Food Equity Fund

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The Food Equity Fund is a program of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON). The purpose of the fund is to invest in community-led work that contributes to an equitable and sustainable local food system. By ‘food system’ we mean any activities related to food, this can include growing, sourcing, preparing, learning, distributing food and/or managing food waste.    

In 2023, approximately $2 million is available in funding and is provided by revenue from Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax.  

What We Fund

We fund community food work led by: Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, refugees, people with low incomes, youth, and elders. 

Projects must:
         

  • Occur within Seattle
  • Be accessible and benefit people who live, learn, work and/or worship in Seattle
  • Focus on contributing to an equitable and sustainable local food system
  • Be complete within 24 months of contracting 

Who Should Apply

  • Organizations that have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, or
  • Community groups that have a *fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
  • Tribes and tribal organizations, and/or
  • Organizations and groups led by those most impacted by food and health inequities: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, refugees, people with low incomes, youth, and/or elders.

    *A fiscal sponsor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that agrees to act as the trustee of your project’s funds and assumes financial responsibilities related to record keeping and the disbursement of funds 

Funding Calendar

There are two funding opportunities within the Food Equity Fund:

  

Food Equity Fund General Grant
Capacity Building Grant
Award Amount $5,000 to $100,000 $5,000 to $20,000  
Project Length Up to 24 months   3 months to 12 months 
Application Open Wednesday January 25, 2023 Monday May 1, 2023 
Application Due Date

Wednesday March 15, 2023 

TBD 
Notice of Decision Mid-June 2023 TBD 
Contracts with City  Within five weeks from notice of decision Within four weeks from notice of decision  

*Applicants cannot hold grants in both tiers.

In-language support:  

We are currently only accepting applications in written English. However, if you want one-on-one support in a language other than English, we can set up a virtual meeting with an interpreter free of cost. Please send an email to foodequityfund@seattle.gov or call us at (206) 727-3663 to request an interpreter.  

Information Sessions and Office Hours

Join a virtual information session to learn more about the application process, qualities of a strong proposal and to ask any questions. Please register for an information session here.

Check out a recorded information session which includes answers to questions (last updated 2/22/2023) from all previous information sessions.

Open Office Hours

Email foodequityfund@seattle.gov or call 206-727-FOOD (3663) to schedule a one-on-one meeting with a project manager. Project managers are available to meet outside of regular business hours and weekends with advance scheduling.

Question & Answer open office hours: https://bit.ly/FEFInfo

Join by phone: +1 (206) 207-1700  access code: 146 253 1431

  • Dates and times TBD

A Food Equity Fund Capacity Building Grant will launch May 5, 2023. Grant sizes will be up to $20,000 and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. To get the latest information, sign up for the Food Equity Fund newsletter on the top right of this page.  

Recently Funded NMF Projects

Food Equity Fund General Grant is currently closed.

2023 Application Materials:

Funding Calendar

There are two funding opportunities within the Food Equity Fund:

  

Food Equity Fund General Grant
Capacity Building Grant
Award Amount $5,000 to $100,000 $5,000 to $20,000  
Project Length Up to 24 months   3 months to 12 months 
Application Open Wednesday January 25, 2023 Monday May 1, 2023 
Application Due Date

Wednesday March 15, 2023 

TBD 
Notice of Decision Mid-June 2023 TBD 
Contracts with City  Within five weeks from notice of decision Within four weeks from notice of decision  

*Applicants cannot hold grants in both tiers.

In-language support:  

We are currently only accepting applications in written English. However, if you want one-on-one support in a language other than English, we can set up a virtual meeting with an interpreter free of cost. Please send an email to foodequityfund@seattle.gov or call us at (206) 727-3663 to request an interpreter.  

Information Sessions and Office Hours

Join a virtual information session to learn more about the application process, qualities of a strong proposal and to ask any questions. Please register for an information session here.

Check out a recorded information session which includes answers to questions (last updated 2/22/2023) from all previous information sessions.

Open Office Hours

Email foodequityfund@seattle.gov or call 206-727-FOOD (3663) to schedule a one-on-one meeting with a project manager. Project managers are available to meet outside of regular business hours and weekends with advance scheduling.

Question & Answer open office hours: https://bit.ly/FEFInfo

Join by phone: +1 (206) 207-1700  access code: 146 253 1431

  • Dates and times TBD

A Food Equity Fund Capacity Building Grant will launch April 3, 2023. Grant sizes will be up to $20,000 and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. To get the latest information, sign up for the Food Equity Fund newsletter on the top right of this page.  

Neighborhoods

Jenifer Chao, Interim Director
Address: 600 4th Avenue, 4th Floor, Seattle, WA , 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 94649, Seattle, WA, 98124-4649
Phone: (206) 684-0464
Fax: (206) 233-5142
seattleneighborhoods@seattle.gov

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Seattle Department of Neighborhoods provides resources and opportunities for community members to build strong communities and improve their quality of life.