SAFSF On the Road: California Gathering Recap
As we reflect on the first SAFSF On the Road event, “Opportunities and Challenges in Funding Regenerative Agriculture,” we can’t help but feel grateful for the time, energy, and perspectives that everyone brought to the convening. Nestled near the Embarcadero, during the Spring Equinox, we gathered with 37 funders interested in regenerative agriculture in California and beyond. Together we explored strategies for accelerating philanthropic and investment funding of regenerative agriculture. Our purpose for the gathering was to learn from one another, surface curiosities and calls to action, and explore opportunities for alignment and collaboration. We sought to uncover alignments and misalignments among funders around a topic that…
Funding for a Better Farm Bill Has Been Sparse and Inconsistent. Is That Changing?—Inside Philanthropy
This week, Inside Philanthropy published an article about shifts in philanthropy to support sustained grassroots organizing and advocacy on the Farm Bill, the massive piece of federal legislation that governs agricultural markets and nutrition benefits. Advocates point to the need for more sustained engagement in between reauthorization periods every 5 years. For example, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition encourages funders to give “flexibility regarding advancing policy change, and [have] a greater recognition of the fact that we’re living and working in really complicated times,” With increased flexibility from funders organizations can “be responsive to opportunities when they arise, like the…
Making a SHOT for Real Agriculture Change via Federal Ag Funding
By Maria Doerr, Program Officer, Rural Climate Partnership The SAFSF Member Policy in Action highlights SAFSF members who are funding food and agriculture policy advocacy at the federal, state, tribal, and/or local levels. Please fill out this Google Form or email Maggie Mascarenhas if you are interested in your policy work being featured. There is *more federal funding available today than ever before* to advance climate and equity outcomes in our agriculture system. Yet without timely, focused investments from philanthropy, these funds are more likely to benefit practices with marginal climate benefits, go to the most established and conventional producers,…
Call for 2024 Board Nominations
Interested in stewardship of Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders? We are accepting nominations for our Board of Directors until April 15! We are looking to fill up to four (4) positions for three-year terms beginning on July 1, 2024. The open seats for 2024 must be filled by candidates whose organizations are members of SAFSF or have a pending membership application as of April 15, 2024. Please consider nominating yourself or a colleague to bring your perspective, expertise, and energy to the work of SAFSF! The Board seeks candidates reflecting diversity across gender, race/ethnicity, culture, geography, life experience, professional…
Job Announcement: Vice President of Impact
Position Summary SAFSF is seeking a Vice President of Impact (VPI) to join our executive leadership team. Reporting to the Executive Director, the VPI provides strategic leadership, management, and guidance for SAFSF’s external-facing work with members, prospective members, and other relevant stakeholders in philanthropy, impact investing, and sustainable food and agriculture sectors. This individual possesses a strategic framework for how to amplify the impact of philanthropy and impact investment communities to accelerate systems change in food and agriculture, and has a proven track record of leading visionary ideas into execution of initiatives and programs. The Vice President of Impact will…
New SAFSF Committee Members
Welcome to our new Membership Committee and Policy Committee members! We’re excited to see these committees grow and to have a wide variety of funder types represented. Check out the new members’ bios here or see the full list of committee members on the Membership Committee page and Policy Committee page page. New Policy Committee Members Tenzin Dolkar (Dolkar) is a program officer with the McKnight Foundation’s Midwest Climate & Energy program, where she works to shape and guide the trajectory of the Foundation’s climate initiatives, aligning McKnight’s equity goals. Prior to McKnight, Dolkar served as a climate advisor to the…
2023 NEW MEMBERS AND MILESTONES
Thanks to every SAFSF member and all who participated in our network activities in 2023! We’d like to share special recognition for organizations that became SAFSF members in 2023 along with those that reached membership longevity milestones. Welcome 2023 New or Returning Members 1st Course Capital Chicago Food Policy Action Council Dirt Capital Partners Equitable Food Oriented Development Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation Kansas Health Foundation Mark Michael DAF Michigan Health Endowment Fund Missouri Foundation for Health New York Health Foundation Potlikker Capital Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) – USA Rural Climate Partnership San Diego Foundation The Morris and…
Help Build the Virginia Clarke Legacy Fund for Equity
To honor the legacy and leadership of 2003-2023 Executive Director Virginia Clarke, SAFSF has launched a special fundraising initiative, the Virginia Clarke Legacy Fund for Equity. Virginia worked to bring equity conversations and practices into all aspects of SAFSF’s work, opening the door for essential internal trainings and bold equity programming, and integrating equity practices across operations and organizational structure. The Virginia Clarke Legacy Fund for Equity will support intentional work to deepen and further operationalize SAFSF’s racial equity commitment and practices, and to provide programs and assistance to our members and network to do the same. Help us reach our goal of raising $250,000…
CLARE FOX NAMED SAFSF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The SAFSF Board is thrilled to announce that after an extensive, nationwide search with the support of NPAG, we have named Clare Fox as the next Executive Director of Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders. We have no doubt that Clare’s considerable expertise in food and agricultural systems change will serve to amplify the impact of our philanthropic and investment communities. Clare shares SAFSF’s collective passion for transformative change toward more just and sustainable food and ag systems. With over 15 years of experience in complex multi-stakeholder policy, advocacy, network and coalition building, organizational leadership, social impact and community economic…
Reflections From Cynthia Wells, SAFSF Communications Intern
My position as SAFSF’s Communication and Marketing Intern is soon to come to a close. I amblessed to have received this opportunity to deepen my understanding of public relations andcultivate essential skills for my future career. This internship offered hands-on experience,allowing me to apply my college knowledge to real-world situations. Reflecting on my time withSAFSF, key learning moments and takeaways stand out, shaping my perspective on both myprofessional and personal growth. As the Communications and Marketing Intern, my role was to support the CommunicationDirector, Maggie Mosley, with various tasks relating to promoting and enhancing SAFSF’s socialmedia presence. Together, Maggie and…