Food Equity Fund
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.
Funding is provided by revenue from Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax. In 2025, approximately $2.2 million is available in funding through two grant cycles: The Food Equity Fund Grant and the Starter Fund which will launch on April 1, 2025.
What We Fund
We support work led by those who experience the most food and health inequities: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, refugees, people with low incomes, youth, and elders.
Eligible proposals must:
- Have project activities 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
Funding Calendar
There are two funding opportunities within the Food Equity Fund:
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Food Equity Fund Grant | Starter Fund |
| Award Amount | $25,000 to $100,000 | $5,000 to $25,000 |
| Project Length | Up to 24 months | Up to 24 months |
| Application Open | Thursday, January 16, 2025 | April 1, 2025 - July 31, 2025 or until funding runs out* |
| Application Due Date |
Monday, March 17, 2025 by 11:59 pm |
Rolling basis |
| Notice of Decision | June 30, 2025 | Within three weeks of virtual interview |
| Contracts with City | Within five weeks from notice of decision | Within four weeks from notice of decision |
NOTE: Applicants cannot hold awards in both grants.
*To find out how much funding is available, please email us at foodequityfund@seattle.gov.
2025 Application Materials:
Who Should Apply
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Organizations that have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with less than $500k annual budget
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Community groups with less than $500k annual budget that have a *fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status,
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Tribes and tribal organizations, and/or
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Organizations and groups led by those who experience the most food and health inequities: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, refugees, people with low incomes, youth, and/or elders.
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Information Sessions
Join a virtual information session to learn more about the application process and qualities of a strong proposal and to ask any questions. Please register for an information session here. We strongly encourage you to attend info sessions to ask questions but if you are unable here are the live questions and answers from the past info sessions.
Watch Info Session here!
Starter Fund Info Session #1: Thursday April 17, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Join by phone: (206) 207-1700
- Access Code 2498 493 1544 Password 2025
Starter Fund Info Session #2: Tuesday May 7, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
- Join by phone: (206) 207-1700
- Access code: 2487 269 6974 Password 2025
Starter Fund Info Session #3: Monday June 9, 5 p.m.- 6 p.m.
- Join by phone: (206) 207-1700
- Access code: 2482 123 1367 Password: 2025
Questions?
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.
2025 Application Materials:
Español | Af Soomali | 繁體中文 | Tiếng Việt | አማርኛ | Tagalog | Oromo | Tigrinya
Eligible Applicants:
- Organizations that have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
- Community groups that have a *fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3)
nonprofit status. - Tribes and tribal organizations.
- *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
Information Sessions and Office Hours
Listen to a short presentation about the application process and ask questions. All three sessions have the same information. Interpretation is available with one week’s notice. Register here. We encourage you to join to get your questions answered, but if you are unable to attend an info session the live question and answers are available and will be updated after each session.
| Date and time: | How to join virtually: |
| Monday, Feb. 3, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. |
Link: Food Equity Fund Info Session #1 |
| Wednesday, Feb. 12, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. |
Link: Food Equity Fund Info Session #2 |
| Thursday, Feb 27, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. |
Link: Food Equity Fund Info Session #3 |
Food Equity Fund Info Session Recording, (UPCOMING)
Open office hours: Join an informal space to ask questions
- Date and time: Thursday, March 6, 2025 – 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Link: Food Equity Fund Virtual Open Office Hour
- Join by phone: (206) 207-1700
- Access code: 2481 150 9111 Password: 2025
To set up a time to meet one-on-one with a project manager, please contact us at (206) 727-3663 or foodequityfund@seattle.gov
Questions?
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.