SUSTAINER
CLIF FAMILY FOUNDATION
Started in 2006, the Clif Family Foundation supports grassroots groups led by people with vision and commitment. The foundation has supported hundreds of nonprofit organizations that are working tirelessly to transform our food system, revitalize the environment, and enhance community health.
The Foundation works with nonprofits that prioritize people-centered solutions and address urgent gaps and historically underfunded priorities, aligned with the vision of a healthy, just, ecologically thriving world for all people.
The Clif Family Foundation has been a member of SAFSF for 13 years and Ann Thrupp is on the SAFSF Board of Directors. The Foundation supported the Tuesday Afternoon Plenary “Food Chain Worker Protections, Resilience, and Environmental and Health Justice” and the Learning Dinner “From Solidarity to Strategy – Support And Advocacy For Food And Farmworker Justice” at the SAFSF Forum.
THE KRESGE FOUNDATION
The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation that works to expand equity and opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development, nationally and in Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans, and Fresno. In collaboration with partners, The Foundation invests in community-led efforts to improve economic opportunities that help build wealth and improve health.
Through investments in Climate Change, Health & Equity, Equitable Food Oriented Development, and Public Health Systems Transformation, Kresge’s Health Program team strives to build equity-focused systems of health to achieve well-being through economic mobility.
Kresge has been a member of SAFSF for 10 years. Health Program Managing Director Monica Valdes Lupi served on the 2026 SAFSF Forum Host Committee.
MARTHA AND HUNTER GRUBB FOUNDATION
The Martha and Hunter Grubb Foundation is a private family foundation that focuses on building just, community-centered food systems by practicing what is now termed “trust based philanthropy”. Now in the last few years of spending down, it pays special attention to access to capital and access to land for small farmers.
The Martha and Hunter Grubb Foundation featured “Fork In The Road,” a documentary film that tells deeply personal stories of small farmers, visionary chefs and food system innovators working toward a regenerative future for people and the planet at the 2026 SAFSF Forum.
NETWORKER
GRACE COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION
For over 25 years, GRACE Communications Foundation has worked to advance pragmatic and humane solutions to some of the world’s thorniest problems in the food, environmental and public health sectors. GRACE is a different type of foundation, with a long history of creating consumer tools, resources and educational campaigns. GRACE inspires sustainable lifestyle changes through trusted science and accessible messaging, and maximizes impact by amplifying the work of partners, sharing lessons learned, creating meaningful partnerships and collaborations while supporting the development of emerging leaders.
GRACE Communications Foundation has been a member of SAFSF for 17 years, starting in 2009, and several GRACE staff have served on our Steering Committee, and later on our Board.
BUIDERS VISION
Builders Vision is an investment and philanthropy platform that scales and accelerates innovative solutions in food and agriculture, energy, and oceans. They use flexible capital, including grants, direct investments and fund investments in public and private markets to scale sustainable solutions and accelerate market adoption. The Builders Vision Investment Team is responsible for the management of over $15 billion across seven portfolios, including a taxable multi-asset class portfolio, a $3 billion foundation endowment, donor-advised funds (DAFs) and Builders Bridge, a catalytic investment LLC.
Builders Vision has been a member of SAFSF for 7 years, and Haven Leeming serves on the SAFSF Board of Directors and on our Membership Committee.
PARTNER
BUTTERFLY EQUITY
Based in Los Angeles, California, The Butterfly Equity Foundation is a 100% food justice-focused corporate foundation. The Foundation invests in nonprofits working in nutrition security, food as medicine, and healthy, affordable food retail in neighborhoods with limited access. Butterfly supports its partners through grants, technical assistance, employee volunteerism, grantee convenings, and cross-sector coalition building.
Butterfly Equity Foundation has been a member of SAFSF for 6 years, and Emily Parker serves on the SAFSF Membership Committee.
DIRT CAPITAL PARTNERS
Dirt Capital Partners invests in farmland in partnership with best-in-class regenerative farmers and ranchers across the United States, promoting pathways to land ownership through customized, farmer-focused arrangements. All funds are “impact-first” with priority focus on capital preservation while achieving impact outcomes across four core themes: (1) Ecological Stewardship; (2) Farmer Equity; (3) Community Benefits; (4) Field-Building.
Dirt Capital Partners has been a member of SAFSF for 4 years. Amanda Zakharov co-chairs the SAFSF Board of Directors, and Jacob Israelow is on our Membership Committee.
THE CONVERSATION FUND
The Conservation Fund creates lasting solutions that protect nature, support sustainable economies, and help communities thrive. The Conservation Fund protects land in ways that others can’t, moving fast to safeguard critical habitats and cherished landscapes before they’re lost, and bridging the gap for partners who need time to act. They specialize in navigating the complexities of land acquisition, stepping in to protect at-risk land on behalf of long-term conservation partners. For over 40 years, The Conservation Fund has worked to protect more than 9 million acres across all 50 states.
The Conservation Fund has been a member of SAFSF for 12 years. Kristzián Varsa is on the 2026 SAFSF Forum Host Committee.
THE RUSSELL FAMILY FOUNDATION
Driven by a mission to invest in people and places to advance environmental sustainability and address the climate crisis, The Russell Family Foundation seeks a thriving, equitable, and sustainable Earth.
Based in Washington, TRFF has directed its giving and programming through its values for over two decades, prioritizing community investment in grassroots leaders and environmental sustainability. During that time, TRFF has transitioned its investment portfolio to be nearly 95% values aligned. Its “Food for Climate Solutions” initiative addresses the negative impacts of environmental challenges while fostering more inclusive access to local, healthy, and sustainably grown food.
The Russell Family Foundation has been a member of SAFSF for 7 years, and Fabiola Greenawalt serves on the Board of Directors and Membership Committee.
LAWSON VALENTINE FOUNDATION
The Lawson Valentine Foundation is a multi-generational family trust that is committed to supporting advocacy, organizing, policy, and leadership development in reference to food systems, including local sustainable agriculture, food sovereignty, and workers’ rights, as well as environmental justice. They seek to provide long-term support to grassroots community based organizers and advocates, low wage workers, and other change agents working among people of color, low-income youth, immigrants, refugees and other underserved populations.
The Lawson Valentine Foundation has been a member of SAFSF for over 20 years, and Beth Corsa, Executive Director, has attended the SAFSF Forum since 2009.
MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION
The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Their Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems (CRFS) works to ensure a world where all have access to nutritious food that is sustainably produced by local people, while their Midwest Climate & Energy program partners with farmers and the organizations that support them to advance practical solutions that cut pollution, store carbon, and build healthy soils.
The McKnight Foundation has been a member of SAFSF for over 20 years, and has long supported SAFSF’s policy advocacy work.
FRIEND
FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
First Nations Development Institute (FNDI) is a national Native-led nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Native economies and healthy Native communities through grantmaking, technical assistance, research, and policy advocacy. Rooted in Indigenous knowledge and guided by Tribal priorities, First Nations invests in Native-led solutions that advance Tribal sovereignty and long-term community well-being.
As a member of SAFSF for 18 years, they are committed to ensuring native food systems are at the forefront and that food philanthropy and funding can change the narrative for a better future through collective action. Richard Elm-Hill serves on the SAFSF Board of Directors and the Finance and Audit Committee.
GEORGIA HEALTH INITIATIVE
Founded in 2002, the Georgia Health Initiative was born of people standing up to systems to ensure that all Georgians–across 696 zip codes and 159 counties–can achieve their fullest potential for health. Today, the Initiative works to inspire and promote collective action that advances health equity across Georgia, to raise awareness of the state’s unique health challenges, and to develop and advocate for meaningful solutions to address them alongside partners.
Ky Lindberg serves on the 2026 SAFSF Host Committee.
BLOOMBERG FELLOWS
The Bloomberg American Health Initiative is a unique program that aims to improve health and save lives in the United States by tackling complex and urgent health challenges. The Bloomberg Fellows Program is accepting applications from individuals working on issues related to obesity, food production, food systems, and food policy at different levels. Potential candidates might include people from community-based organizations that work on obesity and chronic disease; dietitians and nutritionists; city planners interested in studying food; policymakers in national, state and local contexts. Fellows receive full scholarship for the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Johns Hopkins University tabled at the 2026 SAFSF Forum!
POTLIKKER CAPITAL
Potlikker Capital is a charitable loan fund that supports socially and economically disadvantaged agricultural producers and processors nationwide. They apply an integrated capital model, combining flexible loans, catalytic grants, technical assistance, and other tailored resources, to help strengthen local food systems and foster lasting change. With a model rooted in trust, relationship, and community stewardship, Potlikker Capital has a mission to provide the resources and relationships that enable those who feed communities, care for the land, and build local economies to lead and succeed.
Potlikker Capital has been a member of SAFSF for 4 years.
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE FOUNDATION
Regenerative Agriculture Foundation (RAF) is a domestically-focused intermediary funder that collaborates with foundations, investors, nonprofits, community leaders, and land stewards. Since 2016, RAF has been a trusted grassroots-focused intermediary funder that brings a holistic lens to regenerative agriculture funding.
RAF has been a member of SAFSF for 10 years. Mark Muller, Executive Director, served on the SAFSF Board and was co-chair of the Transition Committee.
SOUTHERN BLACK FARMERS COMMUNITY-LED FUND
The Southern Black Farmers Community-Led Fund (SBFCLF), a Community Advised Fund housed at RSF Social Finance, invests in the realization of self-determining and healthy Southern rural Black communities through their control of land, local and regional food systems, water, energy, cultural narratives, and legacy extension. The mission of SBFCLF is to serve by putting financial resources into the hands of community leaders dedicated to catalyzing the region’s rich Black agrarian heritage and culture.
SBFCLF has been a member of SAFSF for 1 year.