Toast Teams Up with Tyler Florence to Launch Toast Changemakers Program to Combat Food Insecurity

Toast, the all-in-one digital platform for restaurants, announced today the launch of the Toast Changemakers Program, Toast’s new grant program to support restaurants at the forefront of addressing food insecurity nationwide. The program is part of Toast's $5 million, five-year commitment to combating food insecurity in the United States, launched earlier this summer.

Food insecurity is a critical issue in the U.S., affecting 13.5% of households in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture – and it’s a cause that restaurants are passionate about. According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2023 State of the Restaurant Industry report, 84% of restaurant operators made charitable contributions between 2020 and 2023, with 75% of these operators donating food. Many restaurants serve not only their guests, but also their communities, providing meals, donations, and support to those who might otherwise go hungry or lack access to nutrient-dense food. To further celebrate and enable these restaurants and individuals leading the way in addressing food insecurity, Toast–in partnership with Hello Alice and Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN)--will collectively award $150,000 in grants to 15 U.S. restaurants actively working to combat hunger in their local communities. Each of the 15 selected restaurants will receive $10,000 to support and scale their continued efforts.

“At its core, feeding people is what restaurants do best, and Toast is uniquely positioned to bring the restaurant community together to make a real impact in the fight against food insecurity,” said Aman Narang, CEO of Toast. “I’m incredibly proud to launch the Toast Changemakers Program, and look forward to celebrating and supporting the work of the restaurants that are making a difference in their communities, and enriching the food experience for all.” 

To highlight restaurants and individuals making a significant impact in their communities, Toast has partnered with acclaimed chef and Toast customer, Tyler Florence, who will use his platform to promote the program and encourage hospitality leaders making a difference in their communities to apply. 

"The restaurant industry is at the heart of our communities, and supporting those who are serving great food and serving their neighbors in need is a vital effort," said Florence. "I'm honored to partner with Toast on the Changemakers Program to shine a light on the transformative work restaurants are doing to fight food insecurity."

The program is open to all eligible U.S. restaurants and food service businesses, not exclusively Toast customers, as Toast hopes to support changemaking solutions across the industry. To apply:

• Applicants can visit the Toast Changemakers Program website for eligibility and selection criteria, terms and conditions, and information on submitting an application before the deadline, October 17, 2025.

• Winners & Grant Amount: In partnership with Hello Alice, the Changemakers program will select 15 restaurant winners, each receiving $10,000 directly, totaling $150,000 in grants.

• Review & Selection: Representatives from Toast and program partners, Hello Alice and Global Entrepreneurship Network, will review applications and select 15 restaurants to receive a grant. Applicants will be informed via email about the status of their application in mid-November.

We look forward to celebrating U.S. restaurants that are making a difference in the fight against hunger. To learn more about Toast and follow along with our latest updates, visit https://pos.toasttab.com/