FAQ
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Swipe Out Hunger is the leading national nonprofit powering the movement to end college student hunger. We collaborate with colleges, legislators, and the greater community to address student food insecurity by championing hunger solutions, building an active network of campuses and partners, and changing the narrative around today’s college students.
This includes a variety of efforts, such as:
On-Campus Solutions: We help campuses get nourishing meals to students through our menu of sustainable programs. From guidance and funding opportunities for campus pantries/hubs to swipe drive meal donation programs, we’re here for our partners.
Advocacy & Policy: We work with student advocates on-the-ground to advance state-based legislation like the Hunger Free Campus Bill and support other federal legislation to end student hunger. We mobilize and train students to be basic needs champions.
Community Building: We welcome and engage with students, campus administration, legislators, organizations, and other stakeholders to join our growing coalition. We connect our community members with one another to learn, evolve, and collaborate through our digital community platform, in-person convenings, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
Evaluation is a key part of our programming. We recognize that this process is essential in demonstrating two critical facts: 1) college student hunger is real, and 2) our programs have a significant impact in alleviating the challenges of student hunger. Internally, Swipe views evaluation as the solid ground we stand on to build on and fine-tune what we bring to the table.
So, how do we measure impact? Our primary tools are annual surveys where we collect feedback and testimonials from campus leaders and students across the country. Each year we publish an Impact Report that dives into the most recent chapter of Swipe’s journey. Take a peek at our latest issue!
We are always looking to explore new partnerships! We firmly believe that collaboration is essential in the fight to end college student hunger. If you’re a company interested in partnering with us, check out our Corporate Partnerships page. If you’re a foundation, head over to our Foundations page.
Great question! Donating to Swipe Out Hunger is a meaningful way to support our mission, and it’s through the generosity of folks like you that our work is possible.
For personal donations: The easiest way is through our secure online donation platform. If you’re interested in supporting us on a routine basis, we encourage you to consider our monthly giving program.
For larger donations: To learn more, visit our Support Us page; then, get in touch with our Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, Renee Houle Catanzano at [email protected].
Meal donation programs, or Swipe Drives, provide opportunities for students to donate their extra meal swipes, points, or dollars to their peers. Every campus can conduct their Swipe Drives differently, whether it’s by semester, annually, or even year round.
We recommend contacting your campus food security program directly to learn more about how they handle meal swipe donations. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact us and a member of our staff will work this out with you!
Students are the heart of our mission, which is why we’re all about making sure your voices are front and center in the fight to end student hunger. Here’s how you can get involved:
Advocacy: As the architects of the Hunger Free Campus bill, Swipe is always looking for passionate students to advocate for anti-hunger legislation in their state. If you’re interested in helping pass Hunger Free Campus in your state, let us know! A member of our team will respond with next steps.
Storytelling: We’re big believers in letting students take the mic! There is no better way to shed light on college student hunger than through the stories of students themselves. Send us an email to let us know you’re interested in sharing your story!
Careers: If you’re interested in joining our team through an internship or full-time position, check out our career openings!
It’s easy! Here are a couple of options:
Subscribe to our newsletter. To stay in the loop with general updates and career opportunities check out our Community Newsletter. If you’re a student or campus staff, consider our Campus Leader Newsletter too.
Follow us on social media! Find us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tiktok: @SwipeOutHunger, and X/Twitter @SwipeHunger
Keep up with our Blog. You can always get the scoop on our Blog! Here we share updates, organizational events, and leave no detail behind. Plus, it’s perfect for exploring a wide range of topics within the Anti-Hunger landscape. Don’t miss out!
The Hunger Free Campus movement is growing and we need you! By advocating for legislation at the state and federal level, we can create a future where every student has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Involvement can look like calling your representative, attending advocacy events, or sharing your story to raise awareness. Click here to see what’s going on in your state, and contact our advocacy team to let us know you’re interested and a staff member will get in touch with you within a few business days.
CAMPUS QUESTIONS
We love teaming up with students! Fill out our interest form and a member of our staff will contact you within a few business days. We know starting a food security program is no small feat. That’s why we’re here to back you up every step of the way. We encourage you to join our campus network, Swipe will coach you and provide resources to help you build a program to fit your campus’ needs.
We are grateful for people like you! Fill out our interest form and a member of our staff will contact you within a few business days. By joining the Swipe Out Hunger network, you will have access to a wide range of resources, programs support, and the opportunities to connect with other campus leaders in food security work across the country. We are here to help you shape a program that’s tailor made for your students. Let’s make a difference together!
We support each university with identifying and monitoring students who are experiencing hunger and basic needs insecurity. We offer campus specific strategies that ensure students have a low barrier to accessing resources. Fill out our support form to set up a call and we can work this out together!
Of course! We understand that community colleges can face a different set of challenges when it comes to setting up and running a food security program. We want to help you serve your campus community as best as possible. Take the first steps to join our network here to get started!
This can be common, which is why we have developed solutions to the considerations often raised from dining. We coach our partners on how to build a positive and collaborative partnership with all types of dining service providers. Fill out our support form to set up a coaching call to prepare how to discuss this program with dining representatives on your campus.
We are proud to provide campus partners with opportunities for funding. Swipe Grants are $3,000 grants for partnering pantries, distributed annually in the fall; supporting pantries in purchasing capacity-building infrastructure and staffing. Click here to find out the latest information on our application process.
SNAP is a vital element in addressing food security, and we understand that accessing the program can be a complicated process. Check out our SNAP Toolkit here to get started, if you have questions let us know and we can work this out together.
