UNFI announced that the UNFI Foundation’s new “50 for 50” initiative will award 50 grants to nonprofit organizations covering all 50 U.S. states in 2026. In honor of UNFI’s 50th anniversary, the foundation plans to distribute a total of $2 million to programs that strengthen local food systems across the U.S. and Canada.
The announcement was made during UNFI’s first Spring and Summer Selling Show of 2026 in Long Beach, California, honoring the state where UNFI was founded in 1976. At the show, UNFI Chief Executive Officer Sandy Douglas and UNFI Co-Founder and Board Member Michael Funk joined 3,500 of the company’s retail customers, suppliers, and community partners to celebrate five decades of partnership and purpose.
“For 50 years, UNFI has believed that better food builds stronger communities,” said Sandy Douglas, UNFI CEO. “As we mark this milestone, we want to honor the people and partners who share that belief and work every day to make our industry vibrant, resilient, and sustainable. The UNFI Foundation’s ‘50 for 50’ initiative is another way to recognize this work – and invest in a better shared future.”
Douglas, Funk, and UNFI Foundation Chair Matt Echols presented the first “50 for 50” grant — a $10,000 donation — to Food Finders, a Southern California nonprofit that recovers surplus, wholesome food and redistributes it to communities facing food insecurity. In 2024 alone, Food Finders rescued more than 15 million pounds of food, turning potential waste into millions of meals.
“We’re honored to be the first grantee of the UNFI Foundation’s ‘50 for 50’ initiative,” said Diana Lara, Executive Director of Food Finders. “This support helps us continue expanding our food recovery efforts and ensures more families across Southern California have access to nutritious meals.”
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