Become a Network Partner
Join the 555 Network Partners who are leading the fight against hunger in the Heartland! A partnership with Food Bank for the Heartland enables your organization to order food products, share best practices, and better serve your community.
Network Partner application update:
To better meet the growing needs of our current Network Partners, we have temporarily paused taking new partner applications. We are establishing a workable time frame to re-open the application process and updates will be posted here. Thank you for your interest and all you do for our communities and neighbors.
Network Partner Benefits
- Join a network of organizations that all work towards the same goal of reducing hunger in Nebraska and western Iowa
- No membership fees
- Access an online ordering system with live inventory
- Choose only the items you want to provide the food that’s needed the most
- Access a variety of food products, including produce, proteins, perishable and non-perishable items
- Partners located in rural areas receive delivery of products
- Partners located in the Omaha metro area have opportunities for delivery or pickup
- Access to a full-time Community and Partner Support Representative to assist in capacity building and assessment, customer service, and community engagement
- In-person and virtual networking opportunities, training, and knowledge sharing of food bank industry best practices
Membership Requirements
Our agencies are non-profit organizations or churches that do not redistribute product to other nonprofit entities. They are organizations that provide direct service to the food insecure. The following items are the minimum requirements to become and remain a partner of Food Bank for the Heartland.
- Provide food for an underprivileged or underserved population
- Organization has a 501(c)3 not-for-profit status or is a church
- Organization is located in the state of Nebraska or western Iowa
- Organization cannot be operated out of a private residence
- Organization has responsible personnel who are accountable for record keeping and inventory control
- Physical location must have proper and adequate physical storage space
- Organization operates regularly scheduled hours and be open at least twice a month for a minimum of two hours each time
- Pass a site inspection prior to approval and once a year after that
- Must have the ability and willingness to access and submit information via the internet
- Access to resources in order to be willing to pay shared maintenance handling and delivery fees at prevailing rates when applicable
- Utilize sign-in sheets or another tracking system to keep track of the individuals served and report those numbers monthly
- Organization must establish reasonable criteria for the individuals served; however, criteria must be consistent and be posted at your pantry/feeding site
- Required to adhere to food safety guidelines
- Have a minimum one agency staff member or volunteer complete food safety training
- Source a minimum of 4,000 each calendar year from Food Bank for the Heartland
- Additional criteria can be found in the Terms and Conditions Agreement
Application Process
- Read through the Prospective Partner Application Packet
- Complete the pre-application checklist included in the application packet to determine whether to proceed with the application process
- Fill out the Membership Application included in the packet, along with the Terms and Conditions Agreement and return them to the Food Bank
- Provide the Food Bank with a copy of your 501(c)(3) IRS tax exemption letter or the IRS Church Qualifier form (enclosed in the packet)
- The Food Bank will conduct a review of the service area for food insecurity
- The application process proceeds if the area is underserved
- Pass a site visit conducted by the Food Bank
- Complete Food Safety Training
Meet our Community and Partner Support Representatives
Food Bank for the Heartland’s “Regional Service Area” approach provides our Network Partners with access to healthy food, equitable distribution, and creative solutions to food insecurity. They also get the peace of mind knowing that they have a dedicated Food Bank staff member who understands the unique needs of their community. Meet the team below!
Allison
Rural Iowa & Kids Café
Brandy
Western Nebraska
Stephanie
Northeastern Nebraska
Jenny
Omaha Metro Area
Kerry
Central Nebraska
Melissa
Omaha Metro Area
