Co-Hosted by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) and Builders Vision

Institutional procurement — the multi-billion dollar purchasing power of schools, hospitals, universities, and government agencies across the country — is one of the most underleveraged drivers of food system transformation. When institutions commit to purchasing food that is grown locally with regenerative practices, it can reshape local food economies, reward climate-resilient agricultural practices, and create durable market signals that support a transition away from extractive, fossil fuel dependent food production and toward an agriculture system that supports biodiversity, protects waterways, and sequesters carbon in healthy soils.

During this year’s NYC Climate Week, SAFSF and Builders Vision will bring together food and agriculture funders and climate funders around a shared opportunity: leveraging institutional purchasing power to drive climate-resilient land use, strengthen regional food supply chains, and drive measurable reductions in food system greenhouse gas emissions.

This event will launch a two-year initiative building a coordinated national funder strategy on institutional procurement. Participants will leave with a shared framework for how procurement advances resilient land use, food systems transformation and community-based stewardship, and a pathway for continued collaboration.

Meeting Goals

(1) Relationship and trust-building between food and agriculture funders and climate funders who have not previously coordinated on procurement;
(2) A shared entry-point framework connecting institutional procurement with resilient land use, food systems transformation, and community-based stewardship, and
(3) Establish concrete next steps for continuing to collaborate on the development of a national funder strategy.

Invitees

Invitees for this event include climate-focused foundations with food system or land use portfolios, regional and national food and agriculture funders, and experts on institutional food procurement.

This is an in-person event open to funders by invitation only, and space is limited. If you are a funder interested in attending, please fill out the form below with your information, and we will reach out should space become available.