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Action Alert: Support More Venison Donation Funding — With Transparency and Fair Access

Action Alert: Support More Venison Donation Funding — With Transparency and Fair Access

Michigan has an opportunity to significantly expand the amount of donated venison reaching families in need.

Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger strongly supports that goal.

But as potentially millions of dollars in hunter-generated and public funding become available for venison donation, we also believe Michigan should make sure those dollars are administered transparently, fairly and based on measurable results.

We are asking Michigan hunters, donors and supporters to contact their State Representative and Senator and ask them to support increased venison-donation funding — while making sure qualified nonprofit organizations have a fair opportunity to participate.

A New Federal Opportunity for Venison Donation

On September 17, 2026, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14429, Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage.

Section 5 of the Executive Order specifically addresses wild game donation.

It directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue guidance supporting state-based wild game venison donation programs, including through The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP.

It also directs the Department of the Interior to encourage state wildlife agencies to use Pittman-Robertson funds to manage hyperabundant wildlife populations — particularly whitetail deer — including efforts that facilitate the processing and donation of wild game to schools and food banks.

For Michigan, that could create new opportunities to help pay for the processing of hunter-donated deer and get more high-quality protein into communities across the state.

Michigan Senate Bill 276 Could Add Approximately $1.4 Million

There is another important funding proposal moving through Lansing.

Michigan Senate Bill 276 would make significant changes to hunting and fishing license fees and related funding.

The Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency estimated that the legislation would direct approximately $1.4 million annually to Michigan DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan program.

That is a substantial increase in resources devoted to venison donation — and MSAH supports putting more resources behind this work.

More funding can mean:

  • More donated deer processed
  • More participating processors
  • More communities served
  • More pounds of nutritious venison reaching food banks and pantries
  • More opportunities for Michigan hunters to turn successful harvests into help for their neighbors

But an investment of this size also deserves strong accountability.

MSAH Supports More Funding — With Guardrails

Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger has been connecting hunters, licensed processors and hunger-relief organizations since 1991.

MSAH currently receives none of the donations collected through Michigan hunting and fishing license purchases and operates independently of the State of Michigan.

We believe increased public investment in venison donation is a good thing.

We also believe qualified organizations should have the opportunity to compete for those resources based on demonstrated results, community need and cost effectiveness.

This is not about directing funding specifically to MSAH.

The same standards should apply to every organization receiving hunter-generated, state or federal funding — including MSAH if we receive those funds.

If hunters or taxpayers are paying for the program, they should be able to see where the money went and what it accomplished.

What MSAH Is Asking For

As the Michigan House considers SB 276 — and as potential federal funding opportunities develop — MSAH is asking policymakers to establish several basic safeguards:

  • Competitive access for qualified nonprofits. State and federal venison-donation funding should be available to qualified Michigan nonprofit organizations through grants, contracts, processor reimbursements or similar mechanisms.
  • Clear eligibility standards. Public funding should not be structured in a way that effectively limits participation to one program when other qualified organizations can demonstrate the ability to perform the work.
  • Annual budgets and public reporting. Organizations receiving public funding should disclose how funds are expected to be spent and report what was actually accomplished.
  • Consistent performance measurements. Programs should be evaluated using comparable measures such as deer processed, pounds of venison distributed, cost per deer, cost per pound and communities served.
  • Administrative-cost transparency. Reporting should distinguish dollars spent directly processing and distributing venison from administrative and overhead expenses.
  • Funding based on results and need. Decisions should consider demonstrated performance, geographic need and cost effectiveness.
  • Recognition of existing nonprofit infrastructure. Michigan should build upon effective processor, pantry and nonprofit networks already operating across the state rather than unnecessarily duplicating them.

These are not barriers to funding.

They are safeguards designed to make sure more of every dollar ultimately results in more venison reaching Michigan families.

The Opportunity Is Bigger Than SB 276

Senate Bill 276 is important, but the federal Executive Order could make this conversation even more significant.

If Pittman-Robertson funding, TEFAP resources or other federal funding becomes available for venison processing and donation, Michigan may soon have access to resources well beyond what has historically been available for this work.

MSAH believes the principles should remain the same regardless of where the money comes from:

Transparency. Accountability. Fair access. Measurable results.

Michigan already has hunters willing to donate deer, licensed processors capable of processing them and nonprofit hunger-relief organizations ready to distribute the venison.

The goal should be to use those resources as efficiently as possible to feed more people.

Take Action

We are asking MSAH supporters to contact their Michigan State Representative and State Senator.

Tell them you support increased funding for venison donation through SB 276, but that increased funding should come with transparency, accountability and an opportunity for qualified Michigan nonprofit organizations to participate.

You can send them a message like this:

I support increased funding for venison donation through SB 276. I also ask you to ensure that hunter-generated funds are administered transparently, measured against consistent performance standards and accessible to qualified Michigan nonprofit venison-donation organizations.

Please include annual budgeting and reporting, standardized performance benchmarks, administrative-cost transparency and a competitive mechanism that allows qualified nonprofits to participate.

More funding for venison donation is a great opportunity for Michigan. Let’s make sure those resources are used as effectively as possible to help hunters feed their neighbors.

Michigan hunters have been helping feed Michigan families for decades.

With additional state and federal resources potentially becoming available, we have an opportunity to dramatically expand that impact.

Let’s make sure we do it in a way that is transparent, responsible and focused on what matters most: turning donated deer into nutritious meals for Michigan families.