals can increase blood sugar). The number of Howard Countians with type-2 diabetes is growing. The HCHAS showed that 12% of Howard Countians in 2024 reported that they had been diagnosed with diabetes compared to 8% in 2014. And the state estimates that 37% of Marylanders likely have pre-diabetes (e.g., including both those who have been diagnosed and those who are unaware that they have pre-diabetes).  

 

Movement Building is Key 

Food banks and pantries cannot fill the need. Systemic change is needed so that all Howard Countians have access to high quality, affordable, nutritious food. The Foundation is a proud partner and member of the Healthier Choices Coalition which has been working to improve food security, increase access to healthier food and drinks, and reduce diabetes since 2022. The Coalition has a track record of success. It successfully advocated for county funding to launch the Roving Radish Mobile Food Market which began delivering fresh, local produce to food insecure neighborhoods in Howard County in 2024. Those on a tight budget receive a subsidy to help them purchase, making this a win-win for our local farmers and those who otherwise couldn’t afford fresh produce for their families. The Coalition also has been partnering with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) to improve the health, quality, taste, and appearance of school food. For many food insecure youth, the food they receive in school may be their main source of calories on a normal day so it is important to ensure that school food is as nutritious as possible. In just the past year, the Coalition and HCPSS partnered to launch two regional dinner-time taste tests where parents and students could taste and rate school menu items. HCPSS launched its first ever survey to better understand what parents/students want and need to improve their confidence in the food and nutrition service. And a farm-to-table pilot program was introduced so that students could have daily access to local produce. As a result, new, better tasting, and healthier menu items have been added to the school breakfast and lunch program. Our partnership continues to improve school food to this day.  

The Coalition is working to build its power to successfully advocate for policy and system changes that will improve food security, make healthier food and drinks more accessible, and reduce diabetes in Howard County. Just recently, the Coalition held a food insecurity town hall to better learn how we can improve food security in Howard County. Findings from the town hall will help the Coalition determine its next set of priorities. To help the Coalition further achieve its power building goals, the Foundation specifically seeks committed partners that will:  

  • Actively join and participate in Coalition meetings and activities. Coalition meetings are held monthly and activities are co-created during those meetings;    
  • Help shape the next set of Coalition policy/system change priorities in partnership with other Coalition members;  
  • Grow coalition membership through regular and consistent outreach to other Howard County groups; and 
  • Advocate for policy and system changes needed to improve food security and improve access to nutritious food and drinks.  

We particularly seek partners who have a demonstrated interest in food insecurity, those who have not historically partnered with the Foundation, and those connected with and/or serving lower-income and historically marginalized communities. We expect to fund at least 5 committed organizations between $15,000-$20,000 each. 

    

Additional Grantee Support 

The Horizon Foundation is committed to practicing trust-centered philanthropy – a holistic approach to grantmaking that is rooted in shared values and true partnership with grantees, where grantees not only provide input but co-create programs and policy solutions that achieve our joint vision of social change.  

We also recognize that grant making has inherent power dynamics and we seek to change those dynamics and build more collaborative relationships with our grantees that allows for greater risk-taking, learning, and ultimately is more impactful and equitable for our community.  

For this grant opportunity these principles show up in the following ways: 

  • Co-Creation: The Foundation is committed to equitable decision-making approaches to advance its priority goals in the County. Grantees, alongside the Foundation, partner Coalitions, and the community, will work together to co-create solutions to the complex challenges in Howard County after grant funding has been awarded.  
  • Flexible Funding: All selected grantees will be awarded an operating grant to allow for more innovation, emergent action and sustainability.   
  • New Grantee Experience: Selected grantees will participate in a collaborative learning journey with other grantees to help foster a stronger sense of community and a deeper learning of racial equity and organizing advocacy principles. All grantees will be expected to participate in at least 3 convenings that will include the following:  
    • Racial equity & anti-racism coaching/activities  
    • Community organizing training/activities 

Each selected grantee will complete a racial equity and advocacy assessment to help determine organizational strengths and challenges.

Additionally, on demand technical assistance and coaching will be provided in areas uplifted by each grantee throughout the project period.  

How to Apply: 

As stated above, the Foundation is seeking grantees that are excited to work alongside the Foundation and community to co-create solutions to complex health challenges in Howard County. This grant application is designed to better understand your organization by assessing passion, experience, capacity and commitment to working on the health challenges above. 

Listed below are examples of the type of questions you will see in the application: 

  • What does embedding racial equity into your organization’s work look like? (Provide examples)  
  • Describe your experience working with and/or serving communities of color?  
  • When it comes to building community power, what do you think your organization brings to the table?  
  • List the top three organizations/groups/people you work with and describe your partnership.   

 

All applications must be submitted using our online grants system. Preview the grant application questions in this PDF. The deadline to submit the application is November 17, 2025 at 11:59:59 PM.  

Additional Eligibility Criteria: 

  • Proposals will be accepted from organizations that envision a Howard County free from systemic inequities, where all people can live abundant and healthy lives. 
  • Organizations must be: (a) tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)3 or (b) have a fiscal sponsor that is tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)3.  
  • The grant period for grantees is from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. 

Selection Process and Timeline 

Please see below for the full timeline of the decision-making process. Communication from Horizon Foundation will go out to all applicants about the status of their application on or before November 21, 2025.  

  • November 17, 2025: Application closes at 11:59:59 EST 
  • November 18 – 21: 2025: Application Review Period 
  • November 25, 2025: Notification of Award Status 

 

Interested in learning more? Attend our info session.  

We will host an information session to explain the Request for Proposals and answer any questions you may have. Please participate in our upcoming virtual Zoom session: 

  • Please note that this is a joint session where all open RFPs will be discussed. The session will be recorded and posted online once completed. 

For questions on the Food Insecurity Movement Building grant opportunity, please contact Chief Program Officer, Dr. Glenn Schneider at gschneider@thehorizonfoundation.org  

For assistance with the grant system, please contact Program Director, Kenitra Fokwa at kfokwa@thehorizonfoundation.org.