Community Food Systems Grants

Community Food Systems Grants is a funding program from StopWaste that supports projects focused on waste prevention, reuse, and recovery of food, goods, and materials in Alameda County, California. StopWaste prioritizes community-based efforts that reduce food waste and recover resources at the local level.

Eligible applicants include nonprofits, businesses, and institutions with a valid 501(c)3 and/or business license that are either based in Alameda County or recover materials generated there. Applicants may submit one application to one grant category per year, and must be in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Award amounts are not specified; applicants should check the StopWaste website for current cycle details.

Grant Applicant Eligibility Criteria | StopWaste - Home, Work, School / At Work / StopWaste Grants / Grant Applicant Eligibility Criteria Grant Applicant Eligibility Criteria ELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND APPLICANTS: Focus on waste prevention, reuse, or recovery of food, goods and materials. Be based in Alameda County or recover materials generated in Alameda County Submit one grant application to one grant category per year.

Be either a nonprofit, business or institution with a valid 501(c)3 and/or business license. Be in compliance with all federal, state and local land use, regulatory, and permit requirements. Have sufficient suitable space, infrastructure and power supply to make immediate use of requested equipment upon award of funds.

Have secured additional funding to execute proposed project if the total cost of proposed project budget exceeds the requested funding amount. Received prior approval from StopWaste staff if planning to utilize a Fiscal Sponsor. Please review fiscal sponsor definition here and contact swgrants@stopwaste.

org for authorization to utilize a Fiscal Sponsor for proposed project. Contacted StopWaste grant manager prior to submitting an application if they have a current open grant with StopWaste. Maintains insurance (or obtained a cost estimate) that meets Agency minimum criteria, review insurance requirements here *.

*Reusable Transport Equipment and Surplus Food Donation equipment grants are excluded from this requirement. NON-ELIGIBLE GRANT ACTIVITIES AND APPLICANTS Individual schools are not eligible to receive grant funding directly, however K-12 School Districts are eligible to apply in three grant categories: Food Waste Prevention and Recovery, Reusable Foodware, and Reusable Transport Packaging Equipment.

Businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to create partnerships with school districts to implement a project. Contact the grant category staff contact to assess if your proposed project that involves school district would be eligible for funding. A letter of support from a school district administrator will be required.

Municipalities and Sanitary Districts are not eligible for funding. Recycling and/or composting based projects and related supplies are not eligible (this includes purchase of bins for compost/recycling or garbage). Please see our free food scrap bin program for businesses and multifamily properties here .

Funding for any staffing position (full or part time) in excess of 50% of the budgeted position. Applicant cannot use grant funds to subsidize existing contracts, repayment of existing debt or pre-existing tax liens or obligations, payment of organizational overhead exceeding 15% of project budget, legal, loan or bank fees, fines or penalties. Payment for any activities before contract execution will not be covered by grant funding.

Requests to purchase vehicles, trucks, or vans will not be considered for funding in the following categories: Food Waste Prevention & Recovery, Surplus Food Donation Equipment, and Community Food Systems. For additional questions about eligibility, please contact StopWaste Staff .