Community Food Grant Program

Community Food Grant Program is sponsored by San Diego Foundation (in partnership with the County of San Diego). This program supports community food security and food sovereignty for low-income communities and communities with limited access in the San Diego region.

Community Food Grant Program Spring 2023 Cycle | San Diego Foundation Read in English Leer en Español Community Food Grant Program Supporting community food security and food sovereignty for low-income communities and communities with limited access The application period has closed. Grant announcements were made in July 2023 .

The COVID-19 public health crisis dramatically impacted our food system, exposing inequalities and the need for greater resilience. As estimated by the San Diego Hunger Coalition, approximately 28% of San Diegans were experiencing nutrition insecurity as of March 2022.

Black, Indigenous and people of color have been disproportionately impacted, and nutrition insecurity remains highest among communities of color, Food- and nutrition-insecure neighborhoods throughout San Diego County have limited access to healthy food and limited agency over their food environment.

As established by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, the County of San Diego (County) has contracted San Diego Foundation (SDF) to disseminate American Rescue Plan Act funds to support a wide range of community-led projects with the intended purpose of increasing food sovereignty, especially in low-income communities and communities with limited access, through food production, processing, and distribution.

These projects support the region’s most vulnerable communities, specifically those who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, by addressing issues of food insecurity, improving nutrition, and access to locally grown food.

To achieve this purpose, we are working to support organizations and networks that are directly informed by and accountable to the communities they serve, providing opportunities for capacity building, technical assistance, and capital investments to deepen and sustain their impact in the County.

In partnership with the County’s Public Health Services, SDF will award funding to new and existing community food projects to improve community food security including food production, processing and distribution projects across San Diego County to increase food sovereignty, especially in low-income communities and communities with limited access.

The Community Food Grant Program will build regional capacity for community-based, grassroots organizations by investing in long-term solutions to empower community choice and food sovereignty. It is informed by broad community engagement and the guidance of an Advisory Council comprised of local food system community leaders.

Based on needs expressed in applications received, we will assess opportunities to provide Technical Assistance (TA) to support funded partner organizations in building capacity and expanding sustainability in alignment with their funded project. The Community Food Grant Program grant will award approximately $4. 5 million.

Grant amounts may range from $5,000 to $250,000. Community food initiatives include all efforts to grow, raise and harvest crops, fish, or forage food, process these products and distribute them for human consumption.

Examples of the types of projects that fall under this definition include, but are not limited to increasing: Community gardens and food forests, Agriculture in urban settings, Opportunities for consumers to purchase directly from growers or farmers and fisherfolk, Infrastructure for food processing and distribution, and Education opportunities around food and farming.

For the spring 2023 Community Food Grant Program cycle, SDF will fund projects that clearly contribute to the goal of supporting the region’s most vulnerable communities, specifically those who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following priorities and goals were identified as part of the robust community engagement sessions (more information in English and Spanish ) hosted by SDF and the County of San Diego in fall 2022 that included residents, business owners, nonprofit leaders and community organizers from across the many sectors that comprise our local food system.

Additional feedback, including an active role in community engagement, data collection, outreach, and input into building the grant guidelines, was also provided by Advisory Council members with: Lemon Grove Community Garden San Diego Food System Alliance San Diego Fishermen’s Working Group University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources UCSD Center for Community Health The success of this project depends on reciprocal relationships between SDF and community partners with deep connections within San Diego’s food system.

This grant program addresses community informed priorities, including: Increasing food sovereignty and community resiliency through projects that empower community choice through localized production, processing and distribution. Supporting community-based, grassroots organizations to increase and sustainably expand food production through capacity building, technical assistance and capital investments.

Fostering collaboration and providing technical assistance to build resilience and promote equitable access to resources and support for navigating regulations. Growing existing programming to mobilize funding and promote systems change. The goals of this grant program are to: Strengthen and scale community-led strategies to address food and nutrition insecurity with local solutions.

Build collaboration and support among local communities to share learnings, best practices and expand networks. Improve community food environments, as described in the San Diego County Food Vision 2030 , to increase access to healthy food and encourage local food production across low-income communities and communities of color. Grant Eligibility & Use of Funds SDF will award approximately $4.

5 million in funding support. Grants are expected to range from $5,000 to $250,000 per year. All funding must be expended by December 31, 2024.

Each proposal must be led by a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) public charity status or an equivalent tax-exempt status, located in and serving San Diego County communities.

Entities eligible to receive a grant with equivalent tax-exempt status can include government entities such as State, County, tribal or municipal governmental units, churches providing charitable programs, and educational institutions such as public schools (districts), colleges and universities that are considered government.

A 501(c)(3) public charity may serve as a fiscal sponsor for another applicant to administer the grant and provide regular financial reporting to San Diego Foundation. Any organization may be part of more than one proposal but may only serve as the lead applicant for one proposal. We will not fund individuals, endowments, existing obligations/debt, scholarships, or projects that promote religious or political doctrine.

The primary eligibility qualifier is that proposed projects must be located within ½ mile of qualifying census tract (QCT) Designation calculated by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). QCT for San Diego County can be found here and/or, Healthy Places index Least Healthy Quartiles (identified visually as dark and medium blue areas) found here .

For projects that do not meet the geographic eligibility requirements (e.g., are not located in a qualifying census tract), projects need to entirely serve populations who meet one of the Disproportionately Impacted Demographic Criteria (set by U.S. Department of the Treasury).

Project beneficiaries/participants must: reside in HUD or HPI Least Healthy Quartiles and/or, participate in qualified Federal Programs and/or, be considered Low-Income and/or receive services provided by Tribal governments Please review the following definitions to confirm you meet these criteria: Designation calculated by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Qualified Census Tracts for San Diego County can be found here and/or, Healthy Places index Least Healthy Quartiles (identified visually as dark and medium blue areas) found here .

Low-income households and communities Those with income at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the size of the household based on the most recently published poverty guidelines by HHS or, Income at or below 40 percent of the Area Median income for its county and size of household based on the most recently published data by HUD.

Households that qualify for certain Federal Programs Qualifying Federal Programs from ARPA: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as CalFresh, Free-and Reduced-Price Lunch (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast (SBP) programs, Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidies, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Grant funds may be used for personnel, supplies, equipment, capital purchases, administrative or indirect costs, and any other program cost tied to effectively executing the proposed program.

Indirect costs are overhead expenses incurred by the applicant organization as a result of the project but that are not easily identified with the specific project. Generally, indirect costs are defined as administrative or other expenses that are not directly allocable to a particular activity or project; rather they are related to overall general operations and are shared among projects and/or functions.

Examples include executive oversight, accounting, grants management, legal expenses, utilities, technology support, and facility maintenance. In the case that the applicant has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), SDF shall allow the documented NICRA in their project budget.

In the case that the applicant does not have a documented indirect cost rate, the applicant may use the 10% de minimis indirect cost rate for project expenses supported by this grant. Partnerships & Collaboration We believe that intentional, strategic partnerships can be essential to maximizing the impact and value of this funding. We will prioritize applications with thoughtful collaborations and partnerships in place.

Organizations may collaborate in multiple projects, but may only be the project lead for one application. One organization will need to serve as the project lead for the purposes of submitting and managing the grant. Projects must clearly demonstrate in the application how the collaboration and/or partnership roles will be complementary and additive.

We strongly encourage you to list all collaborators and their roles even if they will not receive funding as part of the proposed project. For 2023, SDF has introduced a new grant application portal to submit your grant application(s).

Whether you have submitted an SDF grant application in previous years or not, all nonprofit applicants are required to create a new user account to submit your Community Food Grant Program application for the Spring 2023 grant cycle. After creating your account, click the “Apply” button to access the application. For additional guidance regarding creating a new user account, please see this tutorial .

Application Deadline: Friday, March 31, 2023 at 5:00 p. m. PST Pre-Recorded Grantseekers Forum A prerecorded overview of the grant guidelines and application questions is available in English and Spanish .

If you have a question that is not answered in the pre-recorded forum, submit your question online in English or Spanish . To review the application questions in advance of creating an account in the grant application portal, you may see a PDF of the application in the following languages: Arabic , Chinese (Simplified) , English , Filipino , Korean , Persian , Somali , Spanish , Vietnamese .

Please note we will only accept applications submitted through the grant application portal linked above. A timeline for the grant cycle with important dates is outlined below. San Diego Foundation reserves the right to modify these dates, or any other terms or conditions set forth in these grant guidelines.

Proposals are due by 5:00 p. m. PST on March 31, 2023, through the online system linked below.

If you encounter any issues with applying online, please reach out to Kelly Wilkinson at [email protected] for accommodation . February 10 and 16, 2023 and March 8, 2023 March 31, 2023, 5:00 p. m.

May 1, 2023-December 31, 2024 In-person workshops will be hosted at Olivewood Gardens, Coastal Roots Farm and the San Diego Foundation office. Register for workshops in English and Spanish . SDF staff will be available for Office Hours.

Register for Office Hours in English or Spanish . Grant Funding Announcements Reporting will serve to provide insight into project progress and is not intended to be an added burden for grantees. Grantees will report quarterly on project progress, including accomplishments, barriers, and challenges, awarded project funds expended to date, and estimated number of clients served.

Proposals will be reviewed and approved by SDF staff utilizing a rubric developed with input from Advisory Council members comprised of local food system leaders and based on relevance to the Community Food Grant Program criteria listed above. Reviewers adhere to a strict conflict of interest policy and other internal controls to ensure that grant funding is distributed in an objective manner based on the merits of each proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions If you have a question that is not answered in the pre-recorded forum, submit your question online in English or Spanish . Questions and answers will be updated weekly on Mondays. What is the Community Food Grant Program?

San Diego Foundation’s (SDF) Community Food Grant Program (CFP), in partnership with County of San Diego, Public Health Services (PHS), supports a wide range of community food production, processing, and distribution projects across San Diego County.

These projects support the region’s most vulnerable communities, specifically those who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, by addressing issues of food insecurity, improving nutrition, and supporting local agriculture in San Diego County. How much funding is available? The Foundation anticipates granting up to $4,500,000.

How much funding can an applicant receive? Grants will range from $5,000 to $250,000. All funds must be expended by December 31, 2024.

Begin by reading the guidelines on this page. For 2023, SDF has introduced a new grant application portal to submit your grant application(s). Whether you have submitted an SDF grant application in previous years or not, all nonprofit applicants are required to create a new user account to submit your Community Food Grant Program application for the Spring 2023 grant cycle.

After creating your account, click the “Apply” button to access the application. No other format for submitting your application will be accepted. When is the application deadline?

The deadline to submit is March 31, 2023, by 5 p. m. (PST) Can organizations partner to submit?

Yes, nonprofit organizations can partner with other nonprofits to propose programs for funding. There can only be one lead applicant for any collaboration. The organization that receives the funds and signs the grant agreement with San Diego Foundation is the lead applicant and all correspondence related to the grant will be conducted with the lead applicant.

The lead applicant is then responsible for correspondence and distribution of grant funds to its partner organizations. An organization can only apply as the lead applicant once but can be a partner/collaborator on more than one application. Who is eligible to apply for funding?

Applicants will meet the following criteria: Each proposal must be led by a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) public charity status or an equivalent tax-exempt status, located in and serving San Diego County communities. A 501(c)(3) public charity may serve as a fiscal sponsor for another applicant to administer the grant and provide regular financial reporting to San Diego Foundation.

Any organization may be part of more than one proposal but may only serve as the lead applicant for one proposal. We will not fund endowments, existing obligations/debt, scholarships, or projects that promote religious or political doctrine. Please review the Grant Eligibility & Use of Funds section for more information on eligibility.

Must fiscal sponsors meet the eligibility requirement and have a mission in alignment with the grant guidelines? No, only the proposed project must adhere to the grant guidelines and eligibility criteria. Will applicants be allowed to submit independently and as part of a collaboration?

Yes. However, if you submit an independent application and want to be part of another application, you cannot be the lead applicant on the second application. If partnering with other organizations, do partners need to be in place before submitting?

Yes, it is highly recommended to have your partners in place and the details of your partnership clearly defined and articulated in your proposal so that reviewers can appropriately assess and score your program. Is this grant limited to direct service providers? No, this funding opportunity is not limited to direct service providers.

Organizations that are working toward the grant priorities and goals are encouraged to apply. Please be sure to clearly tie the proposed project’s success metrics to the grant guidelines. What are allowable budget expenses?

Grant funds may be used for personnel, supplies, equipment, capital purchases, administrative or indirect costs, and any other program cost tied to effectively executing the proposed project. Purchases or lease of land is excluded. Can the budget include indirect costs?

Yes, your budget may include indirect costs (sometimes referred to as overhead or general operating costs). These are generally items that cannot be directly attributed to the project or program for which you are requesting funding but are necessary for the organization to operate. In the case that the applicant has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), SDF shall allow the documented NICRA in their project budget.

In the case that the applicant does not have a documented indirect cost rate, the applicant may use the 10% de minimis indirect cost rate for project expenses supported by this grant. Is there a required template for the budget? Applicants must use the budget template provided in the application.

The template is embedded in the application and does not require Excel or any other spreadsheet software. When can we charge expenses to the grant (i.e., for program design or staff training)? The grant period will be from April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024.

Should applicants separate the budget for our food specific work from our overall operating budget? This funding opportunity is intended for project specific work. We anticipate applications from organizations whose impact spans beyond food system initiatives.

For the question regarding your organization’s annual operating expense budget, please include your overall operating budget. In the Program Budget section of the application, please only include the expenses and revenue related to the project proposed in your application. How much and when will awarded organizations receive their grant?

Grant amounts are determined based on applicants’ budget that reflects proposed project outcomes. In some cases, San Diego Foundation will award an amount that is less than the amount requested. Awarded organizations will be announced by April 28, 2023.

Upon announcement, awarded organizations will receive a grant agreement to be signed and returned to San Diego Foundation. Once the grant agreement is executed, San Diego Foundation will furnish the grant in one payment. What happens to awarded remaining grant funds that are unused after the grant period ends?

Unused funds must be returned to San Diego Foundation. If your organization anticipates unused funds, communicate this as soon as possible to the San Diego Foundation liaison so that we may identify a way to ensure funds are used to serve San Diegans this grant cycle. Sharing food among a group of recipients.

This can be done by small retailers, farmers markets, restaurants, and distributors among others. Food Environment (OR Community Food Environment) The physical, economic, political, and socio-cultural conditions in which people access food within their community. These conditions impact and shape how people make decisions about food.

“The USDA defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a family or can last a long time. Food insecurity is one way we measure how many people can’t afford food.

” ( Feeding America ) The act of growing food or raising fish or livestock. Planning or preparing meals or providing the space for someone to do so. Food processing can take place at community kitchens, commercial kitchens, and food commissaries among other places.

“Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.

” –Declaration of Nyéléni, the first global forum on food sovereignty, Mali, 2007 Source: San Diego County Food Vision 2030 If you have technical errors or need assistance with the online application, please contact [email protected] or call (619) 791-1766 and leave a message. A prerecorded overview of the grant guidelines and application questions is available in English and Spanish .

If you have a question that is not answered in the pre-recorded forum, submit your question online in English or Spanish .