BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders - ECPv6.15.17//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/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:20260217T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260217T120000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260204T154635Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T154840Z UID:10000741-1771326000-1771329600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Indigenous Food Systems Community of Practice Alumni Circle DESCRIPTION:The Indigenous Food Systems Community of Practice (IFSCoP) is a learning and relationship-building cohort for funders interested in advancing support for Native-led food systems work. Developed by Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders\, First Nations Development Institute\, and Melvin Consulting PLLC\, this program brings funders together to engage directly with Indigenous leaders\, deepen understanding of structural and philanthropic barriers in Indian Country\, and build more effective strategies for supporting Native food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture. The IFSCoP has been offered every other year since 2021.  \n\n\n\nIn times of crisis\, our values can be the anchor that guides how we show up for one another. Alumni of the Indigenous Food Systems Community of Practice are invited to join this virtual session\, where we will explore how funders and community leaders come together to respond in ways that are aligned with shared principles and centered on community needs. Participants will reflect on how they are partnering with grantees and local stakeholders to meet the moment and strengthen collective impact. \n\n\n\nThis virtual gathering is open to past IFSCoP participants only. Stay tuned for more information about Cohort 3 launching in 2026! URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/indigenous-food-systems-community-of-practice-alumni-circle-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/unnamed.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260218T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260218T103000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260129T153232Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T184250Z UID:10000740-1771405200-1771410600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:From Fossil Fuels to Toxic Pesticides: Connecting Corporate Control\, Climate\, and Environmental Health DESCRIPTION:Co-Hosts: Funders for Regenerative Agriculture (FORA)\, Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN)\, Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders (SAFSF)\, and URSA Collective. \n\n\n\nEverybody needs to eat. We believe that everyone wants a healthier food system\, but just need to be convinced it’s possible. We’ll show how the story of paraquat can build a drumbeat for broader narratives appealing to a wide audience\, such as: \n\n\n\n\nCorporate consolidation is driving farmers to the brink;\n\n\n\nFarming without synthetic pesticides can be more profitable over time\, and helps farmers regain independence from agrochemical conglomerates;\n\n\n\nAgricultural and industrial advocacy communities can organize together against the harms and massive profits of the four largest agrochemical companies. Together we are more powerful than we think\, and new audiences are interested in our messages.\n\n\n\n\nAt this funder briefing\, we encourage a robust discussion on how we can tell impactful stories together\, and advance a collective agenda for sustainable agriculture that values human health and dignity over corporate profits. \n\n\n\nThis session on the intersection of industrial and agrochemical corporate control\, climate impacts\, and environmental health inequities will showcase the findings of the recently released Phase 1 report\, Designed to Kill: Who Profits from Paraquat?\, and an accompanying storymap that illustrates the full lifecycle of the synthetic pesticide paraquat\, from fossil fuel extraction to transport to chemical manufacturing\, application\, and resulting exposure. These campaign materials are part of a broad systems approach that help coalitions “bust out of silos” between industrial and agricultural chemical issues\, and domestic and international chemicals campaigning\, while bringing pesticides into the climate conversation. \n\n\n\nPhase 2 of the work will launch a power-building campaign focused on the need to hold giant agrochemical companies accountable for their harms to people and climate across national borders. Our movement needs to go beyond communicating and organizing for individual pesticide bans and motivate root changes to our food system. \n\n\n\nThis discussion is intended for folks in funding or funder-adjacent roles. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnn Thrupp\n\n\n\nSenior Program Officer\, Clif Family Foundation\nANN THRUPP has extensive experience in sustainable\, organic\, equitable and regenerative agriculture and food systems in the United States and internationally. For more than 35 years\, she has been a pioneer working on the intersection of agriculture\, ecology\, food security\, social justice\, and public health. Ann has held leadership positions in non-profit organizations\, government\, academia\, business\, and now philanthropy.  \n\n\n\nShe is currently working as Senior Program Officer of Food Systems Transformation for the Clif Family Foundation. In 2022-23 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research about pesticide use in banana production in Costa Rica. Ann previously served as the Director of the California Food is Medicine Coalition (2019-2022) and was founding Executive Director of the Berkeley Food Institute at the University of California Berkeley from 2013-2019. Prior to that\, she was Manager of Sustainability and Organic Development at Fetzer and Bonterra Vineyards for 11 years (2003-2013). She also worked for several years with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Agriculture Initiative in the Western Region office\, and for 10 years\, was Director of Sustainable Agriculture at World Resources Institute\, leading projects in Latin America and other regions of the world. \n\n\n\nAnn has a PhD and Master’s degree from Sussex University in England (with Marshall and Fulbright scholarships)\, a BA from Stanford University (Phi Beta Kappa)\, with double majors in Human Biology and Latin American Studies. She has more than 75 publications\, including three books (with two as co-author)\, and has served on boards of non-profit organization and advisory committees in the field. She is a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program and is fluent in Spanish. She is an avid runner (and was an All-American cross-country runner at Stanford University) and enjoys gardening\, music\, and creative writing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDiedre Nelms\n\n\n\nDirector of Communications\, Coming Clean\nDeidre is the Director of Communications for Coming Clean. She provides consistent framing\, messaging\, and promotion of Coming Clean’s work and that of strategic partner\, the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy reform\, across communication channels including mass media\, social media\, websites\, and internal network communications.With a Master’s degree in philosophy\, Deidre was previously communications organizer for a graduate union local and taught environmental ethics at Georgetown University. She now lives in Kansas City\, Missouri. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAmy Tamayo\n\n\n\nNational Policy and Advocacy Director\, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas\, Inc.\nAmy is the National Policy and Advocacy Director at Alianza Nacional de Campesinas\, Inc.\, where she strategizes and advocates alongside farmworker women in advancing their policy priorities in the areas of immigration\, environmental justice and pesticides\, workers’ rights\, and ending violence against women. Prior to joining Alianza\, Amy was a Justice Catalyst legal fellow at Centro de los Derechos del Migrante\, where she focused on challenging labor abuse and discrimination migrant workers face during recruitment and in the workplace. Amy has a Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law\, and has over 10 years of experience working on intersectional issues in women’ s rights. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCristóbal Lagunas\n\n\n\nOrganizing Lead\, Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network\nCristóbal is Organizing Lead for Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network. Cris is a strategist\, and organizer currently based in Boston\, MA. His work is rooted in the belief that our people hold the power to transform the world when we move together. Born in Chile and shaped by the immigrant struggle in the U.S.\, Cris has spent years organizing alongside frontline communities fighting for immigrant rights\, climate justice\, and Just Transition. Whether it’s building narrative power\, crafting campaigns\, or showing up in the streets\, Cris brings heart\, humor\, and deep commitment to the work of collective liberation. URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/from-fossil-fuels-to-toxic-pesticides-connecting-corporate-control-climate-and-environmental-health/ 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:20260219T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260219T140000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260209T155411Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T155702Z UID:10000743-1771506000-1771509600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Gather Round: Making Space to Connect 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\nIn February\, Gather Round will hold space during Black History Month with an emphasis on presence\, storytelling\, and connection. We’ll begin with a brief grounding and a short film highlighting Black farming and land stewardship\, offering a moment to reflect on the living legacy of Black agrarian leadership. From there\, we’ll move into breakout discussions on community care\, sustainability in our work\, and learning and unlearning. We will also have an open\, unprompted shared space for conversation.  \n\n\n\nThis gathering is an invitation to plant seeds together as we look ahead to gathering in Savannah\, Georgia\, later this year\, and to continue holding history\, care\, and community at the center of our work. \n\n\n\nThis event is designed for SAFSF members. Registering below will automatically register you for Gather Round each 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-making-space-to-connect/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/4A0A8294-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260227T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260227T113000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260209T152108Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260304T195437Z UID:10000742-1772186400-1772191800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Withstanding the Assault: Strategies for Philanthropy to Support Frontline Organizations and the Communities Most Impacted DESCRIPTION:Even the most pessimistic among us were not adequately prepared for this past year’s multi-pronged federal attack on the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged farmers\, new immigrants\, SNAP recipients\, and the organizations that advocate for these diverse communities and the ecosystems that we depend on. These challenges have been ratcheted up in 2026\, with a farm economy spiraling toward crisis and skyrocketing food insecurity compounded by ICE activities in Minneapolis and other cities. This webinar\, organized by the Food & Farm Democracy Initiative (FFDI)\, is an opportunity for funders to hear from frontline organizations\, some that are focused on policy advocacy and others that are addressing the hardships created by this Administration. One year in\, panelists will share how their organizations and communities are responding to support farmers\, ranchers\, and families and how they are anticipating what comes next. These panelists\, as well as leaders from the FFDI founding organizations (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition\, RAFI\, Red Clover Collaborative\, and Regenerative Agriculture Foundation)\, will also ground-truth how philanthropy can effectively respond to this reality.  \n\n\n\nIn addition to FFDI\, this webinar is co-sponsored by the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders\, Health & Environment Funders Network\, Rural Climate Partnership\, and the Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Benedict \n\n\n\nFarmer\, Desert Sky Produce \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nZoe Hollomon\n\n\n\nMidwest Farmers of Color Collective \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohnElla Holmes\n\n\n\nKansas Black Farmers Association \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHannah Kinney Smith\n\n\n\nPasa Sustainable Agriculture URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/withstanding-the-assault-strategies-for-philanthropy-to-support-frontline-organizations-and-the-communities-most-impacted/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/farmgrainbins.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260304T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260304T143000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260212T212007Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260220T165823Z UID:10000744-1772629200-1772634600@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Making Values-Based Procurement Work: Lessons from the Georgia ACRE Collective DESCRIPTION:Join the Food Systems Leadership Network\, The Common Market\, and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders for a 90-minute webinar highlighting lessons from the Georgia ACRE Collective\, a place-based\, collective-impact model that coordinated partners and investments across the supply chain to unlock new markets for farmers while delivering on values-driven purchasing goals. \n\n\n\nRather than focusing on a single intervention\, this session will explore how multiple aligned organizations worked together – from farm infrastructure and technical assistance to forward commitments and institutional partnerships – to build the conditions for success. \n\n\n\nSpeakers will share: \n\n\n\n\nA concise overview of the Georgia ACRE Collective model\n\n\n\nOn-the-ground realities from a participating farmer\n\n\n\nReflections on the role of philanthropy in supporting durable\, place-based food system change\n\n\n\nActionable takeaways for funders and practitioners interested in replication or adaptation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis webinar is designed for funders\, investors\, and food system leaders seeking practical insight into aligned capital\, shared risk\, and collaborative strategies that lead to durable impact. We are excited to share this conversation alongside SAFSF members The Common Market and The Conservation Fund\, and the full constellation of partners who made the Georgia ACRE Collective possible. This webinar sets the stage for deeper learning about food systems in Georgia at the 2026 SAFSF Forum in Savannah\, Georgia\, June 22–25. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/making-values-based-procurement-work-lessons-from-the-georgia-acre-collective/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PBPNGreenhouseTourGroup03.KCForum2022-e1741917182338.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260309T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260309T110000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260220T162410Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T140832Z UID:10000747-1773048600-1773054000@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Funding Narrative Power 101: From Communications to Systems Change DESCRIPTION:Blue Sky Funders Forum\, Chesapeake Bay Funders Network\, Climate and Energy Funders Group\, Funders for Regenerative Agriculture\, Grantmakers in Health\, Health and Environmental Funders Network\, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders\, and The Funders Network. \n\n\n\nWho gets to shape how society understands health and harm\, what is true and trustworthy\, what is possible\, who belongs and who is deserving? In a time when concentrated power holders control the media landscape but popular uprising is growing\, conversations about the environment; health; and politics have never been more polarized. The competition for narrative power is taking center stage\, but how do narratives gather power in the first place? \n\n\n\nPlease join us for a 90 minute interactive workshop with your funding peers that will provide: \n\n\n\n\nSimple frameworks to understand what narrative power building is and what it practically means to fund narrative infrastructure \n\n\n\nAn appreciation for how different aspects of narrative work reinforce one another and an understanding of the role for collaborative\, cumulative and/or complementary funding \n\n\n\nInsights on how funding can support an ‘influence loop’ that leads individuals to take action\, rather than more passive communications strategies that can have limited impact \n\n\n\nIndividual and small group reflection to sharpen what role you and your colleagues are interested in playing\, where you may want to invest in the future\, and how you may need to create internal “buy in” for narrative work at your organizations \n\n\n\n\nFolks who are funders or consultants in philanthropy are welcome to participate in the workshop regardless of whether your organization has ever funded narrative and communications work. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend for the full 90 minutes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/funding-narrative-power-101-from-communications-to-systems-change/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ConservationPolicyClimate.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260319T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260319T140000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260225T210005Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T142644Z UID:10000753-1773925200-1773928800@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Gather Round: In This Moment: Regional Insights  from Across Our Membership DESCRIPTION:In this Moment: Regional Insights  from Across Our Membership \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\nAcross the SAFSF network\, members are responding to federal shifts and funding uncertainty by leaning into local\, state and regional alignment and place-based collaborative capital strategies. In this month’s Gather Round\, we will discuss regional trends in the SAFSF membership and how funders are coordinating across funding needs within their respective communities. Whether you are a regional or place-based funder or simply want to learn about what’s happening on the ground across the country\, this month’s discussion will offer a space to reflect on the importance of regionality in food systems. Come prepared to share about how regionality shows up in funding food systems at your organization. This month’s Gather Round is a precursor to a regional networking event that will be virtually hosted by SAFSF next month as a way to deepen funding partnerships within your region.   \n\n\n\nCome ready to listen\, learn and share. \n\n\n\nInterested in SAFSF membership? Email us and learn more. \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/ 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:20260324T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260324T103000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260220T165725Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260220T173435Z UID:10000748-1774342800-1774348200@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Food Policy Councils: Food justice\, democracy\, and civic engagement DESCRIPTION:Co-sponsored by Community Food Funders\, New York Health Foundation\, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers\, and Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders \n\n\n\nOrganizing and activating networks for policy changes are hallmarks of a healthy democracy. In this moment\, food policy councils (FPCs) are responding to federal funding freezes\, harmful federal food system policies\, and communities in crisis. Their ability to address community needs on the ground and in collaboration with their local representatives can help communities weather challenges at the federal level. Strong FPCs also create stable political structures that outlast changes in administrations.  \n\n\n\nFood systems are complex and interconnected\, and driving change requires collaboration and cooperation across sectors\, geographic boundaries\, and political ideologies. FPCs have served as convening bodies that promote civic engagement and provide platforms for communities to advocate for healthy\, just\, and sustainable food systems. With approximately 300 FPCs across the country\, serving communities large and small\, they bring together diverse actors to influence policy in their communities. \n\n\n\nWhile FPCs have been around for decades\, their prominence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic\, largely due to their success in meeting communities’ rapidly evolving food system needs. Findings from Johns Hopkins’ Center for a Livable Future’s 2021 census found that 82% facilitated connections across food systems sectors\, 76% advocated for policy changes\, and 50% collaborated with government staff or elected officials to secure funding for food system services. \n\n\n\nJoin us for a deep dive on the work of FPCs. By highlighting the critical work they do\, and some of the challenges they face\, funders will come away from this webinar with actionable strategies to support and engage with FPCs near them.  \n\n\n\nLearn\n\n\n\n\nMeet two national organizations providing technical assistance and funding to food policy councils nationwide.\n\n\n\nLearn about food policy councils and the critical roles they play in advancing health\, equity\, and civic engagement around food.\n\n\n\nDiscover tools to connect with councils in NJ\, NY\, and CT. \n\n\n\nHear stories from local FPCs about how they’re responding to the shifting federal food policy landscape\, deepening their equity work\, and inspiring civic engagement in their communities.\n\n\n\n\nThis event is designed for funders. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER URL:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/event/food-policy-councils-food-justice-democracy-and-civic-engagement/ CATEGORIES:Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NJFDC-mtg-for-web.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260325T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260325T140000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260305T141948Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T021349Z UID:10000754-1774443600-1774447200@www.agandfoodfunders.org SUMMARY:Health Funders Learning Community Call DESCRIPTION:Join us for the first Health Funders Learning Community call of 2026. \n\n\n\nHealth funders are navigating urgent community asks in an increasingly unstable policy and economic landscape. This session is designed as a connection and sense-making space for SAFSF members funding at the intersection of health\, agriculture\, and food systems. \n\n\n\nTogether\, we will move beyond high-level language and explore what “deploying capital” really means right now — including how members are thinking about payout levels\, multi-year commitments\, general operating support\, advocacy funding\, and state-level strategies. \n\n\n\nThis conversation will be grounded in on-the-ground realities from participants’ regions and is intended to support practical peer exchange as we launch the 2026 quarterly series. \n\n\n\nThis is an SAFSF member-only call. If you are interested in exploring membership\, please contact membership@safsf.org. \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/hflc2/ CATEGORIES:Learning Community,Member Only,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.agandfoodfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/food-recovery.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260326T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260326T130000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260225T195542Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T154530Z UID:10000749-1774526400-1774530000@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\, Membership Manager\, 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 Previews \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-3/ 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:20260331T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260331T110000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 CREATED:20260310T152443Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T180736Z 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \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 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/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:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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:20260430T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260430T110000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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 NameThis 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:20260512T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260512T160000 DTSTAMP:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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 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 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:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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:20260403T110216 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