News Category: Community Impact

Showing Up for Independent Restaurants During Small Business Month and Beyond

With more than 355,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities, connecting hungry diners with local restaurants is at the heart of what Grubhub does. Grounded firmly in our small business beginnings, our platform would not be possible without our independent restaurant partners that work day-in and day-out to feed their local communities. 

It’s our mission to help strengthen small business’ roots, deepen their connections, and increase the positive impact they have on their neighbors and society. As people across the country recognize Small Business Month this May, we celebrate our independent restaurant partners who are the lifeblood of their local communities and double down on the ways we support small businesses to help them grow and thrive for years to come. 

How we help restaurant partners reach new customers 

Grubhub connects independent restaurants on our platform with new diners through our marketing and advertising services. It’s already tough for small businesses to compete with the big chains and their bigger ad budgets. But during the pandemic, it became even more challenging to stand out when nearly 100 jurisdictions passed laws limiting the marketing services restaurants could opt into on third-party delivery apps, putting smaller, mom-and-pop businesses at a major disadvantage. While most of these Covid-era restrictions have expired, one does remain – in New York City. Grubhub supports the NYC Council’s recent compromise proposal to finally ease these restrictions – the only such restrictions left in the country – and give NYC’s small businesses the flexibility to choose how they grow and reach new customers. 

Beatrice Ajaero, Owner of Nneji in Queens, opened her brick and mortar in 2020 as a “groc-rant model” – part grocery store, which offers pantry items from around the globe, and part restaurant serving plant-based West African cuisine. Opening during the pandemic, Nneji had to rely heavily on third-party delivery from the beginning – helping give the family-business a competitive presence in a sea of restaurants. 

“When we joined the platform, Grubhub became our in-house marketer, advertiser and deliverer. Otherwise, we could not have afforded these services,” said Ajaero. Since opening four years ago, Ajaero continues to see the power of Grubhub’s tools and service. “In addition to delivery, Grubhub helps us reach new customers through its marketing and advertising support, and provides us data on our orders. It’s a really helpful tool to learn about customer preference  – we see what menu items our diners are trying and when they are placing orders.” 

Thanks to her partnership with Grubhub, Ajaero is hopeful for the future of her restaurant and is optimistic that she will continue making an impact on her local community. “As a family-owned business, third-party delivery services are a worthwhile investment because they provide so many opportunities to share our food with the community,” said Ajaero. “To me, Grubhub is a lifeline for independent restaurants. Once the City’s cap on marketing services is relaxed, I can only imagine how many new customers we’ll be able to reach.”

How we help restaurant partners improve their operations

We also support our restaurants by investing in partnerships and programs that allow us to create access to capital and offer business development opportunities for local, family-owned businesses. Throughout the year, we support several grant programs in partnership with diverse business and community-based organizations to help independent restaurants grow and thrive in their local communities.

Julie Kim, Co-owner of Parklife Taqueria in Brooklyn, opened her original restaurant concept in 2017, and immediately started using Grubhub to deliver and market their artfully crafted tacos and other Mexican-inspired staples with Iranian and Texan influence. “It was challenging to open a restaurant, but Grubhub was super helpful in growing the business and helping diners understand our fusion menu through their marketing services,” said Kim. 

The pandemic created challenges for the restaurant, forcing Parklife to close. Today, Kim still experiences the impact of shutting down her restaurant. While expanded options for delivery helped keep the orders coming in, Kim had to furlough staff, working with only two people onsite. The rising food and utility costs in New York also made it hard to maintain the restaurant. Even after partnering with Grubhub to make deliveries easier, one challenge remained: educating new customers on the restaurant’s fusion menu.

Parklife’s luck started to turn when Kim received a grant from Grubhub and the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (ACE) in 2023, to revitalize the business. The funding allowed the restaurant to maintain operations, pay utilities, keep its staff and buy supplies. “Many small businesses don’t have the opportunity to receive funding outside for loans, so I was delightfully surprised and grateful to learn Parklife could receive a grant as a for-profit business,” said Kim. 

As we celebrate small businesses like Nneji and Parklife this month, the following grant programs are currently open and eligible independent restaurants can apply today: 

 

$1.2 Million in Grants for AAPI-Owned Restaurants from Grubhub and The National ACE

Independent restaurants across the country can apply for a grant up to $25,000 through the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) is kicking off the fourth year of the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund to support independent, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned restaurants, a program made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund. This funding presents an opportunity for AAPI-owned restaurants to thrive amid a season of economic setbacks. By upgrading technology, increasing outreach, expanding offerings, and providing support to employees, businesses will be able to reach their next level of growth and continue to give back to their small business communities.

“Since the launch of AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund three years ago, National ACE has distributed over $5 million to 351 AAPI restaurant owners nationwide,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “Thanks to the Grubhub Community Fund, our restaurant owners were able to hire new staff, repair and expand their dining space, replace old kitchen equipment, retain a marketing company, purchase a building for their business, and more. We are pleased to partner with Grubhub again to continue our mission to support and impact more AAPI restaurateurs.”

Eligible restaurants across the country will be able to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 – $25,000, with three restaurant owners receiving a grand prize of $25,000 live at the National ACE’s #AAPISTRONG Annual Conference in Santa Clara, California on September 4, 2024.

“In our fourth year of partnering with the National ACE, Grubhub is proud to continue our investment in helping AAPI-owned restaurants sustain and expand their businesses through the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund,” said Dave Tovar, Senior Vice President of Communications & Government Relations at Grubhub. “We know better than anyone the important role restaurants play within their communities, and Grubhub is committed to helping diverse independent restaurants extend their positive impact where they serve. We look forward to seeing how this year’s grant recipients will strengthen their businesses and communities with the funds they receive.”

The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund will accept grant applications from AAPI-owned restaurants throughout the United States from May 1 to May 31, 2024 or when there are 5,000 applicants – whichever comes first.

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. The restaurant must be Asian American/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian majority-owned (at least 51%);

  2. Must be based in the United States;

  3. Must be currently operational;

  4. Must be a for-profit business;

  5. Must show proof of their primary licensed activity as “the preparation and serving of food”;

  6. Operates in a single location;

  7. Cannot be a franchise;

  8. Must demonstrate financial need;

  9. Funds must be used towards growth and expansion of the business;

  10. Must demonstrate community impact (i.e. culture/community, hiring, charitable/philanthropic efforts, etc.)

  11. Priority will be given to first time grant applicants;

  12. For grand prize finalists, you must be able to attend our Annual Conference in Santa Clara, CA on September 4. Flight vouchers and hotel accommodations will be provided via National ACE for the three grand prize finalists.

Applications will be accepted from 12am ET on May 1, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 31, 2024 via www.AAPISTRONG.com

***Please note that due to the program’s high demand, the application portal will close once we have  received 5,000 applications, even if that occurs before the May 31 deadline, so we highly encourage small business owners to apply as early as possible.***

Grants will be distributed to restaurants by December 2024. Interested restaurants can learn more about the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund and the full application process at https://www.aapistrong.com/current-grants

About National ACE

National ACE’s mission is to serve as a strong advocate of AAPI business interests and effect positive change on all issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of AAPI business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. With over 120 affiliate chambers of commerce and AAPI organization partners throughout the country, National ACE strives to support and promote issues that impact the AAPI business community by improving economic development and impact, advancing coalitions and enhancing community building, and fostering the next generation of AAPI entrepreneurs and executives. National ACE provides a unified voice for the business interests of AAPIs nationally. Learn more at:  www.nationalace.org.

About Grubhub

Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY, NASDAQ: GRUB), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 365,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

$1.5 Million in Grants for LGBTQ+-Owned and Allied Businesses from Grubhub and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce

National LGBT Chamber of Commerce Teams Up with Grubhub Community Fund for Another Year of Grants to Aid in Growth and Development

WASHINGTON, DC – America’s LGBTQ+-owned restaurants and bars serving food will once again find a vital lifeline this year stemming from the ongoing partnership formed by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBTQ+ community and certifying body for LGBTQ+-owned businesses nationwide, and Grubhub, a leading U.S. food-ordering and delivery marketplace, through the Grubhub Community Fund.

Today marks the launch of East Coast applications for the NGLCC Community Impact Grant Program by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, made possible through continued support from the Grubhub Community Fund. These grants, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, offer funding for a variety of purposes, including everything from supporting employee wages and incentives, maintaining or upgrading existing infrastructure, enabling marketing and PR efforts, and more.

“We often say at NGLCC that if you can buy it, an LGBTQ+-owned business can supply it,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson. He added, “This rings especially true for LGBTQ+-owned restaurants and food-serving establishments across America, which play a vital role in their communities. We’re thrilled to once again collaborate on this program, thanks to the generous support of the Grubhub Community Fund, to offer grants that will benefit businesses nationwide.”

“Grubhub’s partnership with NGLCC continues to go on from strength to strength over the years, and we’re really proud of the impact this initiative has had on LGBTQ+-owned businesses nationwide,” said Dave Tovar, Grubhub’s senior vice president of Communications and Government Relations. “We are inspired by countless stories of how these grants empower independent restaurants to thrive and make meaningful contributions to their communities. We know this year’s grant recipients will do incredible things with the funds they receive as this program continues to grow.”

Once again, under the innovative grant program, the NGLCC has set a goal to allocate 30 percent of the funds to businesses owned by people of color and transgender and gender expansive (TGX) individuals. Between now and June 2024, NGLCC will roll the grant program out regionally, with applications for East Coast establishments launching on April 30, 2024. Applications for the Central US will open in May 2024, and those for the West Coast will roll out in June 2024. Restaurants wishing to learn more about applying for grants should visit nglcc.org/ghgrant.

The NGLCC’s network of nearly 55 Affiliate Chambers across America will once again help amplify this grant opportunity to support local restaurants. Those local chambers will again benefit from this initiative’s Affiliate Chamber Fund. In addition to supporting local efforts to share the grant opportunity, this fund has and will continue to enable any establishment that receives a grant that is not currently a member of an NGLCC local affiliate chamber to have one year of membership paid.

For more information on the Community Impact Grant Program regarding restaurant eligibility requirements, timelines, how to apply, and more, please visit www.nglcc.org/ghgrant.

About NGLCC
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBTQ+ community and is the largest global advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBTQ+ people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses, known as Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) suppliers.
www.nglcc.org @nglcc press@nglcc.org

About Grubhub
Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 365,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

$500,000 Available in Grants for NYC Restaurants to Upgrade Equipment and Lower Carbon Emissions from Grubhub and the Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund

BOSTON, MA – The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub are pleased to announce $500,000 in grant opportunities to help NYC-based restaurants improve the environmental sustainability of their operations. The funding is made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund. 

On April 26, 2024, The Restaurant Strong Fund will begin accepting applications for this grant cycle, focusing on providing funding to help support the recent and/or future updates to any kitchen equipment, particularly coal- and wood-burning ovens, that will help lower carbon emissions. Knowing that these updates can be costly for restaurants, this grant aims to alleviate some of the financial burden that small businesses may experience as they make necessary operational updates that improve environmental sustainability. 

Restaurants can apply for this grant by providing specific plans of how the funding was recently used or will be utilized, in addition how the renovation and/or installation will help lower emissions. Grants of up to $5,000 will be available to restaurants who complete the application form and meet the following criteria: 

  • Must be an open restaurant that is currently operating in New York City. 
  • Must have recently updated (no earlier than January 1, 2024) or will soon update kitchen equipment that aims to improve environmental sustainability, including reducing the restaurant’s carbon footprint through emissions reduction. 
  • Must provide a detailed plan of how the grant will be used and how funding will help make operations more environmentally friendly 

Applications will be open from Friday, April 26, 2024 to May 31, 2024 and grant recipients will be awarded funding on a rolling basis. Apply here: https://www.restaurantstrong.org/nyc-grant/

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund 

The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $29 million in grants to families and individuals in need. The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund was established in March of 2020. The fund was created to help aid the Hospitality Industry as restaurants closed and employees were left out of work due to Covid-19. The Restaurant Strong Fund provides various grant opportunities available to Restaurant Employees and Restaurant Owners. 

About Grubhub 

Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 355,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

Over $1 Million Distributed to New and Established Restaurants Nationwide From Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund

BOSTON, MA –Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund are pleased to announce over $1 million in grants have been distributed to 140 small business restaurants across the nation. Made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund, the latest cycle of the Restaurant Strong Grant aims to bolster new restaurants and long–standing establishments alike.

In their fourth year of partnership, the Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub continue to recognize the challenges faced by small businesses and remain dedicated to supporting their journey toward success. The latest grant cycle has taken a special interest in supporting new restaurants, those in operation for three years or less, giving more than $350,000 to aid in their introduction to the restaurant industry.

Independent restaurants play an essential role in the local communities nationally, offering not just meals but unique culinary experiences, fostering connections, and contributing to the economic vibrancy of our cities and towns. To date, the Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub have distributed over $17M in grants to restaurants across the nation.

The 140 selected grant recipients from this cycle will receive much–needed resources for their small businesses. Funds will assist a spectrum of needs including, technology upgrades, equipment enhancements, marketing and public relations services, staff training programs, incentivized wages, maintenance and updating to current infrastructure, and construction or expansion of outdoor seating areas.

The small business restaurants receiving grants from the Restaurant Strong Fund include:

New Restaurant Grant Recipients
$15,000 Grant Recipients
Awaze Ethio Fusion & Vegan, Artesia, CA
Casablanca Mediterranean Grill, Philadelphia, PA
Dong–ne: Korean Cuisine, Chicago, IL
Gotti’s, Houston, TX
Ojai Burger, Orange, CA
Plazita Mexico Tacos, Wakefield, MA
Tatit’s Mediterranean Saveur, West Fargo, ND
The Gumbo Gourmet, Atlanta, GA

$10,000 Grant Recipients
4th Street Standard, Steubenville, OH
An An, Portland, OR
Café on Eighth, Augusta, GA
Chimba, Miami, FL
Dim Sum King, Sunnyvale, CA
Il Milanese, Chicago, Il
Lily’s Soups and Scoops, Cranston, RI
Luckey’s BBQ Place, Marietta, GA
Michaux Brewing Company, Waynesboro, PA
Orchid House Café, Trenton, NJ
Pepper Pot Philly, Philadelphia, PA
Pleroma Cuisine, Laurel, MD
Tea Dojo, Vacaville, CA
$5,000 Grant Recipients 
Aji Omakase, Chicago, Il
Bab Al–Yemen Restaurant, Boston, MA
Bangkok Thai & Japanese Restaurant, Liverpool, NY
Bar Vianzo, Brooklyn, NY
Cozy Café Bakery & Bistro, Ellicott City, MD
Don & Gigi’s, Attleboro, MA
Fruitrition Smoothie and Fruit Bar, Ridgeland, MS
Gigi’s House of Pizza, West Bridgewater, MA
Goodtimes Brewery, Chicago, IL
Hardheads, Crystal Beach, TX
Hummingbird Nutritious Eats, Haverhill, MA
Kayode Restaurant Mirage, Brooklyn, NY
Meagwich, Milwaukee, WI
Ocean Prime, Maspeth, NY
Patty Palace, Oakland Park, FL
Pho King and Noodle Bar, Houston, TX
Pizza x, Astoria, NY
Playground ATX, Austin, TX
Sabor–NM Kitchen, Albuquerque, NM
Soriano’s Pizzeria, San Diego, CA
The Cheese Shop, Carrboro, NC
Zait & Za’atar, Saint Paul, MN

Established Restaurant Grant Recipients
$15,000 Grant Recipients
Blue Hawaii Lifestyle, Honolulu, HI
Fix & Repeat, Bend, OR
Genova Pizza, Audubon, NJ
Lakeview Café, Royersford, PA
Sunbliss Café, Corona, CA
The Other Side, Crystal Lake, IL
Stephens Heads or Tails, Marksville, LA
Tipicos Ay Caramba Restaurant, Houston, TX
Treats by TYGR, Pearland, TX
Yung’s Kitchen, Holly, MI

$10,000 Grant Recipients
Autumn Court Chinese Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ
Bites Restaurant, Forest Grove, OR
Brentwood Social House, Austin, TX
Casa Real Mexican Grill, Loveland, CO
Clifton’s Jamrock, Fairburn, GA
Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse, Leominster, MA
Fresh–Twist, Steubenville, OH
Hue Asian Kitchen, Milwaukee, WI
LAN Hand–Pulled Noodles, Seattle, WA
Lemon Café, Deerfield Beach, FL
Lionhead, Seattle, WA
Maya Indian Bar & Grill, Wakefield, MA
McCall’s Chicken and Ribs, Sharon, PA
Neutral Ground, Chattanooga, TN
Pierogi Mountain, Columbus, OH
Quick Sub Mini Mart, Trenton, NJ
Romanian Garden, Sunnyside, NY
Seoul Sausage, Los Angeles, CA
Sobik’s Café at Maxwell Garden, Orlando, FL
Taqueria Los Portales, Chicago, IL
The Bayou, West Hollywood, CA
The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food, San Pedro, CA
The Slice Pizzeria, San Antonia, TX
The Stones Common House, Stoneham, MA
Time Café and Market, Alexandria, VA
V’s Italiano Ristorante, Independence, MO
Venture Sandwich Company, Ventura, CA

$5,000 Grant Recipients
702 Churros and More, Las Vegas, NV
Alex’s Fresh Kitchen, Casselberry, FL
Allegra California Café, Culver City, CA
Autentica Taqueria, Miami, FL
BHop Food, Watertown, MA
Cancun Mexican Restaurant, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Capezzuto’s Pizza, Pittsburgh, PA
Carroll’s Pizza, Raleigh, NC
Chamoun’s Way, Cliffside Park, NJ
Crazy 4 Falafel, Edison, NJ
Crazy Rock’N Sushi, Irvine, CA
El Viejito Mexican Restaurant, Wichita, KS
Pho World, Renton, WA
Encontro North Park, San Diego, CA
Essen Kitchen, Cincinnati, OH
Famous Uncle Al’s Dog House, Virginia Beach, VA
Fiskies Café, Dorchester, MA
foraged. a hyper seasonal eatery, Baltimore, MD
Fortune House, Annapolis, MD
Four Café, Los Angeles, CA
Good to Go, Evanston, IL
Grafton Grill, North Grafton, MA
Green Diamond Grille & Pub, Barberton, OH
Hillside Farmacy, Austin, TX
House of Falafel, Cupertino, CA
Inna’s Kitchen, Newton, MA
Jerk. Jamaican Barbecue, Chicago, IL
Kamara African Restaurant, Rochester, NY
L’Oca d’Oro, Austin, TX
Lalo Chino Latino, Cincinnati, OH
Las Brasas Charcoal Chicken, Houston, TX
Le No 2 Seafood, Houston, TX
Masu Sushi, Portland, OR
Mosun’s Kitchen, Gaithersburg, MD
Mr Bartley’s Burger Company, Cambridge, MA
New India Restaurant, Columbus, OH
North Street Grille, Boston, MA
Peachtree Grill, Nashville, TN
Pepperoni’s Café, New Orleans, LA
Pikey’s Pizza, Whittier, CA
Romano Pizza, Weehawken, NJ
Rome’s Pizza, San Antonio, TX
Seoul Eats, Fullerton, CA
STIX, San Francisco, CA
Sushi Kappo, Boston, MA
T&P Munchies, New Orleans, LA
Taqueria Amigo Chino, Chicago, IL
Taste of India, Freemont, CA
Tavolo Ristorante, Dorchester, MA
The Corner Beet, Denver, CO
The Draft Room at Berwick, Savannah, GA
The Fusion Café and Bar, Winooski, VT
The Landing Restaurant, Marblehead, MA
The Taste of Chicago, Chicago, IL
The Tiki Tavern, Safety Harbor, FL
Toffee Traditions, Highwood, IL
Zhivago Restaurant, Skokie, IL

For more information about The Restaurant Strong Fund and its commitment to supporting the restaurant industry, please visit www.restaurantstrong.org

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund
The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $29 million in grants to families and individuals in need. The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund was established in March of 2020. The fund was created to help aid the Hospitality Industry as restaurants closed and employees were left out of work due to Covid–19. The Restaurant Strong Fund provides various grant opportunities available to Restaurant Employees and Restaurant Owners.

About Grubhub
Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 365,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

New Grubhub Fund Added to the American Heart Association’s Chicago Social Impact Funds

Chicago, March 5, 2024 – Last year, 1 in 5 Chicago Metro area households and 1 in 4 households with children were considered food insecure[1]. As a social determinant of health, food insecurity can lead to numerous health problems, such as heart disease or high blood pressure[2].

The American Heart Association, which is marking one hundred years of service saving lives, today announced the addition of the Grubhub Fund to the Association’s Social Impact Funds in Chicago. This infusion of funding, supported by the Grubhub Community Fund, will in turn enable local organizations to tackle systemic social issues that affect food security and economic development with a focus on technology-driven solutions. The Grubhub Community Fund’s support will allow for several funding opportunities to social enterprises and nonprofits implementing innovative and scalable solutions to create meaningful change in local neighborhoods across Chicago and also New York through 2025.

“We are committed to strengthening the communities for our diners, restaurant partners and delivery partners,” said Brianna Morris, senior manager, community impact for Grubhub. “We are excited to support the American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds and elevate this work through the Grubhub Community Fund. Supporting organizations working to create meaningful change in local communities is a key part of our work, especially in our hometown of Chicago.”

Local Chicago organizations are invited to submit a formal expression of interest to the Association’s Social Impact Funds through April 25, 2024. A window for New York area organizations will open later this Spring. Applicants can be at any business stage and can be non-profit or for-profit social enterprises. A virtual “town hall” information session will be held on March 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Central. Community members and American Heart Association staff will unite to discuss the fund and application process to ensure available funds are focused to address the greatest local needs. Register here to join the discussion.

“Our mission to end cardiovascular disease is directly tied to addressing its root causes including social determinants of health,” said Brittany Walsh, region senior vice president and executive director for the American Heart Association in Chicago. “The Social Impact Funds provide critical funding helping empower local organizations to create scalable solutions that help provide access to health care, healthy food and other services to help overall resiliency that will ultimately lead to a healthier and more resilient community.”

The Oscar and Cathy Munoz Pave it Forward Foundation established the Association’s Social Impact Funds in Chicago in 2022. The Munoz’s gift along with support from the Tullman Family Office recently funded four Chicagoland organizations:

  • Care Advisors is a health care technology firm helping individuals gain rapid access to social services and vital healthcare by enabling interoperability and coordinating care amongst hospitals, community-based organizations clinical social workers and patients.
  • Connect Care Hero (CCH) addresses social isolation in older adults with a tech-enabled engagement platform for senior living that optimizes staff time, delivers curated health-focused content and monitors risks associated with age. CCH operates in more than 30 locations across Chicagoland and Southwest Florida.
  • DistrictZero (DZ) is a digital emotional health platform that aims to promote stronger social-emotional competencies, helping individuals manage their emotions and make responsible decisions. DZ has successfully piloted its platform across K-12 schools, bilingual classrooms, private health clinics and corporate mental health support workflows in the United States.
  • ProUnitas works with Title I schools to develop systems that address basic needs spanning the social determinants of health and connects students to the resources they might need. The Houston-based organization recently expanded into Chicago.

Since launching in 2018, the American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds have supported more than 130 local social enterprises across the country. Learn more about the Association’s Social Impact Funds here.

Grubhub Expands Impact Program With New Strategic Partnerships

New report shows community impact deepened in 2023, including $1.4 Million to NYC nonprofits and more than $1.6M to nonprofits in company’s hometown of Chicago

Chicago, Feb. 27, 2024 – Grubhub invested $15 million in communities across the United States through the Grubhub Community Fund and other impact programs last year, the company revealed today in its 2023 Community Impact Report. The report also highlights that 45 states across the country and more than 500 organizations and causes were supported through Grubhub and Grubhub Community Fund programs.

Corporate programs and nonprofit partnerships, supported by the Grubhub Community Fund, drive Grubhub’s community impact efforts. Diners also contribute through the company’s Donate the Change* tool. Three key impact focus areas guide Grubhub’s impact work: helping to close the hunger gap, creating more opportunity in the hospitality industry, and supporting independent restaurants.

In recent years, Grubhub has evolved its community impact approach to better guide its overarching strategy, scale impact, and identify new partnership opportunities. In 2023, Grubhub deepened its community impact in key markets by: 

  • Providing More Grants to More Organizations. Grubhub supported more than 80 organizations through the Grubhub Community Fund – a 40% increase from 2022.
  • Expanding Hometown Impact. Grubhub invested in new partnerships across its impact focus areas, supporting nearly 100 Chicagoland community-based organizations through Grubhub and Grubhub Community Fund programs.
  • Scaling Food Recovery Efforts. Grubhub hit a new milestone in its food recovery effort, partnering to recover and redirect more than 40 million pounds of food to local food banks, pantries, and community organizations across the country.

“The communities where we operate are the very heart of our business, and we have a responsibility to help strengthen them in ways Grubhub is uniquely positioned to do,” said Dave Tovar, Senior Vice President of Communications & Government Relations at Grubhub. “I am extremely proud of how we supported restaurants, especially ones that are small businesses, in the past year, and am looking forward to expanding our impact in 2024. We have a lot of work ahead of us including the launch of new funding opportunities for nonprofits, expanding our efforts to create more opportunities in the hospitality industry, and engaging our delivery partners in our impact work.”

Along with supporting local communities on the national scale, Grubhub placed an emphasis on supporting neighbors in two key markets: New York City and Chicago. In New York City, the Grubhub Community Fund gave $1,420,000 to local nonprofits and distributed more than 132,000 meals through Grubhub and Grubhub Community Fund programs.

Within its hometown of Chicago, the Grubhub Community Fund gave more than $1,600,000 to local nonprofits and distributed almost 3,900,000 pounds of food distributed via food bank and pantry partners and recovered more than 5,200,000 pounds of food in partnership with FoodRecovery.org and Rescuing Leftover Cuisine.

To further support these markets, Grubhub’s announced a new relationship with the American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds, which will support nonprofits and social enterprises driving innovative solutions to help address health and economic disparities. The Grubhub Community Fund intends to provide up to $2 million to the Association’s Social Impact Funds to support funding opportunities through 2025 to organizations working to create meaningful change in Chicago and New York City neighborhoods.

“As the American Heart Association celebrates 100 years of our life-saving mission, we know that to make a meaningful difference in our communities, we need to collaborate with the individuals and organizations who take action to bring about change,” said Marsha Jones, 2023-25 volunteer chairperson of the board for the American Heart Association, member of the Association’s Social Impact Funds Governance Committee and former executive vice president and chief diversity officer for The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. “The Grubhub Community Fund complements the efforts of the Association’s Social Impact Funds to change the face of health care and access so communities can be healthier.”

Grubhub is on a continuous journey to identify new opportunities that will strengthen and deepen its community impact. Read the 2023 Community Impact Report, and learn more about how Grubhub is engaging in strategic partnerships and funding impactful programs to make its operating communities a better place: https://about.grubhub.com/community/

*The Grubhub Community Fund is a donor advised fund at a national sponsoring organization. The Grubhub Community Fund is made possible through donations from our customers through our Donate the Change feature in the Grubhub app and website. Grubhub matches contributions on eligible orders from our Grubhub+ members.

Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund Launch National Grant for Small Business Restaurants

BOSTON, MA – Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund are pleased to announce more than $1,000,000 in grant opportunities, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund, to support growth in small business restaurants nationally. The launch marks the fourth year of partnership between Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund. 

On February 20, 2024, The Restaurant Strong Fund will begin accepting applications for the program’s next grant cycle. The Restaurant Strong Fund will focus on providing grants that impact revenue growth and areas including, but not limited to: updating technology/equipment necessary to enhance day-to-day operations, marketing & public relations services, staff training programs, incentivized wages, or maintenance/updating of current infrastructure. 

Restaurants can apply for this grant by providing specific plans outlining how the funding will be utilized and expectations of growth. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 will be awarded based on need and growth opportunity showcased in the application. Grants will be limited to single-location restaurants that meet the following criteria:

  • Must be open and operating in the United States (contiguous) 
  • Completed application form 
  • Provide a detailed explanation for the need of a grant and how it would be utilized if awarded 
  • Provide evidence of need 

Applications will be open from Tuesday, February 20, 2024 through Friday, March 15, 2024. A portion of grant funds will be dedicated to new restaurants, those established in 2021 onwards, to aid in their introduction to the restaurant industry. Grants will be awarded to selected restaurants in April.

About Grubhub 

Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 355,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund 

The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $28 million in grants to families and individuals in need. The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund was established in March of 2020. The fund was created to help aid the Hospitality Industry as restaurants closed and employees were left out of work due to Covid-19. The Restaurant Strong Fund provides various grant opportunities available to Restaurant Employees and Restaurant Owners. 

Grubhub Selects 64 Food-Focused Chicago Nonprofits in Inaugural Full Plate Microgrant Program

The Grubhub Community Fund is bringing holiday cheer to Chicago nonprofits who are feeding the community by announcing nearly $650,000 in grants.

This holiday season, Grubhub has selected 64 nonprofit organizations in our hometown that provide food and meal services to receive microgrants of up to $10,000 through our new Full Plate Program. In total, Grubhub has recommended nearly $650,000 in grants through the Grubhub Community Fund to nonprofit organizations across Cooke, DuPage, and Lake counties that are providing access to nutritious groceries and meals to those experiencing food insecurity in Grubhub’s hometown.

“The Full Plate Program is Grubhub’s first open grant program and made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund. This grant funding comes at a critical time for the 64 Chicagoland nonprofits in various communities supporting our hometown neighbors by ensuring they have access to food and essential needs,” said Brianna Morris, Grubhub’s Senior Manager of Community Impact. “We are grateful to all of our grant recipients who are working day-in and day-out to close the hunger gap across the city of Chicago, and we look forward to providing future opportunities to organizations creating meaningful change in our local communities.” 

The grant recipients will use the funding for everything from purchasing groceries and meals for community members to investing in equipment and resources needed to distribute food and keep programming up and running. This will help feed our hometown neighbors in more than 75 neighborhoods across the Chicago area, including Austin, Back of Yards, Englewood, Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Pilsen, Uptown, Sauk Village, Waukegan, and West Chicago. 

Hear from a few of our 2023 Full Plate Program grantees: 

“Good Food Catalyst is thrilled to receive funding from the Full Plate Program to help distribute free meals on the South and West Sides of Chicago,” said Jeannine Wise, Director of Good Food is Good Medicine. “Our meals utilize local produce grown by BIPOC urban farmers and incorporate expert nutrition and flavor guidance from chefs, doctors, and registered dietitians.With the Full Plate grant, we will be able to purchase nutritious meal ingredients that will help us reach our goal of producing 20,000 meals for community members in 2024, in addition to covering some of the program’s staffing costs.” 

“The microgrant Just Roots received from the Grubhub Community Fund’s Full Plate Program will help us feed countless community members on Chicago’s South Side, specifically in Bronzeville, Chinatown, Englewood, South Shore, South Loop, Kenwood, and Bridgeport,” said Sean Ruane, Director of Operations & Development with Just Roots. “Through our program, we operate sustainable urban farms that produce fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are provided directly to local community members. In this coming year, we aim to provide 12,500 pounds of fresh, organic, culturally affirming food from our farms to South Side food pantries, mutual aid organizations, and senior and public housing facilities.”

“The Glen Ellyn Food Pantry is extremely grateful to receive funding from the Grubhub Community Fund’s Full Plate Program as it will help support our “Extraordinary Dairy Program,” said Laura Glaza, Executive Director of The Glen Ellyn Food Pantry. “Our community has growing needs for food and can especially benefit from dairy products, like milk and eggs, which are an extraordinary source of nutrients that contribute to a healthy diet – but have become increasingly expensive. Thanks to Grubhub’s program, we will be able to purchase a six-month supply of dairy products for our neighbors.”

The Full Plate Program is made possible through the Grubhub Community Fund*, and is administered in partnership with Greater Chicago Food Depository and Nourishing Hope. Grubhub, Greater Chicago Food Depository and Nourishing Hope partnered together to review and evaluate the applications based on need, impact, and demonstration of fiscal responsibility.

“The Greater Chicago Food Depository is proud to support the Grubhub Community Fund’s Full Plate Program,” said Deborah Clair, the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Director of Corporate Relations. ”As a nonprofit committed to connecting our neighbors with healthy food and advancing solutions that address the root causes of hunger, we understand how meaningful the programs offered by the grant recipients are for local community members. In the coming year, we are excited to see the number of meals provided and the number of our neighbors whose lives will be impacted through the Full Plate Program.”

“Thanks to the Grubhub Community Fund, the Full Plate Program will help the grantees feed countless Chicagoans experiencing hunger,” said Kellie O’Connell, CEO of Nourishing Hope. “We’re proud to have partnered with Grubhub on this exciting new initiative.” 

As part of our effort to help close the hunger gap and to give back to our hometown, Grubhub is committed to supporting local, community-centered programs that provide access to nutritious foods and beverages to individuals and families in need. Thank you to Greater Chicago Food Depository, Nourishing Hope, and all of our selected Full Plate grantees for helping feed our neighbors!

2023 Selected Full Plate Grantees:

  • Above & Beyond Food Pantry
  • Allen Metropolitan CME Church
  • American Association of Single Parents, Inc.
  • Barbara W. Smith Family Life Center
  • Bryn Mawr Community Foundation
  • Care for Friends
  • Catholic Bishop of Chicago dba St. Thomas of Canterbury
  • Chatham-Avalon Ministries Food Pantry
  • Chicago Dream Center
  • Chosen Tabernacle Full Gospel Baptist Church
  • Christian Life Center AOG Church
  • Common Pantry
  • Community Feast at United Church of Rogers Park
  • Coppin Community Center
  • Cultivate Collective
  • Edward G. Irvin Foundation
  • Elmhurst Yorkfield Food Pantry
  • Evangelism Outreach Ministries
  • Evanston Vineyard Church
  • Faith Feeds Food Pantry
  • Figueroa Wu Family Foundation
  • First Baptist Church of Melrose Park Food Pantry
  • First Presbyterian Church of Chicago
  • Food Access Project 
  • Food Pantry of Messiah-St Bartholomew Episcopal Church
  • For Your Consciousness Ministry
  • GAP Community Center
  • Glen Ellyn Food Pantry
  • Good Food Catalyst
  • Grace Housing Complex
  • Grace United Church of Christ
  • Grant A Wish Inc
  • Harmony Community Cares NFP
  • Harris Temple A.O.H. Church Food Pantry
  • Irving Park Community Food Pantry
  • Just Roots
  • Martin Temple Community Foundation
  • Mihut Romanian Charitable Mission
  • Neighborhood Food Pantries
  • New Christian Joy Full Church Food Pantry
  • New Eclipse Community Alliance
  • New Hope House Community Food Pantry
  • Operation Blessing of SW Chicagoland
  • Our Daily Bread Food Pantry
  • Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
  • Our Shining Stars Foundation
  • Parkway Garden Christian Church Food Pantry
  • Seeds Center of Maple Park United Methodist Church
  • Sheldon Heights Food Pantry
  • Shepherd’s Hope LTD
  • Sisters Working It Out
  • Society of Arab American Neighborhood Development
  • St. Moses the Black Food Pantry
  • St. Paul and the Redeemer Episcopal Church
  • The Addison Township Foundation Food Pantry
  • The Outreach House
  • The Salvation Army Corps and Community Des Plaines
  • The Salvation Army Norridge Citadel
  • The Southwest Collective
  • Trinity Charities
  • Trinity Resurrection United Church
  • Valley Kingdom Community Development Corporation
  • Wayne Township Pantry
  • Windsor Park Evangelical Lutheran Church

*The Grubhub Community Fund is a donor advised fund at a national sponsoring organization. The Grubhub Community Fund is made possible through donations from our customers through our Donate the Change feature. Grubhub matches contributions on eligible orders from our Grubhub+ members.

Startup Catering Service Nude Dude Food Wins a Free Year in a Grubhub Private Kitchen at The Hatchery Chicago®

Grubhub surprised all three private kitchen pitch competition runner-ups with FREE private kitchens at The Hatchery for 6 months each.

Grubhub CEO Howard Migdal and The Hatchery/ICNC Chief Strategy & Incubation Officer Natalie Shmulik with Grubhub x The Hatchery’s private kitchen winners © 2023 Galdones Photography

After an evening that saw four Chicago-based food and beverage entrepreneurs present business plans on how they will grow their restaurant concept and share samples of their food at Grubhub x The Hatchery Chicago’s private kitchen pitch competition, Seth Bradley and Ryan Van Voorhis of Nude Dude Food were named the grand prize winners. The competition took place at The Hatchery, a nonprofit incubator dedicated to fostering successful food and beverage businesses on the West Side of Chicago, during it’s annual fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 1.  

Alongside Bradley and Van Voorhis, Anwar Jebran of Honeydoe Authentic Mediterranean, Earl Moore of Uncle Earl’s BBQ, and Valerie Vedral of The Vulgar Vegan also pitched their business concepts at the competition. Three of our four restaurants currently work out of The Hatchery’s shared kitchen. All  finalists brought unique dishes to the table – the catch was samples had to be presented in delivery-friendly packaging to ensure it would be just as tasty at a Grubhub diner’s house as it would at the restaurant. 

To evaluate our finalists, our expert judging panel was made up of Grubhub’s CEO Howard Migdal, two local chefs and business owners Taylor Mason of Taylor’s Tacos and Krissy Ashley of Cleo’s Southern Cuisine, and Chicago-based food influencer Jeremy Joyce of Black People Eats. Our judges took many factors into consideration when selecting our grand prize winner – everything from how they will leverage delivery as a solution and an opportunity to grow their business to the taste and display of their food. 

The judging panel at Grubhub x The Hatchery’s private kitchen pitch competition © 2023 Galdones Photography

The highlight of the first place prize is one year free access to the Grubhub private kitchen at The Hatchery Chicago. While all finalists were meant to go home with a prize of some kind, Migdal shared a surprise when announcing the winners. Because the remaining three finalists’ presentations and food were equally impressive, they all received what was initially meant to be the second place prize – rent-free access to a private Grubhub Kitchen at The Hatchery for six months. 

“This event celebrated the start of Grubhub’s partnership with The Hatchery Chicago, and our shared mission to help local restaurants build and grow successful businesses means we have a lot of exciting work ahead of us too,” said Dave Tovar, Senior Vice President of Communications & Government Relations at Grubhub. “We know how challenging it can be to get started in the restaurant and hospitality business, and are excited to have the opportunity to support our hometown entrepreneurs by providing all four finalists free private kitchen space at The Hatchery.”

All four of the pitch competition finalists will move into their private kitchens at The Hatchery in early 2024. In addition to the private kitchen space, the finalists will receive wraparound support from The Hatchery and Grubhub, including access to schedule a professional food photoshoot, business review check-ins with the Grubhub team, and more. 

While the pitch competition was a big success, Grubhub’s partnership with The Hatchery is just getting started. In addition to providing all finalists rent-free kitchen space, Grubhub is also developing new educational materials to guide entrepreneurs interested in using third-party delivery to grow their businesses, providing philanthropic support through the Grubhub Community Fund to The Hatchery’s Sprouts Incubation program, and working with The Hatchery to improve the onsite delivery pathways so more entrepreneurs operating out of the facility can leverage Grubhub to expand their business. 

Shmulik and Migdal participating in a fireside chat before Grubhub x The Hatchery’s private kitchen pitch competition © 2023 Galdones Photography

“We are beyond excited to work closely with Grubhub to create more streamlined pathways to success for startup food and beverage entrepreneurs in Chicago,” said Natalie Shmulik, Chief Strategy & Incubation Officer, ICNC/The Hatchery Chicago. “The four private kitchens Grubhub awarded our finalists will be instrumental in helping local brands build viable and sustainable businesses. Congratulations to all of the entrepreneurs!”

As we move into 2024, Grubhub looks forward to seeing this exciting partnership with The Hatchery grow while also finding new ways to support independent restaurant owners and help create new opportunities within the hospitality industry in our hometown.