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RESOURCES: Funding and Fundraising
Potential funders for food policy council work
Fundraising information and resources


Potential funders for food policy council work
For food policy councils, as for most advocacy organizations, raising funds to support their work is an ongoing need and often a challenge. However, councils also have succeeded in obtaining funds from a wide variety of sources, primarily local organizations, businesses, and agencies that have a stake in the council’s work.

Sometimes food policy council member organizations are able to provide funding as part of their contribution to the council. Members also can provide very valuable “in-kind” support, such as office space, equipment use, a phone line, and/or staff or volunteer time.

Based on a CFSC survey of existing councils conducted in fall 2006, the following types of organizations have funded multiple councils. Examples of each type of are included, but please note that most of these are unlikely to fund councils in other areas.

Local organizations
  • Government entities (mayor’s office, health dept., other city or county govt. depts.)
  • Community foundations or family foundations (Dyer-Ives, Nokomis, Anderson-Rogers, Chicago Community Trust)
  • Food banks (Missoula Food Bank, San Bernardino County Food Bank, Food for Lane County)
  • Non-profit organizations (Center for Civic Partnerships, Heifer International, Growing Power, Willamette Food and Farm Coalition)
  • Banks (Lasalle Bank)
  • Local businesses (Green Mountain Coffee Roasters)
  • Hospitals or health organizations (Kaiser Permanente)
  • Universities or extension services (University of Wisconsin- Madison, Michigan State University, Washington State University Extension)
  • Faith-based organizations (Grand Rapids Area Council on Ecumenism)

Regional or national organizations
  • Foundations that support food systems work (Mazon, Jessie Smith Noyes, California Endowment)
  • Federal government grants (especially the USDA Community Food Projects Program)
  • Faith-based organizations (Catholic Campaign for Human Development)
  • Full-time volunteer service programs (Congressional Hunger Center, Americorps)

See the resources section below for much more information on foundation and government grants.


Funding areas FPCs are a relatively new and unknown approach, so most foundations are not familiar with this model. However, FPCs can potentially fit into a wide variety of funding areas that are of interest to some foundations, including:
  • Health and nutrition
  • Hunger
  • Education
  • Community development
  • Civic participation and engagement
  • Capacity building
  • Environment

Other considerations
  • Think broadly and creatively about which local organizations and institutions may have common interests with the FPC (e.g. local utility or bank).
  • Do your homework—research the funders’ interests, guidelines, and what they have supported in the past. Once you have done some research, talk to a staff person about your ideas if possible.
  • Consider whether accepting funds from a particular business or organization could affect the FPC’s integrity or ability to speak out on important issues (or even an appearance of this).
  • Plan for continuity and sustainability of funding--what happens if one source dries up, for example if there is a change in government?
  • See the resources below for much more information on how to fundraise effectively.



Fundraising information and resources