About the Community Food Security Coalition

Click below to jump to the following sections:

• Summary of CFSC Programs and Services
• Join CFSC!
• Member Committees
• Staff Contact Information
• Board of Directors Contact Information
• Our Funders

The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) is a North American coalition of diverse people and organizations working from the local to international levels to build community food security. We have a diverse membership with almost 300 organizations from social and economic justice, anti-hunger, environmental, community development, sustainable agriculture, community gardening and other fields. We are dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food to all people at all times. We seek to develop self-reliance among all communities in obtaining their food and to create a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy, and sustainability.

The Coalition achieves its goals through a comprehensive blend of training, networking, and advocacy to further the efforts of grassroots groups to create effective solutions from the ground up. We provide a variety of training and technical assistance programs for community food projects; support the development of farm to school and farm to college initiatives; advocate for federal policies to support community food security initiatives; and provide networking and educational resources.

Summary of CFSC Programs and Services

Policy Advocacy and Organizing

• National Legislation: CFSC advocates for federal policies that promote community food security and provide resources for community-based initiatives, including within the Federal Farm Bill and the Child Nutrition Act. Past successes include creation and increased funding of the Community Food Projects grants, as well as support for the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs.
• Program Implementation: After policies are passed, CFSC works to ensure they are fully funded and implemented in accordance with their original vision.

Education and Networking

• Annual Conference: Each fall the CFSC hosts a dynamic four- or five-day conference that brings together hundreds of people working on CFS issues. Conference activities include challenging keynotes, interactive workshops, how-to short courses, exciting field trips, and great local foods.
• Newsletter & Publications: CFS News features profiles of innovative projects, tips and resources, analysis, and Coalition updates. CFSC also has published a variety of guidebooks and reports, some of which can be downloaded for free.
• COMFOOD Listserve: This nationwide listserve facilitates lively information sharing and networking between 2,000 subscribers.
• Healthy Corner Store Network: CFSC co-sponsors the Healthy Corner Store Network, a learning community of leaders involved in improving access to healthy products in underserved communities.

Training and Technical Assistance

• Community Food Security Workshops: Trainers are available to offer participatory, action-oriented workshops that can be tailored to local needs on an array of community food security issues.
• Assistance to Community Food Projects Grant Applicants: A planning guide is available on the CFSC website to assist organizations with preparing strong proposals. During the annual grant application process, the CFSC offers free one-on-one technical assistance.
• Evaluation Program: CFP grantees and others interested in conducting effective and strong program evaluations may participate in workshops, and remote learning-based technical assistance.
• National Food Policy Council Program: Experienced staff provide one-on-one assistance and maintain a database of food policy councils and related resources.

National Farm to Cafeteria Program

• Farm to Cafeteria Conference: This event brings together people from around the country to network and learn from each other's experiences, emphasizing initiatives in schools and colleges.
• Regional Workshops and Organizing Meetings: Experienced organizers are available to help groups design effective farm to cafeteria projects, especially involving limited resource producers.
• National Farm to School Network: CFSC helps to expand the number of farm to school projects nationally through regional technical assistance, policy advocacy, and media outreach.
• Publications: Healthy Farms, Healthy Schools examines existing programs and related policy issues. The Farm to College Research Report provides in-depth information on 18 programs. An information kit is available with surveys for farmers and food service directors.
• Mentoring and One-on-One Assistance: CFSC staff can refer you to other projects in your area and help identify organizing strategies tailored to your situation.

Join CFSC!

By becoming a Coalition member, you help build a dynamic national movement and provide valuable support for innovative CFS initiatives. Members also receive a subscription to the member e-newsletter, discounts on Coalition publications and events, and other benefits.
Read more and join today.

View a list of our organizational members

CFSC Member Committees

CFSC committees focus on various CFSC programs and other aspects of community food security work. Members are invited to join a committee and help shape this collective work.
Read more.

Staff Contact Information

2009-2010 Board Contact Information

Our Funders

Special thanks to the following groups for providing the funding that makes our work possible:

• Clif Bar Family Foundation
• Compton Foundation
• Eos Foundation
• Farm Aid
• George Gund Foundation
• Healthy Eating Active Living Convergence
• Helianthus Fund
• Iowa Foundation for Education, Environment and the Arts
• Kaiser Permanente
• Leopold Center, Iowa State University
• Mid-Iowa Health Foundation
• New World Foundation
• Organic Valley
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Sodexo
• United Parcel Service Foundation
• USDA Community Food Projects
• USDA Farm Service Agency
• USDA Risk Management Agency
• USDA Southern SARE
• Wells Fargo
• WK Kellogg Foundation

And to the sponsors of our 13th Annual Conference in Des Moines IA, October 2009:

And to the sponsors of our 4th Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Portland, OR, March 2009: