Together We Can Fulfill Our Mission and Change Lives!

Contribute with Confidence

As a non-profit organization, Channel One Regional Food Bank depends on the generosity of our partners to help us strengthen food access and build healthy communities. Because of monetary and food donations* received at Channel One, we are able to distribute millions of pounds of food throughout our region in Southeast Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. There are many options for donors to give back at Channel One. Whether you give funds or time, you have the opportunity to change lives. Please visit our donation pages or read the information below and find a contribution avenue that fits your style. Where else can your donation make such a big difference and change so many lives?

*Channel One no longer accepts donated food from the public, only from manufacturers, retail or distribution centers.

Monetary Donations

Please consider making Channel One Regional Food Bank one of your regular charity choices. Where else can your dollar do so much good, stretch as far, and raise the quality of life so squarely in your own backyard?

Recurring Donations

Your recurring donation gives Channel One a steady source of continuing support and balances your annual giving throughout the year. It’s easy and efficient for you and for Channel One.

Virtual Food Drives

As a Food Bank, Channel One has tremendous buying power, stretching your donation to provide more food for those facing food insecurity. In lieu of holding an in-person food drive, we ask that you register for a virtual food drive!

Stock Donations

One way individuals and companies can make a contribution to Channel One is through a donation of stock (securities). For your convenience, Channel One has a brokerage account established to accept Depository Trust Company (DTC) transfers of securities.

Donor Advised Funds

A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is a giving vehicle established at a public charity. Donors can make a charitable contribution and make recommendations on how their donation should be used over time. Channel One has a DAF portal available for you to make a donation.

Qualified Charitable Distributions

Individuals may donate to Channel One with a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to manage their required minimum distributions from an IRA. A QCD allows individuals who are 70½ years old or older to donate up to $100,000 total to charities directly from a taxable IRA instead of taking their required minimum distributions.

Charities Review Council

Channel One is proudly accredited by the Charities Review Council Smart Givers Network. Nonprofit organizations such as Channel One earn the seal by voluntarily participating in the Council’s online Accountability Wizard. The Wizard is available to all nonprofit organizations soliciting funds in Minnesota and addresses a nonprofit organization’s performance in four critical areas: Public Disclosure, Governance, Financial Activity and Fundraising. By participating in the Accountability Wizard, nonprofit organizations can demonstrate responsibility, integrity and transparency to their constituents. The Channel One report is currently under annual review, but it will become available soon.

Charity Navigator

Channel One also has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator evaluates over 160,000 nonprofit organizations on Financial Health, Accountability and Transparency. Ratings show givers how efficiently a nonprofit will use their support, how well it has sustained its programs and services over time and its level of commitment to good governance, best practices and openness with information. We are honored to have received a 4-star rating, which is the highest rating available to nonprofits.

Guidestar

Channel One earned a 2022 Platinum Seal of Transparency! GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. GuideStar lists information on every nonprofit registered with the IRS as tax-exempt. Guidestar’s Candid provides a way for nonprofits to publicly display their strategy, metrics, and achievements. Please check out our updated nonprofit profile.

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