Connecting people to food is at the heart of what we do at Shipt, which is why we’re excited to open applications for our LadderUp accelerator, a program helping fresh food organizations learn the skills needed to scale their impact.  With nearly 1 in 7 households across the country experiencing food insecurity, we believe we are in a unique position to bridge the gap between those in need and the fresh food organizations that provide for them. 

According to the USDA Household Food Security Report, the need for reliable food sources has reached heights not seen since the Great Recession, impacting both low-income and middle-class families. Fresh food organizations bridge this critical gap, ensuring these families can locate nutritious food in their own neighborhoods. 

Empowering Local Leaders to Scale

Shipt’s LadderUp program aims to support those doing the work already by providing education and mentorship to help organizations keep up with an evolving digital landscape. Last year’s participant, Star Farm Chicago, told us how the program helped them: 

“This program was an awesome experience! We had the opportunity to learn from great people and each session was structured to allow us to share insights about our own organizations and learn how others were approaching the same challenges. I'm really happy we got selected. The timing for the program couldn't have been better for Star Farm because we're opening our Fresh Market soon, and we'll apply everything we learned to structure our new operation.” 

To read more stories from Star Farm Chicago and other participants in LadderUp’s 2025 cohort, click here. 

What you need to know

• Who Can Apply: The program is open to local grocers, food co-ops, farmers markets, and CSAs (community-supported agriculture). Organizations nationwide are welcome to apply, but we’re specifically excited to welcome those in DC, NYC, Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, and Madison, Wisconsin.  

• Program Benefits: If accepted, organizations receive mentorship and education from grocery industry leaders and a $5,000 grant. 

• Proven Growth: 100% of last year's participants reported knowledge growth across the curriculum. The most popular session on tips to gain access to capital was led by Auburn University’s Hunger Solutions Institute. 

• Expert Insight: Industry mentorship was also a key appeal for past participants, with a top session on consumer trends, led by Shipt’s own Principal Experience Strategist, Connie Wang.

• Peer-to-Peer Knowledge: Past participants shared that LadderUp’s unique cohort model created pathways to learn from one another, share tips, and build a peer network. 

Investing in a More Vibrant Future 

LadderUp is a cornerstone of Shipt’s community impact work because we believe in a future where fresh and nutritious food is accessible, regardless of zip code. We achieve this by investing directly in community-led projects and leveraging our logistical infrastructure to connect people to food. By empowering local leaders with better tools and funding, we help build more vibrant communities for everyone. 

"Feeding America reports that 2 in 5 families earn too much to be eligible for SNAP, but still face hunger. Local fresh food organizations bridge this critical gap, and we’re proud to help invest in these local solutions in pursuit of our shared goal to strengthen communities,” said Khadijah Abdullah, Vice President of Culture and Community at Shipt. 

How to Apply

Applications for the 2026 LadderUp cohort are open now through February 20, 2026. To learn more about the program and submit your application, visit shipt.com/ladderup.