BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders - ECPv6.18.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders 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/Denver BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20250309T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20251102T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20260308T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20261101T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20270314T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20271107T080000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260924T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260924T110000 DTSTAMP:20260803T195720Z CREATED:20260730T202500Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T195720Z UID:10000777-1790240400-1790247600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:The Billion-Dollar Plate: Institutional Procurement as Climate Strategy DESCRIPTION:Co-Hosted by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) and Builders Vision \n\n\n\nInstitutional 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. \n\n\n\nDuring 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. \n\n\n\nThis 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. \n\n\n\nMeeting Goals\n\n\n\n(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. \n\n\n\nInvitees\n\n\n\nInvitees 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. \n\n\n\nThis 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n Name(Required)\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Email(Required)\n \n Enter Email\n \n \n \n Confirm Email\n \n \n \n Title(Required)Organization(Required)\n Submit URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/the-billion-dollar-plate-institutional-procurement-as-climate-strategy/ CATEGORIES:In Person Gathering ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Carrots-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260929T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260929T140000 DTSTAMP:20260930T172001Z CREATED:20260819T173731Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260930T172001Z UID:10000779-1790686800-1790690400@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Report Back: Integrated Capital Community of Practice DESCRIPTION:If you are thinking of joining the SAFSF Integrated Capital Community of Practice\, this session will provide an overview of the program and feature participant perspectives from the inaugural cohort.  SAFSF launched the Integrated Capital Community of Practice in partnership with Sacred Futures with the goal of equipping funders with the tools\, peer relationships\, and internal strategies needed to overcome organizational barriers between programs and investments and move more capital into impact-aligned opportunities across food and agriculture. \n\n\n\nHere is some of what the inaugural class had to say about the experience: \n\n\n\n“I would highly recommend this program to colleagues interested in learning about integrated capital\, regardless of where they are in their journey. The program combines strong technical content with practical examples and real-world use cases that make the concepts actionable. Just as valuable was the opportunity to build relationships with a diverse group of peers who brought different perspectives and experiences to the discussion. Those connections enriched the learning experience and created an ongoing community of practitioners who can continue sharing ideas\, resources\, and support well beyond the program itself.” \n\n\n\n“Building relationships with other folks in philanthropy who are interested in moving the needle on integrated capital\, deepening skills and knowledge\, regular opportunities to workshop current projects\, or even envision what you might build and case-making ideas.” \n\n\n\n“So much care and curation went into this that the program felt very intentional and well-rounded. The programming seemed to meet the needs of everyone in some way or another.” \n\n\n\nCome hear from participants about the impact of this program on their funding strategy\, meet the program guide\, Charity May of Sacred Futures\, and get your questions answered about the program. Registration for the 2027 cohort is open until October 2! \n\n\n\n\nLEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM\n\n\n\nVIEW RECORDING\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKimber LanningLocal First Arizona\nKimber is Founder and CEO of Local First Arizona\, a statewide organization implementing innovative strategies for new models of economic development that create vibrant and thriving local economies. Lanning is an entrepreneur\, business leader and community development specialist who works to cultivate strong self-reliant communities and inspire a higher quality of life for people across Arizona. Lanning’s passions\, which are seen throughout her work\, include fostering economic resilience\, increasing access to capital\, and rebuilding food\, energy and financial systems so they create opportunity for all. \n\n\n\nLanning has grown Local First Arizona into a widely respected organization that is leading the nation in implementing systems and policies to ensure a level playing field for entrepreneurial endeavors of all sizes. With over 3\,000 business members and four statewide offices\, Lanning leads a team of 68 staff who work on a diverse array of programs ranging from healthy local food access\, entrepreneurial development in under resourced communities\, and rural community development\, each of which plays a part in building sustainable and resilient local economies. \n\n\n\nLanning is consistently recognized and has received numerous awards for her diverse work and extensive leadership. In 2014\, Lanning was recognized as the Citizen Leader of the Year by the International Economic Development Council\, a pivotal moment in recognizing the use of Localist policies as a force for economic development. Her work in promoting adaptive reuse in Phoenix’s urban core was recognized by the American Planning Association\, which presented Lanning with the Distinguished Citizen Planner Award in 2013. Lanning has also been named one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Arizona” (Arizona Business Magazine)\, was the recipient of the Athena Award by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce in 2013\, and was the 2014 Leader of the Year in Public Policy (Arizona Capitol Times). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEmily YuNewman’s Own Foundation \nEmily is committed to driving innovations that ensure everyone can be healthy and thrive. A social entrepreneur\, speaker\, and published author with more than 20 years of experience in the social sector\, Emily is changing how change is made to tackle society’s most pressing challenges. \n\n\n\nEmily helps Newman’s Own Foundation realize its mission of nourishing and transforming the lives of children who face adversity as its Chief Partnerships and Program Officer. In this role\, Emily forges innovative initiatives ranging from grant cycles and strategic planning to dynamic collaborations with cross-sector partners. Prior to this current role\, Emily served as editor of the book\, Community Engagement: Strategic Skills for Public Health Practice published by APHA Press; founded AI PRIORI®\, a no code software that centers community voices in AI generated responses; and led The BUILD Health Challenge®\, a funding collaborative that supported more than 55 communities across the US working to advance health equity. \n\n\n\nHonors include being chosen as a Halcyon Fellow\, Center for Community Investment Field Catalyst Fellow\, and a Terrance Keenan Institute Fellow. Emily also serves as an Advisory Council Member for both the Beeck Center for Social Innovation at Georgetown University and APHA’s Publication Board. Previously\, she served as a Board member of Grantmakers in Health and Co-chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy\, Washington\, DC\, steering committee. She earned her MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and her BS from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIan SimoyThe Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation\nIan Simoy is the proud grandson of Filipino immigrants whose legacy as farmers and educators continues to shape his commitment to the care of land and people. As Program Officer at The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation\, Ian stewards the Foundation’s health portfolio of grants in Hawai‘i focused on improving health care\, strengthening local food systems\, and supporting community leadership. Ian began his career as a high school history teacher and coach in Hawaiʻi before moving into nonprofit leadership\, where he led teacher recruitment and development at a large charter school network. At KIPP Foundation\, he worked to expand college and career pathways for youth across the country\, including developing programs and pilots that supported young people to serve as teachers and leaders in their home communities. Ian earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Vanderbilt and a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard\, and lives in Mānoa Valley on the island of O ‘ahu with his Australian cattle dog\, Largo. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/report-back-integrated-capital-community-of-practice/ CATEGORIES:Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ForumImage-3-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260930T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260930T121500 DTSTAMP:20261005T163754Z CREATED:20260831T181408Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T163754Z UID:10000780-1790766000-1790770500@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Building Indigenous Food Infrastructure Through Community-Controlled Investment DESCRIPTION:This session is co-hosted by SAFSF\, the EFOD Collaborative and First Nations Development Institute. \n\n\n\nThis conversation offers funders\, investors\, and practitioners a window into how two Indigenous-owned enterprises are repairing longstanding infrastructure and market gaps in their respective communities\, and highlights the critical role that integrated capital and practitioner-led technical assistance play in land acquisition deals. \n\n\n\nNative Wise LLC (Fond du Lac Reservation) and Bidii Baby Foods LLC (Navajo Nation) are building market channels and infrastructure for regenerative\, place-based food economies. Together they demonstrate how Indigenous producers are designing food systems that are ecologically sound and economically viable despite persistent structural barriers in capital and land access. Both enterprises became members of the EFOD Collaborative network through a recently launched funding partnership with the First Nations Development Institute\, and have received a range of support in the form of technical assistance\, grants\, and non-extractive capital to secure land.    \n\n\n\nNative Wise LLC\, owned and operated by David and Patra Wise\, operate a 380 acre historic ranch on the Fond Du Lac Reservation through a USDA partnership. Native Wise funds most of its infrastructure projects with revenue from USDA certified Bison meat products\, wild rice\, maple syrup\, and honey sold to neighboring city Whole Foods stores and local restaurants\, including the Sioux Chef and his restaurant Owamni. In 2025\, Native Wise LLC received a 0% interest $250K investment and a $50K general operating grant from EFOD’s integrated capital fund to expand their ranch and support the reintroduction of Native plant species\, bison\, and the critically endangered Ojibway Spirit horse as part of their broader land revitalization work. \n\n\n\nBidii Baby Foods LLC\, founded by Zach and Mary Ben on the Navajo Nation\, is a small family farm and agricultural cooperative that produces dehydrated and freeze-dried baby food made from traditional crops. Nearly 30% of families on the Navajo Nation lack electricity\, and fresh food often requires a 50-mile drive. Bidii Baby Foods LLC addresses both storage and accessibility challenges with nutrient-dense\, shelf-stable products that are also rooted in ancestral foodways. In 2025\, Bidii Baby Foods LLC received technical assistance (TA) through EFOD’s TA program to close on an agricultural property and traditional food manufacturing facility. \n\n\n\nSpeakers \n\n\n\n\nMary Ben\, Co-Founder\, Bidii Baby Foods LLC\n\n\n\nRichard Elm-Hill\, Director\, Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments\, First Nations Development Institute \n\n\n\nMonica Cadena\, Communications and Storytelling Director\, EFOD Collaborative\n\n\n\nCiara Segura\, Director\, Strategy and Resource Mobilization EFOD Collaborative (Moderator) \n\n\n\nDavid Wise\, Owner\, Native Wise LLC\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRECORDING URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/building-indigenous-food-infrastructure-through-community-controlled-investment/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/unnamed-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261007T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261007T203000 DTSTAMP:20260914T174351Z CREATED:20260903T173843Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260914T174351Z UID:10000781-1791397800-1791405000@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Denver Networking Social DESCRIPTION:Please join us for a networking social for funders\, investors\, and advocates working at the nexus of food and agriculture. Come mingle with Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) and partners\, play games\, and learn about our current work. Drinks and light bites will be provided—seats are limited! \n\n\n\nThis event is hosted by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders and sponsored by Dirt Capital Partners. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/denver-networking-social/ CATEGORIES:In Person Gathering ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-16-at-5.09.29-PM.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261014T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261014T121500 DTSTAMP:20261019T232759Z CREATED:20260907T215606Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261019T232759Z UID:10000782-1791975600-1791980100@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:The Future of Agriculture in a Time of Crisis Part 1: On Shaky Ground: Why the Farm Crisis Matters and How to Stop It   DESCRIPTION:American agriculture is in crisis\, and to date systems have not been put in place to sustain agricultural communities and family farms. This series – The Future of Agriculture in a Time of Crisis – will provide analysis of the current agricultural crisis and insight into real solutions that will not only help farmers today but assist in preventing an agricultural crisis like this from happening again. The series will feature agricultural leaders who worked firsthand in the farm financial crisis of the 1980s\, former USDA officials\, and more. \n\n\n\nPart 1: On Shaky Ground: Why the Farm Crisis Matters and How to Stop It  \n\n\n\nUnderstanding today’s farm crisis is not only imperative to keeping farmers farming but has direct ties to mitigating climate change and creating a sustainable agricultural industry in the United States. This foundational session grounds the crisis in hard data\, giving grantmakers and impact investors a clear view of current agricultural economics\, farm bankruptcy trends\, and shifting safety nets. Join us to analyze the current landscape and identify where funder intervention is needed most. \n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIvy Jean Reynolds\, Founder & Principal Consultant\, Agrarian Policy Center\, LLC\n\nIvy Jean Reynolds is a visionary leader in agricultural policy with over a decade of experience driving systemic change for family farmers\, ranchers\, and rural communities. As the Founder t of the Agrarian Policy Center\, Ivy Jean provides expert analysis and strategic counsel to organizations navigating the complexities of modern food systems\, translating dense regulatory frameworks into actionable grassroots strategies. \n\n\nPrior to founding the Center\, Ivy Jean served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy at the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Washington\, D.C. In this pivotal role\, she provided strategic counsel to the FSA Administrator and helped oversee operations for an agency of 13\,000 employees. Her leadership was instrumental in developing innovative programs that enhanced federal assistance delivery and climate-smart conservation practices nationwide. \n\n\nIvy Jean holds a Master of Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Technology in Agriculture Business Management from SUNY Cobleskill. She blends high-level executive experience with a “boots-on-the-ground” perspective\, ensuring that the voices of producers remain at the forefront of national policy. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJanie Hipp\, CEO/President\, Native Agriculture Financial Service\n\nJanie Simms Hipp\, J.D.\, LL.M. is the CEO of Native Agriculture Financial Services (NAFS)\, a 501c3 lender providing capital access and technical services. She is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. Prior to serving as CEO of NAFS\, she served as the General Counsel of USDA\, the founding CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund\, the founding director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative\, and served in various capacities within three USDA administrations. She sits on various boards\, including federal advisory committees\, in the agriculture\, finance\, risk management\, rural economic development\, and related sectors. Her career began in the 1980s during the farm financial crisis of that time. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSavi Horne\, Executive Director\, North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers and Land Loss Prevention Project\n\nSavi Horne is Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers’ Land Loss Prevention Project. LLPP is a non-profit public interest organization that is celebrating 43 years of providing legal services and technical support to North Carolina’s financially distressed farmers\, ranchers and landowners to preserve their farms\, homes\, land and rural livelihoods. Savi served as a member of the Agriculture Subcommittee of the United State Department of Agriculture Equity Commission\, the Equity Commission made recommendations for systemic equity changes in the delivery of programs and services to historically underserved farmers\, ranchers and forest owners. Savi served on the Leadership Team of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance/Black Land and Power Coalition and is now a member of the Wisdom Council. She served on the board of National Family Farm Coalition. Savi is a board member of the Rural Coalition. Savi has been widely honored for her work which includes the 2020 American Bar Association Section of Environment\, Energy\, and Resources (SEER) Award for Excellence in Environmental\, Energy and Resources Stewardship. In September 2022\, she was awarded the Spirit of Farm Aid Award: Lifetime All Access Pass\, signed by Willie Nelson\, in recognition of her “tireless contribution to Farm Aid’s mission to cultivate a vibrant\, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America.” In June 2023\, she was awarded the Leadership Award from the James Beard Foundation. She is a graduate of the Rutgers University School of Law-Newark (JD) and the City College of New York (BA). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n11/18 | Part 2: Abundant Soil: Farm Finance as a Catalyst for Equity\, Resilience\, and Regeneration\n\n\n\nToday’s farm crisis demands immediate action to ensure farmers stay on the land. In times of distress\, targeted loan interventions and technical assistance serve as vital lifelines to extend the timeline of adverse action and preserve an operation’s underlying health. In Part 2 of this series\, hear directly from technical service experts on how grantmakers and impact investors can fund rapid-response financial tools\, advocate for farmers in real time\, and sow seeds of long-term resilience. \n\n\n\n12/2 | Part 3: Back from the Edge: Rethinking American Agriculture from the Ground Up \n\n\n\nSome experts argue that the farm financial crisis of the 1980s never truly ended\, as Federal agricultural policy has repeatedly failed to drive systemic change. In this series finale\, we will examine the deep structural weaknesses in modern agriculture and highlight how strategic investment in forward-thinking technical solutions and policies can support rural communities as we rethink American agriculture from the ground up. \n\n\n\nThis series is open to all. We encourage participation in all three sessions\, but this is not required. By signing up for one part\, you will be automatically added to all three. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/the-future-of-agriculture-in-a-time-of-crisis-part-1-on-shaky-ground-why-the-farm-crisis-matters-and-how-to-stop-it/ CATEGORIES:The Future of Ag Series,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/farmlands-conservation.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261015T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261015T140000 DTSTAMP:20261019T232911Z CREATED:20260727T175232Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261019T232911Z UID:10000774-1792069200-1792072800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Gather Round Monthly Membership Call 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\nWe want to hear what’s top of mind for you\, what you are wrestling with\, and what topics you want to explore deeper. Each call will have a different topic. \n\n\n\nCome share what you are hearing and reflecting on with your peers. This is a space to connect\, listen\, and learn from one another—all SAFSF members are welcome! \n\n\n\nThis event is designed for SAFSF members. Registering below will automatically register you for Gather Round each month. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/gather-round-monthly-membership-call-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:20261029T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261029T111500 DTSTAMP:20261020T144055Z CREATED:20251210T193038Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T144055Z UID:10000728-1793268000-1793272500@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Movement-Aligned Funding Learning Community – Shifting Power to Communities DESCRIPTION:In this quarter’s Movement-Aligned Funding Learning Community call\, we will explore what shifting power and control to communities looks like in action. Speakers will share how they understand the core tenets of community-controlled and movement-aligned funds. Attendees will also examine who holds power over decisions in their organizations and the spectrum of practices that move funding organizations from soliciting input toward genuinely sharing or transferring decision-making power to the communities they serve. \n\n\n\nSpeakers  \n\n\n\n\nNia Kiara Cole\, Fund Manager\, Southern Black Farmers Community Led Fund (SBFCLF)\n\n\n\nMelanie Allen\, Co-Director\, Liberating Investment in the Food and Farm Ecosystem (LIFE)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSystems 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:20261029T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261029T120000 DTSTAMP:20261015T162416Z CREATED:20261015T162413Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261015T162416Z UID:10000788-1793271600-1793275200@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Supply Chain & Procurement Transparency DESCRIPTION:This webinar is co-sponsored by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) and Funders for Regenerative Agriculture (FORA). \n\n\n\nProcurement from public institutions in California represents a powerful\, largely untapped opportunity to direct billions in public spending toward a more regenerative food system\, but the lack of transparency in today’s food supply chain is a significant barrier and costs the public millions of dollars each year.   \n\n\n\nLeveraging public procurement to advance regenerative agriculture and other priorities depends on the ability of institutional buyers to make proactive\, informed purchasing decisions in alignment with those goals. Yet the vast majority of public food purchases move through opaque distribution systems. Buyers often cannot access farm-of-origin information\, including production practices\, without tremendous effort and expense\, if at all. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to direct public dollars towards producers and practices that advance shared goals and can lead to institutional buyers abandoning values-aligned procurement altogether. Moreover\, according to a recent financial analysis\, this murky process costs the public an estimated $23 million each year in labor and fiscal costs for TK-12 school districts alone. \n\n\n\nBut solutions are possible.   \n\n\n\nJoin researchers\, practitioners\, legal and policy experts\, and a representative from the California Department of Food & Agriculture to explore findings from the California Supply Chain Transparency research effort\, hear a preview of a vetted menu of policy and funding solutions\, and learn how this work can move from research into action. \n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\n\nJennifer O’Connor\, Executive Director\, Funders for Regenerative Agriculture (Moderator)\n\n\n\nKevin Irby\, Managing Director\, Funders for Regenerative Agriculture (Moderator)\n\n\n\nNick Anicich\, Farm to School Program Manager\, CA Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork\n\n\n\nH Nieto-Friga\, Founder and CEO\, SupplyChange\n\n\n\nTiffany Germain\, Research & Policy Advisor\, NextGen Policy\n\n\n\nDebbie Friedman\, Senior Director of Policy & Strategy\, Food Insight Group\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/supply-chain-procurement/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/food-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261112T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261112T113000 DTSTAMP:20261015T165754Z CREATED:20260930T200717Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261015T165754Z UID:10000785-1794477600-1794483000@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Legal Support as Movement Infrastructure DESCRIPTION:Co-hosted by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) and Food\, Farm\, and Democracy Initiative (FFDI). \n\n\n\nWhen funders think about “supporting legal action\,” many picture only one thing: adversarial lawsuits. But the role of legal support in movement building is far broader. This session will highlight the many ways that funders can resource communities with legal capacity\, including through:  \n\n\n\n\nResources and guidance materials that help organizations and farmers understand their rights and options\n\n\n\n1:1 direct assistance for organizations managing agreements and administrative appeals\, reviewing contracts\, assessing risk\, and making informed decisions\n\n\n\nFacilitated spaces for lawyers and food systems stakeholders navigating legal complexity to convene\, strategize\, and share information\n\n\n\n\nWe’ll show how these and other forms of legal support are interconnected and in motion right now. We’ll also examine why litigation has proven an essential and effective tool in challenging the Trump administration’s federal funding cuts and terminations\, using the recent court decision restoring $127M in illegally canceled USDA Increasing Land\, Capital\, and Market Access (LCM) Program grants as a case study. This win didn’t happen in isolation: it followed months of coordination across organizations\, each supported in charting different but complementary paths forward. We’ll unpack that behind-the-scenes coordination and discuss what’s still ahead as this case continues. \n\n\n\nThis call is geared towards a funder audience but is open to movement partners. \n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAitalohi (Aita) Amaize\, Administrative Director\, OurSpace World\nBio coming soon \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRachel Armstrong\, Executive Director\, Farm Commons\nAs the founder and Executive Director of Farm Commons\, Rachel Armstrong creates the organization’s innovative approach to farm law education and risk reduction. Her vision for changing the way consumers experience business law has been awarded with two prestigious fellowships: a 2012 Echoing Green Global Fellowship and a 2018 Ashoka Fellowship. As leading authority on direct to consumer farm law she has authored dozens of publications on farm law matters for farmers\, alongside several academic and trade publications for attorneys. Rachel instructs continuing legal education classes for the American Bar Association\, teaches farm law for the University of Massachusetts Amherst\, and is a co-author of “Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures\,” published by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. A graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and the University of Wisconsin Madison\, she lives in Northern Minnesota with her family. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArt Friedrich\, Executive Director\, Urban Oasis Project\nA dedicated food activist on many fronts\, Art believes food unites us across all cultures and backgrounds. He sees his passion for healthy food as a spiritual matter as well as a basic human right and need. He builds coalitions with diverse groups that show dedication to improving our health landscape. He recognizes the privilege and opportunity provided his race and gender as well as the responsibility to use that to create a more just system for all. \n\n\n\nArt has run small food businesses\, and has helped run sustainable farms with his mother in New Hampshire and his sisters in Massachusetts. He met founder Melissa Contreras (now Markham) in 2009 and helped launch her idea into a full fledged grassroots organization. \n\n\n\nArt also owns and manages Greenthumb Popcorn\, an organic vegan supersnack\, previously sold throughout the Whole Foods Florida region and in many independent retailers nationwide. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMaisah Khan\, Policy & Partnerships Weaver\, Regenerative Agriculture Foundation\nMaisah Khan joined the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation as the SHOT Fund Partnerships Manager in December 2024. Maisah came to RAF with over a decade of experience in grassroots nonprofit work and federal policy advocacy. She was the Policy Director for the Mississippi River Network and before that the Water Policy Director for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. Prior to that\, she served as an appointee in the Obama Administration for the U.S. Department of Energy\, focusing on international climate change policy and clean energy deployment. Maisah holds a Masters of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Environment. Her family ties to Bangladesh keep her grounded in our shared movement for climate change solutions. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSophia Kruszewski\, Deputy Policy Director\, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition\nSophia (she/her) leads NSAC’s cross-team policy coordination and strategy efforts. She returned to NSAC after 4 years leading the Food and Agriculture Clinic at Vermont Law School\, where she directed a team providing law and policy services to farmers\, food entrepreneurs\, and food system organizations. During that time\, Sophia led the launch of the Vermont Legal Food Hub\, a program that connects farmers and local food businesses with free legal assistance. Sophia previously served as a Senior Policy Specialist at NSAC; her DC experience also includes the Center for Food Safety\, the White House Council on Environmental Quality\, and the federal district court. She holds a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan and a JD from Vermont Law School. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDavid Muraskin\, Managing Director\, Litigation\, FarmSTAND\nDavid is the Managing Director for Litigation at FarmSTAND. He oversees our docket of consumer\, worker\, environmental\, and constitutional claims taking on industrial animal agriculture’s abusive practices. He has been a leading advocate against “Ag-Gag” laws\, increasing safety for meatpacking and agricultural workers\, and taking on false advertisements that cover up the reality of BigAg. \n\n\n\nHe previously worked at Public Justice and Public Citizen and in private practice as a qui tam attorney. He currently teaches agriculture and environmental law at George Washington University Law School\, and has previously taught at Georgetown and Vermont law schools. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Open Registration\n \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n X/TwitterThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.RegisterName*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Organization*Title*Email*\n \n What are you hoping to learn from this webinar?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.\nEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once.\n Submit URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/legal-support-as-movement-infrastructure/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AdobeStock_212949512.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261118T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261118T120000 DTSTAMP:20261006T201521Z CREATED:20260907T221036Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261006T201521Z UID:10000783-1794999600-1795003200@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:The Future of Agriculture in a Time of Crisis Part 2: Abundant Soil: Farm Finance as a Catalyst for Equity\, Resilience\, and Regeneration DESCRIPTION:American agriculture is in crisis\, and to date systems have not been put in place to sustain agricultural communities and family farms. This series – The Future of Agriculture in a Time of Crisis – will provide analysis of the current agricultural crisis and insight into real solutions that will not only help farmers today but assist in preventing an agricultural crisis like this from happening again. The series will feature agricultural leaders who worked firsthand in the farm financial crisis of the 1980s\, former USDA officials\, and more. \n\n\n\nPart 2: Abundant Soil: Farm Finance as a Catalyst for Equity\, Resilience\, and Regeneration\n\n\n\nToday’s farm crisis demands immediate action to ensure farmers stay on the land. In times of distress\, targeted loan interventions and technical assistance serve as vital lifelines to extend the timeline of adverse action and preserve an operation’s underlying health. In Part 2 of this series\, hear directly from technical service experts on how grantmakers and impact investors can fund rapid-response financial tools\, advocate for farmers in real time\, and sow seeds of long-term resilience. \n\n\n\nThis series is open to all. We encourage participation in all three sessions\, but this is not required. By signing up for one part\, you will be automatically added to all three. Speakers coming soon! \n\n\n\n \n \n Please fill out this form once to register for this three part series. \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n CommentsThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.RegisterName*\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.\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.\nEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once.\n Submit URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/the-future-of-agriculture-in-a-time-of-crisis-part-2-abundant-soil-farm-finance-as-a-catalyst-for-equity-resilience-and-regeneration/ CATEGORIES:The Future of Ag Series,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/farmlands-conservation.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261119T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261119T140000 DTSTAMP:20260903T155508Z CREATED:20260727T175419Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T155508Z UID:10000775-1795093200-1795096800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Gather Round Monthly Membership Call 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\nWe want to hear what’s top of mind for you\, what you are wrestling with\, and what topics you want to explore deeper. Each call will have a different topic. \n\n\n\nCome share what you are hearing and reflecting on with your peers. This is a space to connect\, listen\, and learn from one another—all SAFSF members are welcome! \n\n\n\nThis event is designed for SAFSF members. Registering below will automatically register you for Gather Round each month. \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-monthly-membership-call-5/ 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:20261120T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261120T121500 DTSTAMP:20261005T161802Z CREATED:20261005T161717Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T161802Z UID:10000786-1795172400-1795176900@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:SNAP Funder Working Group: Advocacy Opportunities Post-Election 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.  \n\n\n\nThis Working Group call will create a space for funders to discuss strategic SNAP advocacy and relationship building opportunities at the federal and state levels following November’s election results.  \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. \n\n\n\n \n \n Funder-Only Registration\n \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n X/TwitterThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.RegisterName*\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.\nEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once.\n Submit URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/snapwg1/ 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:20261202T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261202T120000 DTSTAMP:20261020T194805Z CREATED:20260907T221638Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T194805Z UID:10000784-1796209200-1796212800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:The Future of Agriculture in a Time of Crisis Part 3: Back from the Edge: Rethinking American Agriculture from the Ground Up DESCRIPTION:American agriculture is in crisis\, and to date systems have not been put in place to sustain agricultural communities and family farms. This series – The Future of Agriculture in a Time of Crisis – will provide analysis of the current agricultural crisis and insight into real solutions that will not only help farmers today but assist in preventing an agricultural crisis like this from happening again. The series will feature agricultural leaders who worked firsthand in the farm financial crisis of the 1980s\, former USDA officials\, and more. \n\n\n\nPart 3: Back from the Edge: Rethinking American Agriculture from the Ground Up\n\n\n\nSome experts argue that the farm financial crisis of the 1980s never truly ended\, as Federal agricultural policy has repeatedly failed to drive systemic change. In this series finale\, we will examine the deep structural weaknesses in modern agriculture and highlight how strategic investment in forward-thinking technical solutions and policies can support rural communities as we rethink American agriculture from the ground up. \n\n\n\nThis series is open to all. We encourage participation in all three sessions\, but this is not required. By signing up for one part\, you will be automatically added to all three. Speakers coming soon! \n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSeanicaa Edwards Herron\, Founder & CEO\, Freedmen Heirs Foundation\, Inc\nSeanicaa Edwards Herron is a respected agricultural economist with 20 years of experience spanning across the academic\, private\, and government sectors. Pioneer and trailblazer\, Seanicaa was the first Black woman to serve in the capacity of agricultural economist for the USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board\, University of Missouri-Columbia Commercial Agriculture Program\, and Informa Economics. Seanicaa is also a former USDA radio contributor on livestock markets and weekly briefings to USDA’s Secretary of Agriculture\, Chief Economist\, and top officials. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by Black farmers\, Seanicaa now serves as Founder and Executive Director of Freedmen Heirs Foundation Inc\, a nonprofit organization with a laser focus on transforming U.S. agriculture by bridging the gap between two worlds: Black farmers and the marketplace. Dedicated to a vision of eliminating inequities in agriculture\, Freedmen Heirs Foundation’s mission is to provide Black farmers access to technical assistance\, capital\, and new market opportunities. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nScott Marlow\, CEO\, Long Rows Consulting\nScott Marlow is the CEO of Long Rows Consulting\, providing education and policy analysis on farm financial crisis\, credit\, risk management\, and disaster assistance\, and their role in building global and community resilience. Scott previously worked with RAFI-USA\, providing financial counseling to farmers in crisis\, education on disaster assistance and credit programs\, and policy initiatives addressing farm financial and environmental resilience. He has 10 years of experience as an operator on farm survival hotlines and has provided producer education and advising of nonprofit organizations on 18 hurricanes and multiple other natural disasters. He was a co-organizer of Farm Advocate Link\, a network of farm crisis advisors based at Farm Aid. Winona Dorris is a business consultant with over 20 years of experience advising business owners on accounting\, tax\, and insurance with a focus on empowering communities who are more at risk for injustice. She is the great niece of Ed Scott\, a Mississippi sharecropper and successful claimant of the Pigford lawsuit. Through her family history she understands the effect injustices have on generations of people stripped of their livelihood. Her cousins are now re-building the family farm legacy\, and Winona is working to help farmers understand the importance of business knowledge and infrastructure in accessing opportunities. Her current work includes providing farm business trainings for California FarmLink and the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture Veteran Farmer Training Program. She has a BA in Economics and Accounting from Claremont McKenna College\, a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix\, and a Graduate Masters Certificate in Taxation from Golden Gate University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Please fill out this form once to register for this three part series. \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.RegisterName*\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.\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.\nEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once.\n Submit URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/the-future-of-agriculture-in-a-time-of-crisis-part-3-back-from-the-edge-rethinking-american-agriculture-from-the-ground-up/ CATEGORIES:The Future of Ag Series,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/farmlands-conservation.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261209T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261209T121500 DTSTAMP:20261019T145522Z CREATED:20261008T150825Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261019T145522Z UID:10000787-1796814000-1796818500@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Beyond the 501(c)(3): Understanding Power-Building Through 501(c)(4) Strategies DESCRIPTION:501(c)(4) organizations are uniquely positioned to drive social change and advance policy goals because they can use a broader array of advocacy tools than 501(c)(3)s. Unlike c3s\, c4s have no lobbying limits and can engage in certain forms of partisan political activity and electoral work — enabling them to build productive relationships with decisionmakers through legislative advocacy and election campaigns. \n\n\n\nThis is an educational webinar open to all funders about the fundamentals of c3 vs. c4 work and how c4 activity is a powerful and complementary lever to build durable power and policy change. Speakers will share examples of what they have been able to accomplish through c4 work. We’ll also explore how foundations can legally resource c4 work and considerations on how funders and movement partners can establish affiliate c4s. \n\n\n\nSustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The presentations in this webinar will not include any candidate endorsements\, other partisan campaign activity\, or any calls to action to support specific c4s that are lobbying on specific pending or proposed legislation or any specific 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations. \n\n\n\nThis webinar is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions about compliance with federal\, state\, or local law that may apply to your organization\, you should consult experienced legal counsel. \n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSophie Ackoff\, Environmental Advocacy Project\nBio coming soon \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSean Carroll\, Policy Director\, Land Stewardship Project (LSP)\nWith close to 20 years of organizing experience\, Sean has worked on a broad range of social justice issues\, including with the labor movement\, on environmental issues\, in faith communities\, on elections\, and on food systems. In that time\, he has organized campaigns with teachers to keep their rural public school from closing\, to register thousands of students to vote\, and to pass leading policies on solar power. Since 2018\, he has served on the board of CURE (Clean Up the River Environment)\, a rural-based organization based in western Minnesota. As policy director for the Land Stewardship Project\, Sean manages a team of organizers building grassroots power for a just food and farming system. Biking\, music\, art\, his cats\, and his family keep a smile on his face. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSarah Hackney\, Coalition Director\, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)\nSarah (she/her) oversees NSAC’s overall organizational strategic direction\, administration\, management\, and capacity-building. Previously\, she served as NSAC’s Grassroots Director for nearly 8 years\, working with NSAC’s member organizations and allies to empower and mobilize grassroots food and farm voices nationwide. Raised in rural Florida\, her prior work has included community-led efforts to improve small farm viability\, increase fresh food access\, and build leadership in rural communities in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJosh McNeil\, Deputy Director\, Walton Conservation Coalition\nBio coming soon \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoe Shultz\, Executive Director\, The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation (PACT)\nAs The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation Executive Director\, Joe draws on more than 15 years of leading food and agriculture policy in the U.S. Senate and his work on the past three bipartisan Farm Bills. A graduate of The Ohio State University and Cornell University\, Joe is active in the management of his family’s fourth-generation farm. Joe is based in Washington\, D.C. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Funder-Only Registration\n \n "*" indicates required fields \n \n EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.RegisterName*\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.\nEvent Name\nIt may take longer than expected to process your submission\, please only click submit once.\n Submit URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/beyond-the-501c3-understanding-power-building/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/istockphoto-1210772380-612x612-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261210T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261210T110000 DTSTAMP:20251211T192232Z 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:20261216T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261216T140000 DTSTAMP:20260922T213637Z CREATED:20260225T200119Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T213637Z UID:10000752-1797426000-1797429600@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:Maximize Your Membership,Member Only,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:20261217T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261217T140000 DTSTAMP:20260903T155726Z CREATED:20260727T175523Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T155726Z UID:10000776-1797512400-1797516000@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Gather Round Monthly Membership Call 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\nWe want to hear what’s top of mind for you\, what you are wrestling with\, and what topics you want to explore deeper. Each call will have a different topic. \n\n\n\nCome share what you are hearing and reflecting on with your peers. This is a space to connect\, listen\, and learn from one another—all SAFSF members are welcome! \n\n\n\nThis event is designed for SAFSF members. Registering below will automatically register you for Gather Round each month. \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-monthly-membership-call-6/ CATEGORIES:Gather Round,Member Only,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Gather-Round.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR