The Growing Justice Fund, a project of the Amalgamated Foundation, advances food system equity by investing in Tribal, Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian, and immigrant communities engaged in food markets. Grants of $25,000 to $250,000 support organizations working to secure institutional purchasing contracts with schools, hospitals, and elder care centers.

Planning Grants (up to $25,000) fund early-stage strategy, stakeholder engagement, and partnership building. Implementation Grants ($50,000 to $250,000) support fully developed projects ready to scale infrastructure for equitable food purchasing. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government equivalents, or fiscally sponsored organizations.

Funding Opportunity 2025 - Growing Justice Skip to content Image provided by: Bidii Baby Foods The Growing Justice Fund is a collaborative effort aimed at advancing equity in the food system by investing in efforts to solidify the leadership, dignity, and power of Tribal, Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian, and immigrant people to identify and drive solutions that expand the market for good food purchasing .

Through grants of up to $250,000, we support organizations working to strengthen food chains, build local wealth, and promote good food purchasing.

GROWING JUSTICE FUND envisions a future in which Tribal, Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian, and immigrant people engaged in food markets as suppliers, producers, distributors, workers, and eaters at community-serving institutions are economically and physically thriving thanks in part to efforts by community-serving institutions to prioritize equitable good food purchasing, and are able to access larger percentages of food buying revenue.

The Fund is designed to support the marginalized sector’s entry into large-scale purchasing opportunities, helping them gain economic viability and equitable access to opportunities.

Million dollars to be distributed in the next 10 years Grant Applications received 2023-2024 Organizations funded 2023-2024 Million dollars distributed 2023-2024 Image provided by: Apache Farmers Coop The Growing Justice Fund offers grants ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 to support community-led initiatives that advance equitable food purchasing.

These grants empower Tribal, Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian, and immigrant communities engaged in food markets to secure institutional contracts and gain economic viability. Through large-scale purchasing opportunities with community-serving institutions—such as schools, hospitals, and elder care centers—these grants foster equitable access to food buying revenue and help build wealth in historically marginalized communities.

Planning Grants (up to $25,000) help organizations in the early stages of project development by funding strategic research, stakeholder engagement, partnership building, and project planning. These grants lay the groundwork for future implementation by strengthening leadership and preparing for sustainable initiatives. Implementation Grants (ranging from $50,000 to $250,000) are designed for fully developed projects ready to scale.

These grants focus on building infrastructure for equitable food purchasing, supporting diverse good food producers, food hubs, cooperatives, and policy and organizing advocates, ensuring that these communities thrive as key players in institutional markets.

Image provided by: Dion's Chicago Dream Eligible applicants include community-led organizations, community-based organizations, Tribal Nations, or the instrumentalities of Tribal Nations, and other leaders that are: Actively engaged in a community coalition and/or partnerships to advance good food purchasing practices and policies with institutions in the community Actively engaged in the food chain with values aligned with the Fund and Committed to transforming the food system by: Working together with other organizations in the food chain or Seeking to build partnerships with other organizations in the food chain.

Please note that only 501(c)(3) organizations, or those with a fiscal sponsor that holds a 501(c)(3) status, will be eligible to receive funding through the Growing Justice Fund. The Fund seeks to support organizations that have been active in the food chain for at least the past two years* and organizations that have existing partnerships or aspire to build partnerships with others in the food chain.

*While we encourage applicants with at least two years of engagement in the food chain, this eligibility criterion is not required for planning grant applicants. The planning grant will be accessible to smaller organizations, emerging coalitions, and those in the process of movement-building.

Types of Projects We Prioritize Building Infrastructure for good food procurement Support for diverse good food producers, manufacturers, aggregators, small processors, and distributors to enter the institutional market and/or expand their business with institutions. These entities should be dedicated to specific community-serving institutions.

Building policy action through grassroots organizing and advocacy for good food procurement Support for community coalitions and organizations that build power to educate, engage, and mobilize communities in efforts that inform and influence public awareness, institutional practices, and educate government decision-makers around good food purchasing.

Cultivating Traditional Food Pathways to build community wealth within Tribal Nations Support for inter- and intra-Nation work, including within Tribal Nations and across Tribal Nations, to increase food production and distribution for their direct communities, as well as distribution efforts to non-Tribal institutions serving Tribal and native peoples.

ECONOMIC EQUITY & WORKER JUSTICE ENVIRONMENTAL & FOOD JUSTICE will be achieved when all people can participate and prosper in a just, fair and inclusive society and race is no longer a factor that determines who has the opportunity to reach their full potential for mental, physical and social wellbeing will be achieved when all people and communities can access opportunities for safe, dignified work; participate in business ownership; and build the economic stability necessary to achieve and sustain wealth and prosperity will be achieved when all people and communities can access, shape and benefit from good food and food systems that address environmental racism, promote food worker rights, utilize regenerative agriculture practices and advance food sovereignty Images provided by: Siċaŋġu Co (left) and Instituto para la Investigacion y Accion en Agroecologia Inc. (right) Image provided by: Commonwealth Kitchen The application period for the Growing Justice Fund begins, and interested organizations can start submitting proposals.

Image provided by: El Departamento de la Comida The deadline to submit applications for the Growing Justice Fund closes at 5pm PT/8pm ET, and no further submissions will be accepted. Image provided by: Brooklyn Packers Applications are carefully reviewed by the Growing Justice Fund team to assess alignment with the fund’s priorities and eligibility criteria.

Image provided by: Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition After a thorough evaluation, the selected grantees for the Growing Justice Fund are chosen. Funds will be distributed in December. Image provided by: Farmworker Association of Florida The final grantees are publicly announced, while grantees begin preparations for implementation of grant funds.

Image provided by Native Foodways Restoration Alliance In 2024, GROWING JUSTICE awarded over $5 million in grants to 36 organizations working to transform food systems in their Tribes, regions and communities. Frequently Asked Questions HOW CAN MY ORGANIZATION GAIN FISCAL SPONSORSHIP? Eligible grantseekers may need fiscal sponsorship to apply.

The Growing Justice Fund has compiled the following resources about the process of finding and selecting an appropriate fiscal sponsor. Fiscal Sponsor Directory. org is a database of fiscal sponsors searchable by geography and specialty areas, including communities of color , environment/sustainability , food security , social justice , and others.

The database is in the process of being updated. National Network of Fiscal Sponsors has a member directory that includes fiscal sponsors working on a variety of charitable and educational activities across the country. Be sure to click “Show More” at the bottom of the page to see the full selection.

Local community foundations are often a helpful resources in receiving or connecting to fiscal sponsors. The Council of Foundations maintains a database of community foundations that is searchable by geography.

Find a Fiscal Sponsor that Fits (Candid 2016) offers a simple overview of how to find a fiscal sponsor How to Find a Fiscal Sponsor , Nonprofit Law Blog (Neo Law Group 2020) provides a helpful list of 15 signs of a good fiscal sponsor for entities seeking fiscal sponsor support. What is fiscal sponsorship?

by Candid provides a detailed overview of how to find a fiscal sponsor Fiscal Sponsorship – Useful Information and Tips , Adler & Colvin, 2019 provides more nuanced information for those with specific questions IS MY ORGANIZATION A GOOD FIT FOR GROWING JUSTICE FUND GRANTMAKING? ​​All eligible grantseekers are considered a “good fit” for Growing Justice Fund’s grantmaking and are encouraged to apply.

To determine your eligibility, we strongly encourage you to complete the Eligibility Que stions as a first step. For more information, please review the “Who is Eligible to Apply” section. We also recommend reviewing “Our Funding Priorities” listed in the announcement and on our website: www.

growingjusticefund. org . AS A LARGE INSTITUTION, SUCH AS A HOSPITAL OR SCHOOL, AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

Large institutions–such as schools, hospitals, and public agencies–are strongly encouraged to partner with an applicant who meets the eligibility criteria and will serve as the project lead. Please refer to the eligibility section of our Request for Proposals for more specific eligibility information. AS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

Yes, with a partner. Organizations that are NOT registered as 501(c)(3) nonprofit or government equivalent. Eligible applicants must be recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3), government equivalent, or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity.

Social enterprises–such as small food production or distribution businesses–are strongly encouraged to apply. Please refer to our eligibility section of our Request for Proposals for more specific eligibility information. WHAT CAN GROWING JUSTICE FUNDS BE USED FOR?

Growing Justice Fund funds are guided by the limits to philanthropic funding of tax-exempt organizations, such as 501c3 organizations. The Growing Justice Fund aims to support community-defined needs and has not imposed additional restrictions at this time.

Applicants are encouraged to include information about how proposed activities will support equitable good food purchasing in service to the vision and values of the Growing Justice Fund . WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT DATES FOR GRANTMAKING? Applications are due Tuesday, October 14th, at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET .

The Growing Justice Fund aims to select grantees by mid-December and publicly announce grantees by early January 2026 . HOW LONG IS THE GRANT PERIOD? Growing Justice Fund grants can be issued for 1-2 years for implementation grants and up to one year for planning grants.

Applicants should specify the requested time duration in their proposals. WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT APPLYING AS PART OF A MULTI-ORGANIZATIONAL TEAM OR PARTNERSHIP? Many grantseekers will work with partners across the food chain to submit proposals to advance equitable good food procurement.

We applaud these efforts! These grantseekers should ensure that the project lead meets all the eligibility criteria and that the partners are listed as part of the “team” in the application. I WANT TO APPLY UNDER THE CULTIVATING TRADITIONAL FOOD PATHWAYS TO BUILD COMMUNITY WEALTH WITHIN TRIBAL NATIONS PRIORITY AREA, BUT I DON’T SEE IT AS AN OPTION.

WHAT SHOULD I DO? This year, based on applicant feedback, we updated how we ask about Tribal food systems in the application. We recognize that many Tribal projects may also include infrastructure or policy work, and we want to honor that overlap.

Instead of selecting a separate Tribal Nations category, the application now asks: Who is your organization working with or engaging most directly? Understand applicants’ partnerships and relationships, Identify truly Tribal-led work, and Acknowledge the ways it may connect to infrastructure and policy. This change also ensures a more thoughtful and mindful review process.

WHAT ARE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDED GRANTEES? The Growing Justice Fund is actively adjusting our reporting requirements for 2025 grantees. Reporting will include a limited narrative report and quantitative metrics self-selected by grantees, budget, and virtual check-ins and/or onsite visits as determined.

For further information or clarification, please contact support@growingjusticefund. org . DOES THE FUND SUPPORT FUNDING FOR EFFORTS FOCUSED ON THE LOCAL FOOD PURCHASING ASSISTANCE (LFPA) PROGRAM?

Yes, if the work involves organizations whose primary function is NOT operating a food pantry, food bank, or emergency food distribution program (e.g., distributing food boxes directly to individuals or households). The Growing Justice Fund is focused on building infrastructure for equitable food procurement that shifts power dynamics in the food system.

We prioritize projects that create long-term, systemic change by helping BIPOC producers engage with sustainable, market-driven opportunities, particularly through institutions like schools and hospitals, rather than relying solely on charitable food systems.

That said, organizations, including farmer groups and aggregators, that have been selling into the LFPA program are welcome to apply as long as they also work with or target institutional markets outside of charitable food as a long-term strategy and seek funding for that particular portion of their work.

Our focus is on projects that help BIPOC producers engage in institutional purchasing channels that generate lasting economic impact while embodying equitable good food values (e.g., environmentally-conscious, fair/safe labor standards and wages, etc.). DOES THE FUND SUPPORT FARM TO SCHOOL INITIATIVES SUCH AS TASTE TESTING OR SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAMS?

While our grant program may support projects operating within school settings or involving farm to school components, our primary focus is on significant, sustained institutional purchasing—not on educational or promotional activities alone (such as taste tests or school garden visits).

We are seeking to fund efforts that result in meaningful, recurring procurement relationships–based on two or more of our values –that support values-based food chains and deliver real economic benefit to producers. Some farm to school initiatives do engage in larger-scale purchasing and may qualify if they demonstrate ongoing, high-volume commitments (not just one-off pilots or small discretionary buys).

We encourage applicants to describe how their work supports consistent, equitable market access for producers through institutional contracts or purchasing programs that go beyond classroom engagement. DOES THE FUND SUPPORT DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER OR DIRECT MARKET PROGRAMS? Our grant program does not fund direct-to-consumer or direct market efforts such as farmers markets, CSAs, or sales to individual restaurants or small retailers.

Our focus is on institutional procurement—defined as high-volume, values-based purchasing by entities like schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, food banks, or other public/private institutions. That said, we recognize that in some cases, what might appear to be a direct market channel, such as a restaurant or community food business, may act as an intermediary within an institutional purchasing chain.

For example, a mission-driven restaurant or caterer may aggregate food from local producers and deliver it to a school district, hospital, or other institution under a larger procurement contract. In such cases, the work may be eligible if there is a clear connection to institutional buyers and a demonstrated impact on sustained purchasing from producers. WHERE DOES THE GROWING JUSTICE FUND PROVIDE FUNDING?

The Growing Justice Fund supports work that takes place within the United States, U.S. territories (such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or on Native land recognized as part of a sovereign Tribal Nation. * We are unable to fund work outside of these regions.

*Note: We recognize and respect the sovereignty of Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples whose ancestral and current homelands may not align with U.S.-defined borders. BASED ON OUR REVIEW OF THE RFP AND/OR COMPLETION OF THE ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS, WE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. ARE THERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES YOU WOULD RECOMMEND FOR US TO APPLY TO?

Ben & Jerry’s Foundation: National Grassroots Organizing Program Black Farmer Fund: Rapid Response Fund Chef Ann Foundation: Open Applications The Claneil Foundation: Emerging Leaders Fund (Mid-Atlantic + New England) Clif Family Foundation: Open Call (March and August) Crossroads Fund: Community Resilience Fund (Chicago) Dirt Capital Partners: Farmer Investment Funds Emergent Fund: Rapid Response Organizing Funds Healthy Eating Research: Rapid Response Projects Henry P.

Kendall Foundation: New England Food Vision Prize First Nations Development Institute: Grantmaking Nathan Cummings Foundation: Letters of Inquiry (October 2025) Native American Philanthropy: Grant Watch New Venture Advisors: Good Food Funding Guide Note: Grants categorized under “nutrition” and “food insecurity” (e.g., Community Food Projects) are likely examples of work that is not strongly aligned with Growing Justice Fund’s priorities.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Open Opportunities Stanley 1913: Creators Fund WHAT IF I STILL HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS? We’ve put together a helpful PDF of additional questions that have come up during our webinars, which you can download here . You can also access full webinar recordings and resources in the PDF.

If you still don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to us anytime at support@growingjusticefund. org . Image provided by: La Cosecha CSA Image provided by: Good Food Buffalo Coalition Get Started on Your Application Today Get started on your Growing Justice application today!

For any additional questions, please contact support@growingjusticefund. org. Si desea solicitar el Fondo en un idioma distinto del inglés, póngase en contacto con support@growingjusticefund.

org para obtener información sobre la solicitud en el idioma específico. Yog tias koj xav ua ntawv thov Pob Nyiaj no ua hom lus uas tsis yog Lus Askiv, thov tiv tauj rau support@growingjusticefund. org hais txog rau cov ntaub ntawv qhia paub txog kev ua daim ntawv thov uas ib hom lus tshwj xeeb twg.

GROWING JUSTICE FUND is a pooled fund c o-created by Native and BIPOC food systems leaders to shift power to communities to strengthen local and regional supply chains through investment in values-based institutional purchasing. What is your feedback about the translation?