The Core Grants Program supports community-based nonprofit organizations or grassroots networks/coalitions with 501(c)(3) status (or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status). What exactly do we mean by community-based? We mean an authentic connection to the community and constituents served by your mission, and a demonstrated commitment to constituent leadership and engagement in your organization’s governance and practice. For further details regarding criteria and restrictions, please visit the Core Grants page.

Yes, international organizations that meet eligibility criteria are welcome to apply. However, due to the competitive nature of the Core Grants Program and our limited capacity to assess international requests, we recommend that international applicants have an established connection to the Fund via a participating funder or grantee.

Our call for 2020 Core Grant Letters of Interest will open November 8th, 2019, and close December 9th, 2019. Groups invited to submit a Full Proposal will be notified by mid-January 2020. Grants will be awarded by mid-March 2020.

We evaluate each request for the potential impact of the project, including the soundness of the work plan (in other words, does the plan make sense strategically) and the project’s responsiveness to a demonstrated need. We look for alignment with the criteria and priorities of the Core Grants Program, the values and approach of the Fund, as well as the capacity of the applicant organization to carry out the proposed project.

An applicant organization may submit only one Letter of Interest (LOI) per grant cycle. If an applicant organization submits more than one LOI, we will review the first one received. An exception is when an organization is serving as lead for a collaborative project engaging more than one eligible organization. In that case, the organization is allowed to submit an LOI on their own behalf and an LOI on behalf of the collaborative project. A fiscal sponsor may submit more than one LOI, so long as they are for different sponsored organizations; they also may submit one LOI on their own behalf.

You must submit your Letter of Interest through our online grant portal. Please refer to the Core Grants page to access the portal. We will not review emailed or mailed LOIs. If you have any technical difficulties with the online portal please contact the Fund Administrator and someone will be able to assist you.

We expect our grant range to be between $15,000 and $35,000, with $25,000 as the average grant amount for a 12-month term. Renewals are rare, and by invitation only.

Indirect costs are allowed, but they should not exceed 15 percent of the total project budget.

The Core Grants program supports a range of projects and activities, including (in no particular order of priority): integrated communications planning; communications-based professional development; establishing or upgrading communications tools; development of content or creative media initiatives; short-term communications staffing support or outside consulting; narrative development, message framing, and integration; campaigns, events, or experiences that use communications to foster engagement around food and farm issues; multicultural, racial equity, and justice-based approaches to communications; communications projects that build connections and collective power. Please refer to our Core Grants page for full details, as well as our Grantees page for examples of previously funded work.

Yes: academic research projects; capital or endowment campaigns; conferences; discretionary or emergency requests; litigation or legal expenses; or marketing or branding for products or services.

Your fiscal sponsor is required to complete and submit an Agreement Letter as part of the online LOI application process. A template letter is available via the online portal.

Core Grant recipients are required to submit an Interim (6-month) Report as well as a Final Report upon completion of the 12-month grant term. Grant reports are submitted via the online portal.

Renewals are rare, by invitation only, and should not be counted upon for the success of the project. Beginning with the 2019 cohort, Core Grant recipients will need to wait three years until they are eligible to apply for another Core Grant.

Absolutely. However, keep in mind that the Core Grants Program is highly competitive. Carefully review the updated priorities and criteria of the Core Grants Program to ensure you are a strong fit before you apply.

Given the large number of LOI submissions, we are unable to provide each applicant with specific feedback. Each year we receive far more requests for support for worthwhile projects than we can possibly fund. In turn, we decline many LOIs even though they may meet all criteria and are aligned with program priorities.

Yes, and we recommend doing so. A pdf of the LOI questions is available here. Plan to gather electronic versions of the required attachments before getting started online.

Capacity Mini-Grants are prioritized for limited-resource community-based organizations (operating budgets under $500,000) with 501(c)(3) status (or with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor) serving constituents that have been historically — and are currently — marginalized by powerful and privileged actors in the food system, including people of color, indigenous peoples, farmers, farmworkers, fishermen, and food workers. Community-based organizations with budgets between $500,000 and $2,000,000 remain eligible to apply if they can demonstrate a clear and compelling capacity-based need aligned with the purpose and values of the Food and Farm Communications Fund, but will be lower priority.

An organization may apply for only one Capacity Mini-Grant per funding cycle, and is eligible to receive one Capacity Mini-Grant per year. If an organization submits more than one application, only the first received will be reviewed.

Applications must be submitted through the online grant portal during an open application period. The program is currently closed. The next Capacity Mini-Grants cycle is likely to occur Fall 2020.

Capacity Mini-Grant recipients will be required to submit a brief report upon completion of their approved activities, and no more than 9-months after receipt of grant funds.