BECOME A PARTNER AGENCY

CAFB Partner Agencies are on the front lines of hunger, distributing food and grocery products to clients in 21 Central Texas Counties. The Food Bank works with more than 300 non-profit human and social service agencies.

Each year, CAFB Partner Agencies save millions of dollars by getting their food at the Food Bank. That's money that these Agencies can use to shelter, treat, train, counsel, intervene, protect, educate, rehabilitate, house and comfort more individuals and families than they would have been able to if they had to use their limited resources to buy food.

Organizations with more than three months of operation, and classified by the IRS as tax-exempt or affiliated with a church of an IRS-recognized denomination can apply to become a CAFB Partner Agency.

How does the Food Bank work with Partner Agencies?

Each Partner Agency places its order from a shopping list of available products and then picks up the food at the Food Bank Distribution Center or at a Regional Food Delivery location.

The agency stocks its shelves with the food and then provides it directly to individuals and families, either in the form of bags of groceries or prepared meals served on-site.

In addition to food and grocery products, the Food Bank provides training in safe food handling, sanitation and education for Partner Agency staff and volunteers.

Through the Regional Food Delivery Program, the Food Bank delivers food orders to agencies in outlying communities to assure the freshness of perishable products. Food Bank staff continuously monitor and inform the agencies about legislation that may affect their programs.

Do we pay for food?

Partner Agencies do not pay for food. However, agencies pay a handling fee of no more than 13 cents per pound for non-perishable food, 3 cents per pound on produce and 18 cents per pound on non-food items. All other products have no handling fee.

Handling fees cover 24% of the Food Bank's budget and helps defray the costs of transporting food and running freezers and coolers. All other services (training, delivery, nutrition information) are at no additional cost to Partner Agencies.

Eligibility Requirements

Agencies must be designated a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization by the IRS or be affiliated with a 501(c)3 umbrella organization.
An agency that is a church or a program directly sponsored by a church may use the non-profit designation of the parent affiliation of that church (e.g. Southern Baptist Convention, Diocese of Austin, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, etc.). In such cases, the agency must submit a letter on the church's letterhead affirming that the program is directly associated with that church and that the church is affiliated with the parent organization.
An independent church or a program directly sponsored by an independent church which has not received a non-profit designation may submit a letter on the church's letterhead and signed by its Chief Executive Officer affirming that the organization is, in fact, a church, and has not applied to the IRS for 501(c)3 status and been denied, nor has had its 501(c)3 status revoked by the IRS. Furthermore, such a church must affirm that it essentially meets the fourteen point criteria employed by the IRS in defining a church.
A copy of the 501(c)3 determination letter or a letter of affiliation must be submitted to the Food Bank before membership can be activated.
By federal law, a 501(c)3 or other tax-exempt organization must be fiscally, programmatically and legally responsible for the handling and distribution of donated food received from CAFB. Partner agencies also must comply with all CAFB food safety storage and distribution requirements.

Contact Us

Brandon Pettet, Agency Relations Representative
bpettet@austinfoodbank.org
Anna Maciel, Agency Relations Representative
amaciel@austinfoodbank.org
Delta Garcia, Agency Relations Representative
dgarcia@austinfoodbank.org