BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders - ECPv6.15.17//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20250309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20251102T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20260308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20261101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20270314T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20271107T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260331T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260331T110000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153524 CREATED:20260310T152443Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T194950Z UID:10000755-1774951200-1774954800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:SNAP Funder Working Group: Food Security Data Collection DESCRIPTION:Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders and Grantmakers In Health have formed a funder Working Group to coordinate a strategic response to the SNAP cuts in H.R. 1. Recognizing the far-reaching implications of SNAP for food security\, health\, and economic equity\, this Working Group serves as an information hub and a strategic coordination space\, designed to help funders act quickly\, effectively\, and in alignment with one another. Previous Working Group calls have highlighted advocacy\, training\, and technical assistance\, and strategic communications opportunities for funders.  \n\n\n\nOur upcoming Working Group Call will focus on data collection opportunities following USDA’s decision to terminate the Economic Research Service’s (ERS) Household Food Security Survey. For more than 30 years\, this survey provided the nation’s most consistent measure of food security\, shaping our collective understanding of the drivers of food insecurity and informing key food and nutrition policy decisions. No existing data source offers the same level of insight\, and its loss will make it harder to assess the impacts of H.R. 1’s SNAP cuts. Experts from the Capital Area Food Bank\, Healthy Eating Research\, and the Urban Institute will discuss why continued data collection—using consistent methods and metrics—matters and how funders can support this work.  \n\n\n\nThis Working Group is open to all funders currently responding to or actively considering a response to SNAP cuts. Funders do not need to be members of SAFSF or GIH; if you are wrestling with the impact of SNAP cuts on the communities you serve\, this space is for you. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/snap-funder-working-group-food-security-data-collection/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/food-access.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260409T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260409T123000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153524 CREATED:20260219T190843Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260306T154033Z UID:10000746-1775732400-1775737800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:The Pesticide Industry's Multi-Front Campaign for Legal Immunity: A Critical Moment for Funders DESCRIPTION:Co-hosted by Funders for Regenerative Agriculture (FORA)\, Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN)\, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF)\, and URSA Collective. \n\n\n\nThe pesticide industry is pursuing a coordinated\, multi-front strategy to win broad legal immunity—through the Supreme Court\, state legislatures\, and federal policy changes—that could severely limit the ability of farmers\, farmworkers\, families\, and communities to seek accountability for pesticide harms. With major developments expected in 2026\, including the Supreme Court’s consideration of Monsanto v. Durnell\, renewed state “failure-to-warn” preemption bills\, and likely Farm Bill/appropriations language\, the window for intervention is narrowing. \n\n\n\nThis webinar will map the immunity playbook and why it keeps resurfacing; clarify the current state of play\, including what has worked (and what hasn’t); and assess the highest-leverage risks and opportunities across the federal\, state\, and Supreme Court pathways. We’ll close with concrete strategic roles for philanthropy—across health\, food\, environment\, and agriculture—to better resource emerging efforts and key groups engaging on these fronts and help prevent permanent immunity from being locked in. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/the-pesticide-industrys-multi-front-campaign-for-legal-immunity-a-critical-moment-for-funders/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/pexels-stitch-20280076-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260416T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260416T140000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153524 CREATED:20260311T145137Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T145138Z UID:10000759-1776344400-1776348000@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Gather Round DESCRIPTION:The Gather Round Monthly Membership Calls\, held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm PST / 4 pm EST\, serve as a regular “drop in” space for SAFSF members. These calls are focused on connection and continuing dialogue on topics explored in virtual learning events and other programs hosted by SAFSF during the month. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for Gather Round\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/gather-round-4/ CATEGORIES:Gather Round,Member Only,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Gather-Round.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260424T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260424T100000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153524 CREATED:20260403T192446Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T192448Z UID:10000765-1777021200-1777024800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Voter Insights: Special Battleground Report on Food and Health DESCRIPTION:This session is co-hosted by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF)\, the Farm to Fork Initiative\, and the From Now on Fund.  \n\n\n\nWith funding support from the Farm to Fork Initiative and the From Now on Fund\, Navigator Research recently surveyed 1\,200 likely voters in 2026 House and Senate battleground races to understand which policies these constituents believe will make Americans healthier\, and which food and ag issues they think Congress should address. \n\n\n\nThis nonpartisan research revealed that battleground voters prioritize food safety and science-backed health information nearly as much as lowering healthcare costs\, showing strong support for banning food toxins and boosting local agricultural supply chains. Additionally\, these constituents are highly concerned about protecting nutrition programs like SNAP and school lunches. \n\n\n\nJoin this funder-only briefing to hear directly from Navigator Research Managing Director Melissa Toufanian\, who will explore key polling insights that can inform how we build power and educate policymakers in the lead-up to the midterm elections and beyond. \n\n\n\nThis session is open to all funders. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMelissa Toufanian\n\n\n\nManaging Director\, Navigator Research\nMelissa Toufanian is the Managing Director of Navigator Research\, where she leads the development and distribution of effective messaging and polling on the issues that matter most to the American public. She previously served at the U.S. Department of State during the Biden administration as Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary. She helped lead the Climate in Foreign Policy Project at the UN Foundation and was Communications Director for a 2018 red-to-blue House race. Melissa served within the Obama administration in several roles supporting the Secretary of State and State Department spokesperson. A native of upstate New York\, Melissa holds an M.S. from Georgetown University and a B.A. from George Washington University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Funder-Only Registration\n \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n CompanyThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.This field is hidden when viewing the formRegisterName*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Organization*Title*Email*\n \n Are you a funder?*\n \n Yes\, I am affiliated with a funding organization.\n SAFSF defines funders as staff\, board members\, trustees\, donors\, program officers\, and other professionals from organizations using grantmaking or investments as a core strategy to fulfill their mission.\nThis field is hidden when viewing the formEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/voter-insights-special-battleground-report-on-food-and-health/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/food-access.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260429T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260429T120000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153524 CREATED:20260403T193110Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T202508Z UID:10000763-1777460400-1777464000@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Part 1 — Unlocking Land\, Equity\, and Climate Opportunity: Lessons from the Mobile Heirs’ Property Support Initiative DESCRIPTION:This two-part webinar series\, featuring leaders at the Center for Heirs’ Property\, Mississippi for Justice\, and World Wildlife Fund\, will take a deep dive into the topic of heirs’ property as a land title issue and how addressing heirs’ property–through education\, technical assistance\, and legal support–unlocks opportunities for productive land use and opportunities for wealth creation. Heirs’ property is a widespread issue affecting family-owned land across the United States and represents a significant portion of land in the South. It disproportionately affects certain communities\, including low-income and Black communities\, due to historical barriers to clear title. Addressing heirs’ property is a critical step in strengthening land tenure\, enabling productive land use\, and supporting the goals of Black Agrarianism. \n\n\n\nPart 1 will explore the heirs’ property model developed\, tested\, and implemented by the Center for Heirs’ Property (CHP) over the past 21 years. It will also examine how this model was implemented in the Mobile Basin region of Mississippi and Alabama through a partnership with World Wildlife Fund and Kimberly-Clark—aligning CHP’s interest in testing model replication with WWF and Kimberly-Clark’s goals of supporting forestry\, and addressing underlying factors contributing to persistent poverty\, including heirs’ property. This effort also aligned with the Mississippi Center for Justice’s expansion of its heirs’ property work\, establishing it as a key legal partner in the region. \n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAndrea’ Barnes\n\n\n\nDirector\, Heirs Property Campaign\, Mississippi Center for Justice\n\nAndrea’ Barnes is a native of Mississippi and an accomplished attorney\,leader\, and public servant. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree fromTougaloo College\, a Master of Business Administration from Jackson StateUniversity and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Thurgood Marshall School ofLaw. Andrea’s is licensed to practice law in Mississippi. \n\n\nAndrea’ currently serves as the Director of the Heirs’ Property Campaign forthe Mississippi Center for Justice\, a non-profit public interest law firm. TheHeirs’ Property Campaign is dedicated to providing legal assistance andcommunity education to families around the state. The Campaign’s missionfocuses on helping families preserve ownership of their land and maintaintheir family legacy for future generation. \n\n\nPrior to joining the Center\, Andrea’ practiced family law\, estate and probateadministration\, and personal injury litigation. Her professional experiencealso includes service as a law clerk with the Circuit Court of Hinds County\,Mississippi\, a prosecutor with the Hinds County Attorney’s Office\, and asPublic Records Officer and Staff Attorney for the Mississippi Department ofCorrections. \n\n\nIn addition to her legal practice\, Andrea’ has contributed to legal educationas an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College\, where she instructed aspiringlawyers in litigation and trial practice. She has also served on the Board ofDirectors for the Spencer Perkins Center for Reconciliation and CommunityDevelopment\, further demonstrating her commitment to communityengagement and reform. \n\n\nAndrea’ is actively involved in numerous professional organizations andassociations\, including the Mississippi Bar\, Magnolia Bar\, Metro BlackWomen Lawyers Association\, among others. She has received multipleaccolades and recognition from both the profession and community. \n\n\nAs an entrepreneur\, businesswoman\, and attorney by training\, Andrea’ iswidely regarded as a servant leader whose life and work reflects a steadfastcommitment to faith\, integrity\, and justice. \n\n\nIn her spare time\, Andrea’ enjoys spending quality time with her family\,gardening\, and traveling. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJennie L. Stephens\, Ph.D.\n\n\n\nCEO\, Center for Heirs Property\nJennie L. Stephens\, Ph.D.\, is a native of Walterboro\, SC\, and an accomplished executive leader with deep expertise in nonprofit management\, advocacy\, and community development. She has successfully secured over $25 million in funding\, driven policy reforms\, and established strategic partnerships to promote land preservation\, economic equity\, and social justice. \n\n\n\nAs the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Heirs’ Property since 2006\, Jennie has expanded the organization’s budget from $150K to $12M\, developed a replicable nonprofit model used in six states\, and secured $25M in federal and foundation funding to expand the Center’s impact and build a national heirs’ property alliance. Her leadership has empoweredhistorically under-resourced landowners with the legal and financial tools needed to protect and sustain their property. \n\n\n\nJennie’s expertise extends into academia as an Adjunct Professor at Mercyhurst University\, where she taught grant writing and program development. She is also a published author\, with her work featured in academic journals\, ABA publications\, and documentary films\, includingGaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land and America’s Forests in South Carolina. She has served on numerous boards and committees\, including the American Forest Foundation Board of Directors (current) and the USDA Equity Commission Agriculture Subcommittee (2022-2024). She has been honored as a TEDx speaker\, a BALLE Fellow\, and a Charleston RegionalBusiness Journal 40 Under 40 Award recipient. \n\n\n\nJennie holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University\, a Master’s in Public Administration\, and a B.S. in Business Administration(Accounting). Beyond her professional work\, Jennie is an avid baker who enjoys experimenting with new recipes for her family and coworkers. Her passion is to help people prosper in every area of their lives through leadership\, advocacy\, and community engagement. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKerry Cesareo\n\n\n\nSenior Vice President\, Forests and Freshwater\, World Wildlife Fund\n\nKerry Cesareo\, senior vice president for forests and freshwater\, leads a portfolio of strategic initiatives in pursuit of WWF’s goal to conserve the world’s most important forests and freshwater ecosystems—for nature\, climate\, and people. This includes investing in forest conservation\, management\, and restoration as essential means of mitigating climate change; restoring and replenishing wetlands and river basins; implementing nature-based solutions with Indigenous peoples and local communities; and reducing the impacts of unsustainable logging\, agriculture\, unsustainable water management\, and infrastructure. \n\n\nKerry previously led WWF’s forest markets work\, launching the North American program of the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) and forging partnerships with Fortune 500 companies on environmentally responsible supply chains for wood and paper products. She has also managed global operations for GFTN as well as the start-up of the Sustainable Forest Products Global Alliance\, a public-private partnership with the US Agency for International Development. She has served as cochair of the board of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)-US\, a certifier of forestry best practices that WWF helped found in 1994. \n\n\nKerry first began working on forest issues during a summer partnering with First Nations on Vancouver Island\, British Columbia\, as they prepared for their inaugural timber harvest through a newly formed company\, Iisaak Forest Resources. The creation of Iisaak and its commitment to FSC had helped to end decades of conflict among environmentalists\, First Nations\, and logging companies in Clayoquot Sound. Iisaak received FSC certification in 2001 and inspired Kerry’s career. \n\n\nPrior to joining WWF\, Kerry worked as an environmental scientist\, a forest inventory researcher\, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer\, and a US PIRG field manager. She received a BS in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn brief\, Part 1 will cover the original model developed by CHP\, and its pilot replication/adaptation\, and Part 2 will be a conversation with partners on the ground – a “theory to practice” sequence.  We encourage registrants to attend both parts. The key points speakers will cover are: \n\n\n\n\nContextualizing heirs’ property as a land title issue and the Center for Heirs’ Property Model\n\n\n\nWhy and how the model was implemented in the Mobile Basin and other areas in the South\n\n\n\nHow addressing heirs’ property supports productive land use\, economic opportunity\, and  Black Agrarianism\n\n\n\n\nSee details for Part 2\, on May 6\, here! \n\n\n\nThis webinar series is open to all. We especially encourage you to join if you are:  \n\n\n\n\nAttending the SAFSF Forum in Savannah\, Georgia. This series will provide critical regional context.  \n\n\n\nA  funder interested in land ownership\,  economic development\, and working lands.\n\n\n\nA policymaker focused on agriculture\, land use\, or property rights.\n\n\n\nA member of the public interested in learning more about heirs’ property.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Mobile Heirs’ Property Series Registration\n Please fill out this form once to register for Part 1 and Part 2 of the series. \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.This field is hidden when viewing the formRegisterName*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Organization*Title*Email*\n \n Are you are funder?*\n \n Yes\, I am affiliated with a funding organization.\n \n \n No\, I am not affiliated with any funding organization.\n SAFSF defines funders as staff\, board members\, trustees\, donors\, program officers\, and other professionals from organizations using grantmaking or investments as a core strategy to fulfill their mission.\nThis field is hidden when viewing the formEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/part-1-unlocking-land-equity-and-climate-opportunity-lessons-from-the-mobile-heirs-property-support-initiative/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mississippi-Land-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260430T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260430T110000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153524 CREATED:20251210T192729Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251211T190012Z UID:10000726-1777543200-1777546800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Movement-Aligned Funding Learning Community DESCRIPTION:Systems change requires a deliberate shift in power. In a landscape where the industrial\, consolidated\, and corporate food system is well-funded\, deeply entrenched\, and politically coordinated\, community-led movements must be equally robust—supported with consistent resources\, strong social infrastructure\, and long-term investment. \n\n\n\nShifting power means centering and following the leadership of those most affected by injustice—Black\, Indigenous\, and People of Color; immigrants; workers; 2SLGBTQIA+ people; women; disabled\, low-income\, poor\, and other urban and rural marginalized communities. Movements for food justice and food sovereignty need sustained investment in the organizing\, coalition-building\, and leadership development that enable communities to build and wield power over time. \n\n\n\nThis requires resources that are distributed nationally\, regionally\, and locally to support base building\, advocacy\, and community-led interventions across local\, state\, Tribal\, and national scales. Social and structural change is only possible when communities have the time\, infrastructure\, and capacity to organize—not just react. \n\n\n\nFunders play a critical role in supporting this work. To be “movement-aligned\,” funders must adapt practices and priorities to the values and leadership of frontline communities. This includes trusting community governance\, supporting grassroots leadership\, sharing decision-making power\, and shifting traditional funder prerogatives—even when it is uncomfortable. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWho Is This For?\n\n\n\nThis quarterly\, peer-led Learning Community is open to all SAFSF members. It is a space for honest dialogue\, where funders can share practices\, mistakes\, uncertainties\, and lessons learned with a shared intention of improving accountability to the communities most impacted by food system injustice. \n\n\n\nWe will read short pieces together and periodically invite movement leaders to ground the conversation. However\, this is not a curriculum-based or exhaustive learning space\, and we recognize that funders must seek learning directly\, in non-extractive ways\, from grassroots organizations and frontline leaders beyond this setting. Rather\, this Learning Community is designed to help funders learn about the principles and mechanics of movement building and do the internal work to be an effective ally.  \n\n\n\nAll SAFSF members are welcome\, and we especially encourage funders who are newer to movement-building or movement-aligned grantmaking or investing to participate. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy a Funder-Only Learning Community on Movement-Aligned Funding?\n\n\n\nThis space is intentionally designed for funders because: \n\n\n\n\nFunders need a place to build internal discipline and accountability without placing additional burdens on movement leaders to constantly educate them.\n\n\n\nFunders must examine their own power\, habits\, and practices—work that often requires internal organizing and strategy alignment.\n\n\n\nFunders need to be prepared before meaningfully engaging with movement partners\, so that conversations with frontline leaders are not extractive\, repetitive\, or centering funder needs.\n\n\n\nThis learning community complements—not replaces—direct engagement with movement organizations. The core purpose is to strengthen funders’ readiness to show up better in those relationships.\n\n\n\n\nOur intention is to help funders transform their practices to be accountable partners in multiracial\, frontline-led movements\, not to create a bubble where funders only talk to funders. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLearning Community Goals\n\n\n\n\nLearn about principles of long-term movement building for systems change from experienced practitioners and through the examination of successful examples in food systems context.\n\n\n\nBetter understand investment needs and funding practices that center the leadership of impacted communities\, support movement building\, and community-led food systems transformation.\n\n\n\nLearn and exchange best practices to increase frontline and grassroots organizations’ capacity (e.g.\, time\, financial resources\, communications infrastructure) so they can build leadership and power within the broader movement ecosystem.\n\n\n\nExplore the importance of organizing across the capital spectrum and across different issue areas (e.g.\, health\, food\, climate\, environment) in alignment with frontline communities of color and movement organizations.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBackground and Details \n\n\n\n\nThe idea for this new Learning Community came from two SAFSF Members— Chicago Food Policy Action Council and Michigan State University’s Center for Regional Food Systems—and follows a networking session with both funders and practitioners at the SAFSF Forum in 2025. \n\n\n\n\n\nCalls will not be recorded to facilitate more transparent conversations. \n\n\n\n\n\nPre-meeting reading materials will be shared in advance. \n\n\n\n\n\nWe highly encourage you to attend all sessions in the series to stay connected with your colleagues and incorporate learnings into your work throughout the year\, but you are welcome to join at any point. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis is a SAFSF member-only series. If you are interested in exploring membership\, please contact our membership team. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for this learning community\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/movement-aligned-funding-learning-community-2/ CATEGORIES:Learning Community,Member Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SAFSF-20250511-3100-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260504T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260504T130000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20260219T184607Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T152334Z UID:10000745-1777896000-1777899600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:From the Ground Up: Finance and the Future of Regenerative Agriculture | Film Screening and Discussion DESCRIPTION:Co-hosted by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders and Croatan Institute \n\n\n\nJoin us for a virtual double-feature film screening and conversation exploring one of the most pressing questions in food and agriculture today: how do we finance the transition to regenerative systems at the scale and speed this moment demands? \n\n\n\nThis joint screening features excerpts of the film Digging In from the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders and Soil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture from Croatan Institute. Together\, these films illuminate the opportunity in regenerative agriculture to restore soil health\, strengthen rural economies\, and build climate resilience. They also expose a shared tension: while regenerative practices are proven and growing\, capital structures have not kept pace. \n\n\n\nFollowing the screenings\, a moderated panel with funders\, investors\, and field leaders will examine the role of transformative finance in unlocking this transition. We will explore how grantmaking\, investing\, and lending can move beyond short-term risk frameworks to support long-term stewardship\, farmer viability\, and community wealth. The conversation will share practical insights on what is working\, where capital is still misaligned\, and how funders can collaborate to close critical financing gaps. \n\n\n\nThis event is designed for philanthropic and investment leaders who are: \n\n\n\n\ncurious about a just\, democratic\, and sustainable food and agriculture system;\n\n\n\ngrappling with how to deploy non-extractive capital more effectively;\n\n\n\nseeking peers committed to aligning finance with ecological and social outcomes\n\n\n\n\nWhether you are already funding in this space or exploring your next steps\, this screening and discussion offers a grounded entry point into why regenerative agriculture needs new financial tools and why the time to act is now. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Funder-Only Registration\n \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n URLThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.This field is hidden when viewing the formRegisterName*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Organization*Title*Email*\n \n Are you a funder?*\n \n Yes\, I am affiliated with a funding organization.\n SAFSF defines funders as staff\, board members\, trustees\, donors\, program officers\, and other professionals from organizations using grantmaking or investments as a core strategy to fulfill their mission.\nThis field is hidden when viewing the formEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWilliam Barber III\n\n\n\nCEO\, Rural Beacon Initiative\, LLC.\nWilliam J. Barber III currently serves as the Director of Equitable Investment and Energy Justice at the Coalition for Green Capital and the CEO of Rural Beacon Initiative\, LLC.  Possessing over a decade of social justice organizing experience and deep academic training in the history\, science\, and law behind environmental and climate issues\, William is committed to connecting policymakers\, grassroots leaders\, faith leaders\, and corporations to ensure we are collaborating on climate solutions that are equitable for all. \n\n\n\nBarber’s background includes extensive experience as a social justice organizer and environmental justice advocate\, working with the North Carolina NAACP\, the Poor People’s Campaign\, the Climate Reality Project\, and numerous other organizations. Barber’s work focuses on increasing the self-determination of communities through responsible finance. With a bachelor’s in Environmental Physics from North Carolina Central University\, and a J.D. in Environmental Law and Policy from UNC School of Law\, Barber also sits on the board of the Croatan Institute.  \n\n\n\nAs CEO of Rural Beacon Initiative\, LLC\, Barber has collaborated with Croatan Institute to acquire a farm in the historic Free Black community of Piney Woods\, NC\, using innovative financing in partnership with Foodshed Capital.  \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSkya Ducheneaux\n\n\n\nExecutive Director\, Akiptan (CDFI)\nSkya Ducheneaux is the Executive Director of Akiptan and is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She spent her first 18 years of life on a cattle ranch on the CRST Reservation in South Dakota. She then pursued a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Business Administration while working at a county FSA office and buffalo meat processing plant. After returning home to work for the Intertribal Agriculture Council\, she was tasked with creating the first Native CDFI dedicated to serving Native Agriculture producers all across Indian Country. Akiptan began lending in January of 2019 and has grown rapidly over the years. \n\n\n\nIn addition to Akiptan\, Skya has served on many advisory committees and is currently the Board Chair of the Mountain Plains CDC. In her role as Executive Director\, she is a part of several CDFI coalitions\, advocates locally and federally and presents at conferences to share the mission of Akiptan.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMichael Reily\n\n\n\nCo-founder\, Foodshed Capital\nMichael Reilly is co-founder of Foodshed Capital and oversees the day-to-day operations as Executive Director. Under his leadership\, the organization grew from a very small\, local Slow Money program into a systems-changing nonprofit serving hundreds of farms and food businesses up and down the East Coast. Michael also led Foodshed Capital toward certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 2020. Under Michael’s leadership\, Foodshed Capital has made more than 100 loans to regenerative farms and small food businesses\, totaling more than $2.5 million in capital. Most importantly\, Foodshed Capital has been a leader in pushing for more innovative and less-extractive forms of lending\, including 0% unsecured loans for Black-led farms. Foodshed Capital has also forged relationships with dozens of other organizations supporting the work of small-scale regenerative farmers.  \n\n\n\nMichael began his career in banking and later honed his financial skills as a 15-year executive in the broadcast television business. He has served on the board of several food and agriculture organizations\, including the Virginia Farmers Market Association\, the Virginia Association for Biological Farming\, and the Mid-Atlantic Food Resilience & Access Coalition (MAFRAC). Michael earned an undergraduate degree at Yale University and a graduate degree at Columbia University. He lives in Charlottesville\, VA. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChristi Electris\n\n\n\nExecutive Director & Co-founder\, Croatan Institute \nChristi Electris is the Executive Director and co-founder of Croatan Institute\, a research and action institute working at the intersections of food\, fiber\, forestry\, and finance. She has done consulting and research on a variety of environmental and social issues\, including projects on energy\, climate\, agriculture\, well-being\, sustainability indicators\, and corporate redesign. A computer scientist and quantitative policy analyst by training\, she has designed policy scenario analyses with environmental and social impacts. While at Tellus Institute\, she analyzed company practices and policies in worker equity at large public and private food and agriculture companies\, helping develop a new framework for social and environmental impact investing across asset classes\, known as Total Portfolio Activation.  \n\n\n\nAt Croatan Institute\, she regularly contributes to the thematic application of the Total Portfolio Activation framework to the Institute’s work on sustainable food and regenerative agriculture. Christi is a trained Climate Reality Leader\, and also serves on the CDFA Food System Advisory Council. She is based in Brookline\, Massachusetts. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Films\n\n\n\nDigging In\nDigging In\, created by Nathan.works and co-produced by Sustainable Agriculture & Food System Funders with support from Vatheur Foundation\, focuses on the US agricultural system and who controls our food and farmers. The documentary focuses on the challenges presented by land access (and a lack thereof)\, industry consolidation\, and climate change. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSoil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture\nSoil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture\, produced with support from Patagonia and Waverley Street Foundation\, features farmers and capital providers Croatan Institute has partnered with over the years to demonstrate effective\, community-led solutions for funding the future of sustainable economies. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/from-the-ground-up-finance-and-the-future-of-regenerative-agriculture-film-screening-and-discussion/ CATEGORIES:Digging In Film ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260506T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260506T123000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20260403T193154Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T202545Z UID:10000764-1778065200-1778070600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Part 2 — Unlocking Land\, Equity\, and Climate Opportunity: Lessons from the Mobile Heirs’ Property Support Initiative DESCRIPTION:This two-part webinar series\, featuring leaders at the Center for Heirs’ Property\, Mississippi for Justice\, and World Wildlife Fund\, will take a deep dive into the topic of heirs’ property as a land title issue and how addressing heirs’ property–through education\, technical assistance\, and legal support–unlocks opportunities for productive land use and opportunities for wealth creation. Heirs’ property is a widespread issue affecting family-owned land across the United States and represents a significant portion of land in the South. It disproportionately affects certain communities\, including low-income and Black communities\, due to historical barriers to clear title. Addressing heirs’ property is a critical step in strengthening land tenure\, enabling productive land use\, and supporting the goals of  Black Agrarianism. Part 1 covered the original model developed by the Center for Heirs’ Property and its pilot replication/adaptation. \n\n\n\nPart 2 will continue with a focus on how the Mobile Basin Heirs’ Property Support Initiative (MBHPSi) is being implemented on the ground through a network of legal and land-use partners in Mississippi and Alabama. Participants will share how they support landowners—addressing heirs’ property through legal support\, education\, and technical assistance\, while also advancing forestry and agricultural land use where appropriate. The session will highlight how organizations with distinct roles collaborate through a referral-based approach to deliver coordinated support. You are welcome to attend Part 2 even if you could not attend Part 1. \n\n\n\nSpeakers to be announced! \n\n\n\nThis webinar series is open to all. We especially encourage you to join if you are:  \n\n\n\n\nAttending the SAFSF Forum in Savannah\, Georgia. This series will provide critical regional context.  \n\n\n\nA  funder interested in land ownership\,  economic development\, and working lands.\n\n\n\nA policymaker focused on agriculture\, land use\, or property rights.\n\n\n\nA member of the public interested in learning more about heirs’ property.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Mobile Heirs’ Property Series Registration\n Please fill out this form once to register for Part 1 and Part 2 of the series. \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n FacebookThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.This field is hidden when viewing the formRegisterName*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Organization*Title*Email*\n \n Are you are funder?*\n \n Yes\, I am affiliated with a funding organization.\n \n \n No\, I am not affiliated with any funding organization.\n SAFSF defines funders as staff\, board members\, trustees\, donors\, program officers\, and other professionals from organizations using grantmaking or investments as a core strategy to fulfill their mission.\nThis field is hidden when viewing the formEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/part-2-unlocking-land-equity-and-climate-opportunity-lessons-from-the-mobile-heirs-property-support-initiative/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mississippi-Land-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260512T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260512T160000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20260225T195753Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T195755Z UID:10000750-1778598000-1778601600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Maximize Your Membership DESCRIPTION:Maximize Your Membership is an orientation webinar for SAFSF members\, new and veteran! If you are new staff at a new or long-time SAFSF member organization\, have not engaged in SAFSF programming or member benefits yet yourself\, want a refresher on all that is available to you as a SAFSF member organization\, or just want to connect\, join us! \n\n\n\nThis quarterly membership call features our newest SAFSF members  – help us welcome them into this community. Join Clare Fox\, Executive Director\, and Holly Hanes\, Senior Membership Associate\, for a deep dive into all things SAFSF\, including: \n\n\n\n\nCelebrating & sharing your membership internally and externally;\n\n\n\nMember Perks – including the annual Forum\, exclusive offerings\, and Learning Communities; \n\n\n\nHow to access your SAFSF benefits; \n\n\n\nSAFSF Professional and Leadership Development Pathways; \n\n\n\nTools and resources available to you; \n\n\n\nEvent Preview \n\n\n\n\nThis energizing conversation will excite you for the quarter ahead and expose you to one (or many!) benefits of membership that you were not utilizing to help in maximizing your SAFSF experience. Meet other members\, learn the SAFSF processes\, and get engaged! This event is a free\, SAFSF member only event. Interested in SAFSF membership? Email us. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for this program\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/maximize-your-membership-4/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/315796b3-2f37-e31b-b026-37d8c833ffa5-1-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260513T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260513T130000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20260401T230316Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T233556Z UID:10000761-1778673600-1778677200@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Feeding Health: Why Food and Agriculture Funding Matters for Health Funders DESCRIPTION:This SAFSF-hosted webinar is designed specifically for health-focused funders and investors who are exploring how food and agriculture strategies can strengthen their work on health equity\, prevention\, and community wellbeing. \n\n\n\nAcross the United States\, the health sector is increasingly recognizing what many cultures have long understood: food is foundational to health. However\, food not only impacts what we eat.  The complex realities behind what it takes to produce\, distribute\, and access healthy food – our food systems-  also impact the health of communities at scale.   Recent federal proposals to cut or restrict SNAP benefits and other nutrition assistance programs highlight a deeper vulnerability in the nation’s food and health infrastructure. Addressing diet-related disease\, health inequities\, and rising healthcare costs requires investing upstream in the food system itself. \n\n\n\nDuring this session\, participants will: \n\n\n\n\nExplore how  food systems impact health beyond diet and consumption; \n\n\n\nExamine how SNAP and nutrition program pressures are reshaping the landscape;\n\n\n\nHear a case study of a SAFSF member foundation that has integrated food system strategies into its health portfolio; \n\n\n\nIdentify practical entry points for health funders seeking to move beyond food access programs toward deeper systems change\n\n\n\n\nParticipants will also learn how Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) supports a community of more than 120 funders working at the intersection of food\, agriculture\, climate\, and health. For health funders seeking to address root causes rather than symptoms\, food and agriculture funding offers a powerful and underutilized strategy. \n\n\n\nOpen to all funders! Registration is required. \n\n\n\n \n \n \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n LinkedInThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.This field is hidden when viewing the formRegisterName*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Organization*Title*Email*\n \n Are you a funder?*\n \n Yes\, I am affiliated with a funding organization.\n SAFSF defines funders as staff\, board members\, trustees\, donors\, program officers\, and other professionals from organizations using grantmaking or investments as a core strategy to fulfill their mission.\nThis field is hidden when viewing the formEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/why-food-matters-for-health-funders/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/food-recovery.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260519T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260521T170000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20260401T232840Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T233202Z UID:10000762-1779177600-1779382800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Charlotte\, North Carolina | ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit DESCRIPTION:May 19–21 in Charlotte\, North Carolina   \n\n\n\nJoin SAFSF and member organization ReFED at the 2026 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit for our co-hosted\, invite-only Funder Ideas Exchange designed to help funders identify and act on high-impact opportunities to reduce food waste.  \n\n\n\nThis curated breakfast convening will bring together a select group of funders for rapid insights into promising funding opportunities\, peer learning\, and candid discussion around where philanthropic and impact capital can accelerate systems-level change. Whether you’re already funding in this space or exploring it\, this is a unique opportunity to deepen your strategy alongside like-minded peers. \n\n\n\nThe Summit convenes leaders from across the food system for field trips\, mainstage sessions\, and interactive workshops—alongside dedicated programming for funders to connect directly with solution providers and explore actionable funding pathways. \n\n\n\nSAFSF members are eligible for a discounted registration rate of $300 (75% off) using code SAFSF-FUNDERS.  \n\n\n\nEmail Holly at holly@safsf.org if you’re going to be in Charlotte! \n\n\n\n\nRegister here! URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/refed-food-waste-solutions-summit/ CATEGORIES:Member Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-01-at-6.30.28-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260521T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260521T140000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20260311T144123Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T205640Z UID:10000756-1779368400-1779372000@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Gather Round: Member Briefing On Policy Principles DESCRIPTION:Member Briefing On Policy Principles\n\n\n\nJoin us at our regularly scheduled monthly membership meeting\, Gather Round\, to learn all about the new Policy Principles and the Policy Challenge to SAFSF Members. SAFSF’s Policy Program Manager Maggie Mascarenhas will share inspiring examples of how members are already advancing policy advocacy and movement-building in 2025 and beyond. Come share how you are already funding policy advocacy work\, or learn how you can start this journey.  \n\n\n\nThe Gather Round Monthly Membership Calls\, held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm PST / 4 pm EST\, serve as a regular “drop in” space for SAFSF members. These calls are focused on connection and continuing dialogue on topics explored in virtual learning events and other programs hosted by SAFSF during the month. \n\n\n\nInterested in SAFSF membership? Email us and explore what membership means for you.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for Gather Round\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/gather-round-2/ CATEGORIES:Gather Round,Member Only,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Gather-Round.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260618T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260618T140000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20260311T144403Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T145016Z UID:10000758-1781787600-1781791200@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Gather Round DESCRIPTION:The Gather Round Monthly Membership Calls\, held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm PST / 4 pm EST\, serve as a regular “drop in” space for SAFSF members. These calls are focused on connection and continuing dialogue on topics explored in virtual learning events and other programs hosted by SAFSF during the month. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for Gather Round\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/gather-round-3/ CATEGORIES:Gather Round,Member Only,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Gather-Round.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260622T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260625T170000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20250715T164656Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T183858Z UID:10000698-1782115200-1782406800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:2026 SAFSF Forum DESCRIPTION:The SAFSF Forum is a unique conference for the full spectrum of funders—including philanthropy\, investors\, community finance\, and intermediaries—to foster collaboration among peers\, field leaders\, and practitioners across the country around a shared mission for equitable and sustainable food and agriculture. The conference focuses on different approaches to moving impact capital to transform food systems. While funder learning is a central goal\, nonprofit movement leaders and food system partners are integral to the event’s success\, bringing on-the-ground wisdom and solutions. As we face a moment of profound transformation across non-profit\, philanthropy\, and food systems\, the SAFSF Forum is a gathering place for sense-making\, solutions\, and solidarity.  \n\n\n\nThe 2026 SAFSF Forum will take place in Savannah\, Georgia—a place where Afro-Indigenous stewardship\, Gullah Geechee traditions\, and Southern agrarian and culinary innovation intersect with today’s climate crisis\, land loss\, and rural economic disinvestment. The U.S. South is a fulcrum of American food and agriculture: a production powerhouse; a hub for farmworker and H-2A dynamics that shape national food supply; a climate frontline facing extreme heat\, hurricanes\, and flooding; and a logistics hub where Gulf and Atlantic ports—Savannah among them—move goods globally. Equity\, divestment\, and ownership struggles are also acutely felt here\, from Black land stewardship and heirs’ property challenges to corporate land capture in rural communities forcing displacement of local food systems. Because issues of land justice\, climate change\, rural economic development\, and systems of racism and exclusion converge so intensely in the South\, investing in community-led solutions in food and agriculture in the region can offer solutions to the country and the world. Throughout the Forum\, we will trace the throughline of Black and Indigenous Agrarianism\, uplifting lineages of liberatory organizing\, cooperative economics\, and rural self-determination that lay the foundation for a climate-resilient\, healthy\, and equitable food future beyond corporate control. \n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\nAgenda\n\n\n\nHost Committee\n\n\n\nSponsorship\n\n\n\nFAQs\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKeynote Speaker: Stephen Satterfield\, Host of Netflix’s High on the Hog\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWe are thrilled that Stephen Satterfield will be taking the main stage at the 2026 SAFSF Forum as our closing keynote speaker! \n\n\n\nStephen Satterfield has spent his career redefining food and beverage as means of organizing\, activating and educating. He is the founder of Whetstone\, a groundbreaking magazine and media company dedicated to food origins and culture from around the world\, as well as HONE Media\, a culinary talent agency. \n\n\n\nStephen is the host of the critically acclaimed Netflix docuseries High on the Hog\, which won a Peabody Award for Documentary and two NAACP Image Awards for Best Documentary Series. On the show\, he puts Black cuisine at the center of American history\, offering a fuller picture of the many people\, cultures\, and events that make up the story of this country. He and his work have been covered in a massive profile in The New Yorker\, as well as in The New York Times\, The Washington Post\, Fast Company\, Business Insider\, Slate\, Harvard Business Review\, and many more. \n\n\n\nPrior to his career in media\, Stephen was a sommelier and social entrepreneur promoting wine as a catalyst for socioeconomic development for Black wine workers in South Africa. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHost Committee\n\n\n\nMeet the local funders and leaders shaping the 2026 Forum to reflect local culture\, context\, and community impact. To learn more about this incredible committee\, click here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAgenda At a Glance \n\n\n\nTake a look at our agenda preview below. We will share speakers and workshop themes over the coming weeks. Early bird registration launches Monday\, March 2—your chance to secure your spot at a discounted rate!  \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please visit our FAQs page or email events@safsf.org. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Rates\n\n\n\nThe SAFSF Forum brings together funders\, community partners\, and thought leaders in sustainable food and agriculture. Early bird registration is open until March 31\, 2026. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nField Partner registration is an SAFSF member benefit. Each SAFSF member organization may invite one representative of an organization that they are sponsoring to attend the Forum. Tickets are limited; we encourage early registration. Email events@safsf.org for questions about this member benefit. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMake An Impact—Become a Sponsor \n\n\n\nThe 2026 Forum includes cutting-edge content\, inspirational speakers\, field-based learning\, and unparalleled networking. At a time of profound transformation across food systems\, philanthropy\, and communities\, your sponsorship helps create a space for solutions and solidarity. This unique conference is where field leaders\, practitioners\, and funders forge new pathways for moving impact capital to transform food systems.  \n\n\n\nYour sponsorship amplifies the voices of movement leaders and peers working at the intersection of equity\, climate\, and rural economic development. Check out the sponsorship levels and benefits in this overview\, and reach out to our Executive Director\, Clare Fox\, to secure your sponsorship by Thursday\, April 30\, 2025. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSAFSF Forum T-Shirt Available in Registration\n\n\n\nSustainability is at the heart of everything SAFSF does — including the merchandise we offer. 15% of fabric from traditional t-shirt production ends up as waste\, so we chose a tee that puts those scraps to work. Each shirt is crafted from a lightweight recycled blend with no dyeing required\, making every one uniquely its own. Available for purchase only in Forum Registration. Register and order your shirt today! URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/2026forum/ CATEGORIES:Forum Networking,In Person Gathering,Meetings,SAFSF Forum ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2026-forum-poster-v2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260730T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260730T110000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20251210T192919Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251211T190205Z UID:10000727-1785405600-1785409200@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Movement-Aligned Funding Learning Community DESCRIPTION:Systems change requires a deliberate shift in power. In a landscape where the industrial\, consolidated\, and corporate food system is well-funded\, deeply entrenched\, and politically coordinated\, community-led movements must be equally robust—supported with consistent resources\, strong social infrastructure\, and long-term investment. \n\n\n\nShifting power means centering and following the leadership of those most affected by injustice—Black\, Indigenous\, and People of Color; immigrants; workers; 2SLGBTQIA+ people; women; disabled\, low-income\, poor\, and other urban and rural marginalized communities. Movements for food justice and food sovereignty need sustained investment in the organizing\, coalition-building\, and leadership development that enable communities to build and wield power over time. \n\n\n\nThis requires resources that are distributed nationally\, regionally\, and locally to support base building\, advocacy\, and community-led interventions across local\, state\, Tribal\, and national scales. Social and structural change is only possible when communities have the time\, infrastructure\, and capacity to organize—not just react. \n\n\n\nFunders play a critical role in supporting this work. To be “movement-aligned\,” funders must adapt practices and priorities to the values and leadership of frontline communities. This includes trusting community governance\, supporting grassroots leadership\, sharing decision-making power\, and shifting traditional funder prerogatives—even when it is uncomfortable. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWho Is This For?\n\n\n\nThis quarterly\, peer-led Learning Community is open to all SAFSF members. It is a space for honest dialogue\, where funders can share practices\, mistakes\, uncertainties\, and lessons learned with a shared intention of improving accountability to the communities most impacted by food system injustice. \n\n\n\nWe will read short pieces together and periodically invite movement leaders to ground the conversation. However\, this is not a curriculum-based or exhaustive learning space\, and we recognize that funders must seek learning directly\, in non-extractive ways\, from grassroots organizations and frontline leaders beyond this setting. Rather\, this Learning Community is designed to help funders learn about the principles and mechanics of movement building and do the internal work to be an effective ally.  \n\n\n\nAll SAFSF members are welcome\, and we especially encourage funders who are newer to movement-building or movement-aligned grantmaking or investing to participate. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy a Funder-Only Learning Community on Movement-Aligned Funding?\n\n\n\nThis space is intentionally designed for funders because: \n\n\n\n\nFunders need a place to build internal discipline and accountability without placing additional burdens on movement leaders to constantly educate them.\n\n\n\nFunders must examine their own power\, habits\, and practices—work that often requires internal organizing and strategy alignment.\n\n\n\nFunders need to be prepared before meaningfully engaging with movement partners\, so that conversations with frontline leaders are not extractive\, repetitive\, or centering funder needs.\n\n\n\nThis learning community complements—not replaces—direct engagement with movement organizations. The core purpose is to strengthen funders’ readiness to show up better in those relationships.\n\n\n\n\nOur intention is to help funders transform their practices to be accountable partners in multiracial\, frontline-led movements\, not to create a bubble where funders only talk to funders. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLearning Community Goals\n\n\n\n\nLearn about principles of long-term movement building for systems change from experienced practitioners and through the examination of successful examples in food systems context.\n\n\n\nBetter understand investment needs and funding practices that center the leadership of impacted communities\, support movement building\, and community-led food systems transformation.\n\n\n\nLearn and exchange best practices to increase frontline and grassroots organizations’ capacity (e.g.\, time\, financial resources\, communications infrastructure) so they can build leadership and power within the broader movement ecosystem.\n\n\n\nExplore the importance of organizing across the capital spectrum and across different issue areas (e.g.\, health\, food\, climate\, environment) in alignment with frontline communities of color and movement organizations.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBackground and Details \n\n\n\n\nThe idea for this new Learning Community came from two SAFSF Members— Chicago Food Policy Action Council and Michigan State University’s Center for Regional Food Systems—and follows a networking session with both funders and practitioners at the SAFSF Forum in 2025. \n\n\n\n\n\nCalls will not be recorded to facilitate more transparent conversations. \n\n\n\n\n\nPre-meeting reading materials will be shared in advance. \n\n\n\n\n\nWe highly encourage you to attend all sessions in the series to stay connected with your colleagues and incorporate learnings into your work throughout the year\, but you are welcome to join at any point. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis is a SAFSF member-only series. If you are interested in exploring membership\, please contact our membership team. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for this learning community\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/movement-aligned-funding-learning-community-3/ CATEGORIES:Learning Community,Member Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SAFSF-20250511-3100-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260825T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260825T160000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20260225T195947Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T200156Z UID:10000751-1787670000-1787673600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Maximize Your Membership DESCRIPTION:Maximize Your Membership is an orientation webinar for SAFSF members\, new and veteran! If you are new staff at a new or long-time SAFSF member organization\, have not engaged in SAFSF programming or member benefits yet yourself\, want a refresher on all that is available to you as a SAFSF member organization\, or just want to connect\, join us! \n\n\n\nThis quarterly membership call features our newest SAFSF members  – help us welcome them into this community. Join Clare Fox\, Executive Director\, and Holly Hanes\, Senior Membership Associate\, for a deep dive into all things SAFSF\, including: \n\n\n\n\nCelebrating & sharing your membership internally and externally;\n\n\n\nMember Perks – including the annual Forum\, exclusive offerings\, and Learning Communities; \n\n\n\nHow to access your SAFSF benefits; \n\n\n\nSAFSF Professional and Leadership Development Pathways; \n\n\n\nTools and resources available to you; \n\n\n\nEvent Preview \n\n\n\n\nThis energizing conversation will excite you for the quarter ahead and expose you to one (or many!) benefits of membership that you were not utilizing to help in maximizing your SAFSF experience. Meet other members\, learn the SAFSF processes\, and get engaged! This event is a free\, SAFSF member only event. Interested in SAFSF membership? Email us. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for this program\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/maximize-your-membership-5/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/315796b3-2f37-e31b-b026-37d8c833ffa5-1-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261029T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261029T110000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20251210T193038Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251211T190339Z UID:10000728-1793268000-1793271600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Movement-Aligned Funding Learning Community DESCRIPTION:Systems change requires a deliberate shift in power. In a landscape where the industrial\, consolidated\, and corporate food system is well-funded\, deeply entrenched\, and politically coordinated\, community-led movements must be equally robust—supported with consistent resources\, strong social infrastructure\, and long-term investment. \n\n\n\nShifting power means centering and following the leadership of those most affected by injustice—Black\, Indigenous\, and People of Color; immigrants; workers; 2SLGBTQIA+ people; women; disabled\, low-income\, poor\, and other urban and rural marginalized communities. Movements for food justice and food sovereignty need sustained investment in the organizing\, coalition-building\, and leadership development that enable communities to build and wield power over time. \n\n\n\nThis requires resources that are distributed nationally\, regionally\, and locally to support base building\, advocacy\, and community-led interventions across local\, state\, Tribal\, and national scales. Social and structural change is only possible when communities have the time\, infrastructure\, and capacity to organize—not just react. \n\n\n\nFunders play a critical role in supporting this work. To be “movement-aligned\,” funders must adapt practices and priorities to the values and leadership of frontline communities. This includes trusting community governance\, supporting grassroots leadership\, sharing decision-making power\, and shifting traditional funder prerogatives—even when it is uncomfortable. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWho Is This For?\n\n\n\nThis quarterly\, peer-led Learning Community is open to all SAFSF members. It is a space for honest dialogue\, where funders can share practices\, mistakes\, uncertainties\, and lessons learned with a shared intention of improving accountability to the communities most impacted by food system injustice. \n\n\n\nWe will read short pieces together and periodically invite movement leaders to ground the conversation. However\, this is not a curriculum-based or exhaustive learning space\, and we recognize that funders must seek learning directly\, in non-extractive ways\, from grassroots organizations and frontline leaders beyond this setting. Rather\, this Learning Community is designed to help funders learn about the principles and mechanics of movement building and do the internal work to be an effective ally.  \n\n\n\nAll SAFSF members are welcome\, and we especially encourage funders who are newer to movement-building or movement-aligned grantmaking or investing to participate. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy a Funder-Only Learning Community on Movement-Aligned Funding?\n\n\n\nThis space is intentionally designed for funders because: \n\n\n\n\nFunders need a place to build internal discipline and accountability without placing additional burdens on movement leaders to constantly educate them.\n\n\n\nFunders must examine their own power\, habits\, and practices—work that often requires internal organizing and strategy alignment.\n\n\n\nFunders need to be prepared before meaningfully engaging with movement partners\, so that conversations with frontline leaders are not extractive\, repetitive\, or centering funder needs.\n\n\n\nThis learning community complements—not replaces—direct engagement with movement organizations. The core purpose is to strengthen funders’ readiness to show up better in those relationships.\n\n\n\n\nOur intention is to help funders transform their practices to be accountable partners in multiracial\, frontline-led movements\, not to create a bubble where funders only talk to funders. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLearning Community Goals\n\n\n\n\nLearn about principles of long-term movement building for systems change from experienced practitioners and through the examination of successful examples in food systems context.\n\n\n\nBetter understand investment needs and funding practices that center the leadership of impacted communities\, support movement building\, and community-led food systems transformation.\n\n\n\nLearn and exchange best practices to increase frontline and grassroots organizations’ capacity (e.g.\, time\, financial resources\, communications infrastructure) so they can build leadership and power within the broader movement ecosystem.\n\n\n\nExplore the importance of organizing across the capital spectrum and across different issue areas (e.g.\, health\, food\, climate\, environment) in alignment with frontline communities of color and movement organizations.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBackground and Details \n\n\n\n\nThe idea for this new Learning Community came from two SAFSF Members— Chicago Food Policy Action Council and Michigan State University’s Center for Regional Food Systems—and follows a networking session with both funders and practitioners at the SAFSF Forum in 2025. \n\n\n\n\n\nCalls will not be recorded to facilitate more transparent conversations. \n\n\n\n\n\nPre-meeting reading materials will be shared in advance. \n\n\n\n\n\nWe highly encourage you to attend all sessions in the series to stay connected with your colleagues and incorporate learnings into your work throughout the year\, but you are welcome to join at any point. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis is a SAFSF member-only series. If you are interested in exploring membership\, please contact our membership team. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for this learning community\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/movement-aligned-funding-learning-community-4/ CATEGORIES:Learning Community,Member Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SAFSF-20250511-3100-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261210T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261210T110000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20251210T193226Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251211T192232Z UID:10000729-1796896800-1796900400@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Movement-Aligned Funding Learning Community DESCRIPTION:Systems change requires a deliberate shift in power. In a landscape where the industrial\, consolidated\, and corporate food system is well-funded\, deeply entrenched\, and politically coordinated\, community-led movements must be equally robust—supported with consistent resources\, strong social infrastructure\, and long-term investment. \n\n\n\nShifting power means centering and following the leadership of those most affected by injustice—Black\, Indigenous\, and People of Color; immigrants; workers; 2SLGBTQIA+ people; women; disabled\, low-income\, poor\, and other urban and rural marginalized communities. Movements for food justice and food sovereignty need sustained investment in the organizing\, coalition-building\, and leadership development that enable communities to build and wield power over time. \n\n\n\nThis requires resources that are distributed nationally\, regionally\, and locally to support base building\, advocacy\, and community-led interventions across local\, state\, Tribal\, and national scales. Social and structural change is only possible when communities have the time\, infrastructure\, and capacity to organize—not just react. \n\n\n\nFunders play a critical role in supporting this work. To be “movement-aligned\,” funders must adapt practices and priorities to the values and leadership of frontline communities. This includes trusting community governance\, supporting grassroots leadership\, sharing decision-making power\, and shifting traditional funder prerogatives—even when it is uncomfortable. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWho Is This For?\n\n\n\nThis quarterly\, peer-led Learning Community is open to all SAFSF members. It is a space for honest dialogue\, where funders can share practices\, mistakes\, uncertainties\, and lessons learned with a shared intention of improving accountability to the communities most impacted by food system injustice. \n\n\n\nWe will read short pieces together and periodically invite movement leaders to ground the conversation. However\, this is not a curriculum-based or exhaustive learning space\, and we recognize that funders must seek learning directly\, in non-extractive ways\, from grassroots organizations and frontline leaders beyond this setting. Rather\, this Learning Community is designed to help funders learn about the principles and mechanics of movement building and do the internal work to be an effective ally.  \n\n\n\nAll SAFSF members are welcome\, and we especially encourage funders who are newer to movement-building or movement-aligned grantmaking or investing to participate. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy a Funder-Only Learning Community on Movement-Aligned Funding?\n\n\n\nThis space is intentionally designed for funders because: \n\n\n\n\nFunders need a place to build internal discipline and accountability without placing additional burdens on movement leaders to constantly educate them.\n\n\n\nFunders must examine their own power\, habits\, and practices—work that often requires internal organizing and strategy alignment.\n\n\n\nFunders need to be prepared before meaningfully engaging with movement partners\, so that conversations with frontline leaders are not extractive\, repetitive\, or centering funder needs.\n\n\n\nThis learning community complements—not replaces—direct engagement with movement organizations. The core purpose is to strengthen funders’ readiness to show up better in those relationships.\n\n\n\n\nOur intention is to help funders transform their practices to be accountable partners in multiracial\, frontline-led movements\, not to create a bubble where funders only talk to funders. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLearning Community Goals\n\n\n\n\nLearn about principles of long-term movement building for systems change from experienced practitioners and through the examination of successful examples in food systems context.\n\n\n\nBetter understand investment needs and funding practices that center the leadership of impacted communities\, support movement building\, and community-led food systems transformation.\n\n\n\nLearn and exchange best practices to increase frontline and grassroots organizations’ capacity (e.g.\, time\, financial resources\, communications infrastructure) so they can build leadership and power within the broader movement ecosystem.\n\n\n\nExplore the importance of organizing across the capital spectrum and across different issue areas (e.g.\, health\, food\, climate\, environment) in alignment with frontline communities of color and movement organizations.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBackground and Details \n\n\n\n\nThe idea for this new Learning Community came from two SAFSF Members— Chicago Food Policy Action Council and Michigan State University’s Center for Regional Food Systems—and follows a networking session with both funders and practitioners at the SAFSF Forum in 2025. \n\n\n\n\n\nCalls will not be recorded to facilitate more transparent conversations. \n\n\n\n\n\nPre-meeting reading materials will be shared in advance. \n\n\n\n\n\nWe highly encourage you to attend all sessions in the series to stay connected with your colleagues and incorporate learnings into your work throughout the year\, but you are welcome to join at any point. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis is a SAFSF member-only series. If you are interested in exploring membership\, please contact our membership team. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for this learning community\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/movement-aligned-funding-learning-community-5/ CATEGORIES:Learning Community,Member Only ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SAFSF-20250511-3100-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261216T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261216T160000 DTSTAMP:20260403T153525 CREATED:20260225T200119Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T200120Z UID:10000752-1797433200-1797436800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Maximize Your Membership DESCRIPTION:Maximize Your Membership is an orientation webinar for SAFSF members\, new and veteran! If you are new staff at a new or long-time SAFSF member organization\, have not engaged in SAFSF programming or member benefits yet yourself\, want a refresher on all that is available to you as a SAFSF member organization\, or just want to connect\, join us! \n\n\n\nThis quarterly membership call features our newest SAFSF members  – help us welcome them into this community. Join Clare Fox\, Executive Director\, and Holly Hanes\, Senior Membership Associate\, for a deep dive into all things SAFSF\, including: \n\n\n\n\nCelebrating & sharing your membership internally and externally;\n\n\n\nMember Perks – including the annual Forum\, exclusive offerings\, and Learning Communities; \n\n\n\nHow to access your SAFSF benefits; \n\n\n\nSAFSF Professional and Leadership Development Pathways; \n\n\n\nTools and resources available to you; \n\n\n\nEvent Preview \n\n\n\n\nThis energizing conversation will excite you for the quarter ahead and expose you to one (or many!) benefits of membership that you were not utilizing to help in maximizing your SAFSF experience. Meet other members\, learn the SAFSF processes\, and get engaged! This event is a free\, SAFSF member only event. Interested in SAFSF membership? Email us. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo register for this program\, you must be logged in and a member of SAFSF. \nPlease log in or register for an account. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/maximize-your-membership-6/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/315796b3-2f37-e31b-b026-37d8c833ffa5-1-1.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR