COVID-19 Funds

Last Updated: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 6:26 pm PT

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) is tracking COVID-19 philanthropic response and recovery funds that focus on the food and agriculture system.

This is a working list and funds will continue to be added as members of our network and others share information. This list is provided as an informational resource; funds listed on this page are not endorsed or vetted by SAFSF. Please do due diligence as you would with any other contribution.

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Many other organizations are curating lists of philanthropic funds supporting COVID-19 relief more broadly. A few of these lists include:

Agroecology Fund Emergency Fund

Fund information: https://www.agroecologyfund.org/blog/2020/4/3/aef-emergency-response

About the fund: Around the world, frontline communities have shown enormous creativity in rapidly implementing mutual aid programs in the face of this crisis. At the same time, they are advocating for public emergency programs and stimulus packages to truly resolve vulnerable populations’ food needs. The Agroecology Fund has initiated an Emergency Fund to offer emergency grants for such humanitarian efforts that strengthen community-based, agroecological food systems, and to support advocacy which holds governments accountable. 

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production; Agricultural workers; Food distribution/distributors; Advocacy to protect basic human rights in the face of government lockdowns, and to ensure government accountability to the needs of small farmers and vulnerable consumers in public aid and stimulus packages.

Geographic scope: International

Fund contact: Daniel Moss, [email protected]

American Farmland Trust: Farmer Relief Fund

Fund information: https://farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund/

About the fund: The coronavirus pandemic is impacting businesses that rely on direct contact with their customers, including farmers and ranchers that primarily sell their products through farmers markets and to restaurants, schools, and other institutions. In fact, a new report estimates that local and regional food systems could lose up to $1.3 billion between just March and May of this year.

To help directly support farmers impacted by the current crisis, American Farmland Trust is launching a new Farmer Relief Fund. 100% of donations to the fund will go directly to farmers. AFT’s Farmer Relief Fund will award farmers with cash grants of up to $1,000 each to help them weather the current storm of market disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Initially, eligible applicants include any small and mid-size direct-market producers. These are defined as producers with annual gross revenue of between $10,000 and $1 million from sales at farmers markets and/or direct sales to restaurants, caterers, schools, stores, or makers who use farm products as inputs.

Issue areas: Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: National

Another Round, Another Rally

Fund information: https://anotherroundanotherrally.org/

About the fund: Another Round, Another Rally provides scholarships and tuition reimbursement to underrepresented people in the hospitality industry community with the goal of developing leaders who create innovative, dynamic workplaces where equity and inclusion allow marginalized populations the space to advance and thrive.

We’re offering $500 relief grants for hospitality workers who lost their jobs or had their hours slashed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. We’re also collecting donations from community members willing to help their hospitality-industry friends and neighbors stay afloat in this time of uncertainty.

Issue Areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: National

BgoldN COVID-19 Food Assistance Fund

Fund information: https://www.guidinggolden.com/helping-golden; https://www.guidinggolden.com/helping-golden/news_feed/golden-restaurants-and-civic-organizations-work-together-to-feed-people-in-need-support-businesses, https://www.coloradogives.org/BgoldN 

About the fund:BGoldN, an unprecedented public-private-non-profit partnership, launches March 24, 2020, in Golden, Colorado. The program, initiated by Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg, is an innovative, two-pronged approach to stymie the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis on local restaurants and help feed residents in need.

The the BGoldN Fund will help families and individuals who need food assistance. 100% of donations will cover local restaurant costs for BGoldN and purchasing food for our local food banks.

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief

Geographic scope: Local (Golden, Colorado)

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF): The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund

Fund information: https://www.ccof.org/ccof-foundation/bricmont-hardship-assistance-fund

About the fund: The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund—named to honor founding CCOF member Barney Bricmont—is the only fund in the nation that provides direct financial assistance exclusively to organic producers who suffer financial losses due to extreme hardship. Since 2007, CCOF has distributed $180,000 in awards.

Issue Areas: Farmers and agricultural production; organics

Geographic scope: State (California)

California FarmLink: COVID-19 Emergency Loans

Fund information: https://www.californiafarmlink.org/covid-19-english/; https://www.californiafarmlink.org/donate/

About the fund: Farmers and ranchers experiencing financial hardship because of COVID-19 may be eligible for loans of up to $20,000 at 0% interest, with no payments required for two years. Eligibility is largely based on repayment history and pre-COVID-19 income. Current and former borrowers will be prioritized. New borrowers are also eligible and encouraged to apply.

Issue Areas: Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: State (California)

California Alliance with Family Farmers: California Family Farmer Emergency Fund

Fund information: https://www.caff.org/cafamilyfarmeremergencyfund/

About the fund: The California Family Farmer Emergency fund provides direct relief to smaller-scale farmers, the anchors of local food systems, that have seen their lives and livelihoods disrupted by Covid-19. Over 50% of the funds are reserved for farmers of color, immigrant and undocumented farmers. The California Family Farmer Emergency Fund is a nonprofit advised fund at Sacramento Region Community Foundation.

Issue Areas: Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: State (California)

Fund contact: Holly Markham, [email protected]

Colorado Restaurant Foundation: Angel Relief Fund for COVID-19 Support

Fund information: https://corestaurant.org/foundation/angel-relief-fund

About the fund: The Angel Relief Fund was created to help restaurant and hospitality industry employees experiencing extraordinary hardship.

In the wake of COVID-19, this means raising funds to provide grants to restaurant and hospitality workers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, who are self-quarantined under doctor’s care, or who are unable to receive government assistance and have been out of work for more than a month.

Issue Areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: State (Colorado)

Community Foundation of North Central Florida: Working Food Relief

Fund information: http://cfncf.org/workingfoodrelief/

About the fund: Fund to support the Working Food Relief meal program that helps keep food entrepreneurs working, farmers farming, and provides those in need a fresh, healthy prepared meals. It is coordinated through local nonprofit, Working Food. 

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production; Restaurants

Geographic scope: Local (Gainesville, FL)

Fund contact: Anna Prizzia, [email protected]

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture: CISA Emergency Farm Fund

Fund information: https://www.buylocalfood.org/resources-for-farmers/cisa-emergency-farm-fund/

About the fund: The Emergency Farm Fund has been re-opened to accept applications from farms in Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties, Massachusetts, that have been affected by COVID-19. Loans are available for eligible farms that have suffered income loss because of farmers’ market, restaurant, and college closures or other disruptions due to COVID-19. In partnership with the Franklin County CDC and the Pioneer Valley Grows Investment Fund, we are offering zero-interest loans up to $25,000.

The Emergency Farm Fund will offer zero-interest loans to assist farmers and farm businesses struggling to meet their immediate financial needs because of market changes and closures. The goal of this fund is to respond to critical, time-sensitive needs. Loans up to $5,000 will be issued and administered by CISA, and loans above $5,000 will be issued and administered by the Pioneer Valley Grows Investment Fund/Franklin County CDC.

The Emergency Farm Fund was established in 2011 as a response to the damage suffered by farms in western Massachusetts due to Hurricane Irene.

Issue Areas: Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: Regional (Franklin, Hampshire, or Hampden counties in Massachusetts)

Cultivating Community: Emergency Food Fund in the Wake of COVID-19

Fund information: https://cultivatingcommunity.networkforgood.com/projects/95844-emergency-food-fund

About the fund: Donate now to help stock food pantries with local food for Mainers. We are asking you to support New American farmers and low-income families by contributing to our Emergency Food Fund. This additional revenue will allow us to purchase greater volumes of produce from farmers and significantly step up the quantity and frequency of our food pantry deliveries throughout the July – October harvest season.

A donation today means:
– secured income for a New American farmer
– secured local food for a Mainer in need

Thank you to our partner, Allagash Brewing Company, who has committed to matching the first $8,000 raised.

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: State (Maine)

Edible Memphis: Memphis Food Industry Emergency Worker Assistance

Fund information: https://www.gofundme.com/f/memphisfoodworkers

About the fund: We at Edible Memphis are communicating with representatives from City Hall, Nashville, and Washington and with other leaders who are working on public policies and emergency relief mechanisms. But those measures are unlikely to come quickly enough for our food industry workers to keep their apartments, transportation, and food security.

Our food industry businesses already operate in one of the riskiest sectors of the economy, and the current crisis has come for them first.

We have started a fund that can be accessed by workers whose hours have been curtailed or eliminated because of this crisis and who are not being otherwise compensated. Though the assistance now is just for industry workers, in the future it may also be used for short-term loans to business owners who have been impacted.

Issue Areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: Local (Memphis, Tennessee)

Educated Eats Foundation: Coronavirus Worker Relief Fund

Fund information: https://www.ramw.org/educated-eats

About the fund: During this challenging time as businesses and individuals navigate the Coronavirus and its impact on industry, RAMW members Hook Hall started Hook Hall Helps to support restaurant and food service industry workers who may need assistance with supplies, community support, family meal, and more.

The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s Education Foundation, Educated Eats, has partnered as a conduit to receive donations which Hook Hall Helps and Educated Eats will work together to distribute to support worker relief measures.

Issue Areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: Local, Regional (Washington, DC)

Emergency Food + Farm Fund for Greater DMV/VA

Fund information: https://www.gofundme.com/f/greater-dcva-emergency-food-farm-support; http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Corona-Response-Case-Statement-1.pdf

About the fund:We are raising $10M for this emergency feeding effort as a larger coalition, but we also have very immediate needs right now to keep doing the work we are doing. We have warehouse space, trucks, food, and a great team that we are already mobilizing to address this crisis, but we need more of all of those things so that we can continue feeding our communities and supporting our farmers. The fund is going to be hosted by the Windward Fund, the fiscal sponsor of the Washington Regional Food Funders.

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: Regional (Washington, DC; Maryland; Virginia)

Fair Food Fund: Fair Food Fund Collateral Initiative

Fund information: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F1-uGi8XGSAXOjz3NTUjP3xR8EVJH7hP/view?usp=sharing; 
http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FFF-Collateral-TAMW.pdf

About the fund: A collateral Initiative to support continued lending to mission based food system enterprises together with curated one on one technical assistance to stabilize and support their continued growth.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief, Farmers and agricultural production, Agricultural workers, Restaurants, Restaurant and food service workers, Food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: Regional (Focused in New England, NY and Michigan)

Contact: Lolita Nunn, [email protected]

Fair Food Network / Nutrition Incentive Hub: Mini-Grants for SNAP Incentive + Produce Prescription Rapid Response to COVID-19 Crisis

Fund information: https://forms.gle/Hqux2Nb8KPFNE2K76

About the fund: The Nutrition Incentive Hub is pleased to make available 25 to 50 mini-grants of up to $10,000 each for current or past USDA GusNIP and FINI grantees (and their partners) to innovate, build capacity, and address specific programmatic and operational challenges to their SNAP incentive and produce prescription (PPR) programs posed by the COVID-19 crisis. Eligible expenses include most non-incentive expenses, including staff, technology, supplies, marketing, postage, and travel incurred between March 1 and July 31, 2020. Applications due May 5, 2020.

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: National

Fund contact: Noah Fulmer, [email protected]

Farm Aid: COVID-19 Farmer Resilience Initiative

Fund information: 
www.farmaid.org/resilience; 
http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Farm-AId-COVID-Farmer-Resilience-Initiative.pdf

About the fund: Farm Aid’s COVID-19 Farmer Resilience Initiative includes more than 80 local, state and regional organizations across the country working to bridge immediate relief with longer-term resilience strategies for farmers, ranchers and other food/fiber producers. Farm Aid is distributing funds in all 50 U.S. states across four U.S. regions, administered by our partners to farm families in $500 increments. Grants are paired with materials developed by our national partners (Farmers’ Legal Action Group (FLAG), Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA), Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, Intertribal Agriculture Council, and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition) to help farmers and ranchers navigate their recovery. Throughout the duration of the crisis, Farm Aid is hosting regular calls and webinars with the partners coordinating fund distribution locally, as well as national partners who are experts in immediate and long-term disaster recovery, to foster ongoing peer learning, collaboration and resilience.

Issue areas: Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: National (Cambridge, MA)

Contact: Alicia Harvie, [email protected]

Farmworkers Support Committee-CATA: South Jersey Undocumented Solidarity Fund”

Fund information: https://www.gofundme.com/f/south-jersey-undocumented-solidarity-fund

About the fund: While our society now classifies their work in agriculture, food processing, and services as essential to keeping our grocery shelves stocked with food and our economy running, they have always been treated as expendable. CATA made the decision to raise a minimum of $50,000 to distribute to undocumented individuals and families throughout Southern New Jersey who are struggling due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief, Agricultural workers, Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: Regional (New Jersey)

Contact: Jessica Culley, [email protected]

Colorado Farm and Food System Respond Team: Colorado Producer and Food System Respond and Rebuild Fund

Fund information: 
https://cofoodsystems.org/covid-19-response-fund/

About the fund: The COVID-19 crisis is dramatically changing market access and performance of farmers and ranchers. There is a need for capital to support producers serving non-commodity markets, with a focus on the specific needs of small- and mid-size growers, beginning farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers, farmers of color, and female farmers. As a result, several organizations have joined together to create the Colorado Farm & Food Systems Response Team to support farmers and ranchers actively responding to changing market opportunities and food-security challenges in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

Issue areas: Farmers and agricultural production, Agricultural workers, Food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: State (Colorado)

Contact: Helen Katich, [email protected]

The Farmer Fund: COVID-19 Emergency Relief for Farmers

Fund information: http://thefarmerfund.org

About the fund: The Farmer Fund was created to support farmers in need. While the initial purpose was specific to natural disasters in the traditional sense, we have seen over the past few days that a pandemic like COVID-19 is its own natural disaster – and is certainly an emergency.

We need to support our local farmers as they strive to continue growing healthy, local food for our children, families, seniors, and communities in this uncertain time. A coalition of Georgia’s local food organizations mobilized quickly to address the need. Effective immediately, we are collaborating through the duration of this pandemic to support our farmers through The Farmer Fund.

Issue areas: Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: State (Georgia)

Contact: Jeff Romig, [email protected]

Feeding America: COVID-19 Response Fund

Fund information: https://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/press-room/feeding-america-establishes-covid-19-response-fund-help-food-banks-during

About the fund: Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of 200 member food banks across the country, announced the establishment of the COVID-19 Response Fund to help food banks across the country as they support communities impacted by the pandemic. The $2.65 million fund will enable food banks to secure the resources they need to serve the most vulnerable members of the community during this difficult time. 

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief

Geographic scope: National

First Nations Development Institute: COVID-19 Emergency Response

Fund information: https://www.firstnations.org/covid-19-emergency-response-fund/

About the fund: The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is designed to distribute funds efficiently and swiftly to Native nonprofit organizations and tribal programs that need it most. Initially, funds are being prioritized in high-concentration areas – California, New Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, New York, Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and COVID-19 hotspots.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: Tribal

Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT): Emergency Mini-Grants

Fund information: https://foodanimalconcernstrust.org/minigrants

About the fund: Starting on April 1, 2020 FACT will begin accepting applications for mini-grants of up to $500 from livestock and poultry farmers. Farmers can request mini-grants for materials, services or equipment that would help them to transition to an online or alternative sales strategy or for other projects that would help their farm business to maintain sales during the COVID-19 crisis.

Issue Areas: Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: National

Front & Centered: Frontline Response Fund COVID-19

Fund information: https://frontandcentered.org/frontline-response-fund-covid19/

About the fund: Front and Centered, a coalition of over 75+ grassroots organizations based in and led by communities of color, has created a Frontline Response Fund to provide immediate and direct assistance to our grantees working to respond to the COVID-19 crisis throughout Washington State, due to the financial, social and health impacts of the coronavirus on indigenous people & communities of color.

Working with our 75 + partner organizations (listed here) − each of which is deeply rooted in communities of color − the Frontline Response Fund will support the member groups of Front and Centered, as they continue to serve at the frontlines, in their communities, which are all affected and experiencing multiple challenges right now.

Confusion and uncertainty are growing around Employment, Transportation, Utilities, Eldercare, Access to Food, Housing and Childcare. Just a modest amount of assistance can serve as a lifeline for the people within these communities, during this unprecedented humanitarian and global health crisis.

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief

Geographic scope: Local; State (Washington)

Full Plates Full Potential: Emergency Fund for School Closures

Fund information: https://www.fullplates.org/emergency-funding/

About the fund: Full Plates Full Potential and our statewide partners have created an Emergency Fund to support schools and communities serving meals during school closures. Full Plates has dedicated $20,000 to the emergency fund, but the need is urgent and great.

Around 80,000 Maine kids will be unable to access meals while schools are closed, during the COVID-19 emergency. Full Plates Full Potential has established the Full Plates Emergency Fund to support any public school district in Maine that closes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and any SFSP/CACFP sponsors operating during school closures. These emergency funds will help schools pay for increased meals, packaging breakfast and lunch meals, transporting the food to eligible sites and more.

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Youth; School food

Geographic scope: State (Maine)

Giving Kitchen: COVID-19 Food Service Workers Fund

Fund information: https://thegivingkitchen.org/covid19

About the fund: Giving Kitchen provides emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources.

We will continue to support food service workers with compassion and care by providing financial assistance to those in crisis due to an unexpected illness, injury, death of an immediate family member or housing disaster in Georgia. Food service workers in Georgia who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and/or those who are under doctor’s orders for a mandatory quarantine should ask for help.

Issue Areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: State (Georgia)

Grassroots International: Solidarity Amid Pandemic Fund

Fund information: https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5123/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=16346

About the fund: We are all affected, but certain communities, like small-holder farmers, Indigenous People and rural communities in Global South and in the U.S., are especially vulnerable. Our partners are responding — disseminating public health messages to hard-to-reach areas, organizing mutual aid and radical self-management, and providing healing justice. We are asking you for your support to globally “flatten the curve” and raise the bar — and your gift will be doubled, up to $20,000, with a match from one of our generous donors.

Issue Areas: Farmers and agricultural production; Food sovereignty

Geographic scope: National; International

Fund contact: Jonathan Leaning, [email protected]

Hawaii Community Foundation: Chef Hui Give & Go Community Meal Program

Fund information: 
https://www.chefhui.com/; http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Chef-Hui-Give-Go.pdf

About the fund: The fund will support restaurants in Hawaii who are already serving their community through to-go and takeout options and who are already committed to purchasing food from local farmers, ranchers, and food producers. 20-25 restaurants will be provided a per-meal stipend to produce a set amount of additional meals to be donated to communities in need. In this way, the fund will support those who are struggling to access affordable, nutritious food and those who are challenged in bringing food to market due to food service industry closures. Working together, the program can help keep Hawaiʻi farmers farming and cooks cooking while providing prepared meals for those in need.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief, Farmers and agricultural production, Restaurants, Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: State (Hawaii)

Contact: Amanda Corby Nougchi, [email protected]​

Hispanics in Philanthropy and Justice for Migrant Women: Farmworkers’ COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund

Fund information: https://hipgive.org/project/farmworkers-covid-19-pandemic-relief-fund/

About the fund: Justice for Migrant Women is joining with HIP to raise funds to address the immediate needs and mitigate the risks to the farmworker community. Funds raised will be given directly to the farmworker community during these uncertain times. The financial support will help farmworkers purchase basic needs for their families, like groceries and hygienic supplies; pay for utilities and other expenses; and assistance to offset medical costs and to aid in purchasing medical supplies.

Issue Areas: Agricultural workers

Geographic scope: National

Hunger Solutions Minnesota: Hunger Solutions – COVID-19 Grants

Fund information: http://www.hungersolutions.org/covid-19-grants/

About the fund: Hunger Solutions Minnesota is helping to administer three pools of grant funds to help food shelves and other hunger relief partners address the needs of Minnesotans during COVID-19 pandemic.
Food Shelf Funding
Transportation Funding
Immediate Food Needs

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: Local; Regional (Minnesota)

Inclusive Action for the City: Street Vendor Emergency Fund

Fund information: https://www.inclusiveaction.org/covid19response

About the fund: We have created the Street Vendor Emergency Fund with our partners at East LA Community Corporation and Public Counsel. This fund will provide $400 in direct cash assistance to vendors who can not access resources from the government.

The United Way Pandemic Relief Fund has donated $50,000 to seed this fund. The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation has also donated $25,000.

Vendor leaders from the Los Angeles Street Vendor Campaign have formed a committee to identify and disburse resources to street vendors in the community. Now is the time to support these entrepreneurs who will not be able to access government resources.

Issue areas: Street vendors; restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: Local (Los Angeles, California)

The Kohala Center: Full Calabash Fund

Fund information: 
https://kohalacenter.org/business/full-calabash-fund; http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Full_Calabash_Fund.pdf

About the fund: The Full Calabash Fund supports Hawaiʻi’s community-based organizations that are purchasing food from local farmers, ranchers, and food producers AND providing food to community members in need. The fund will support those who are struggling to access affordable, nutritious food and those who are challenged in bringing food to market due to food service industry closures. Hawaiʻi’s community food system will benefit from the development of more connected and resilient local food networks, an increased emphasis on the importance of local farmers, ranchers, and fishers, and access to healthy, locally grown, raised, and harvested food. 

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief, Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: State (Hawaii)

Contact: Nicole Milne, [email protected]​

The James Beard Foundation: Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund

Fund information: https://www.jamesbeard.org/relief

About the fund: The James Beard Foundation recognizes the dire situation the food and beverage community is in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The purpose of the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund (the “Fund”) is to provide critical financial assistance to small, independent restaurants that, due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) national disaster, have an immediate need for funds to pay set operating expenses and keep from going out of business. Our goal is to do our part along with federal, state, and local governments to provide for workers, sustain local business, reduce the financial impact on communities, and otherwise mitigate the severe economic consequences of this global pandemic. To help bring swift economic relief to these essential businesses, the Foundation launched a fund that will be gathering support from corporate, foundation, and individual donors to provide micro-grants to independent food and beverage businesses in need.

Issue areas: Restaurants; Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: National

Latino Community Foundation: Love Not Fear Fund

Fund information: https://latinocf.org/covid/

About the fund: Latino Community Foundation’s Love Not Fear fund is a response to the global pandemic that channels critical funds to Latino-led organizations serving California’s most vulnerable communities- our elders, undocumented, farmworkers, and working-class families in the Central Valley and Inland Empire.

Issue Areas: Agricultural workers

Geographic scope: Regional (Central Valley and Inland Empire regions of California)

MealFund for Edina Public Schools COVID-19 Response Fund

Fund information: https://www.edinaschools.org/mealfund

About the fund: School districts, including Edina, have put in place daily meal distribution for students in need. But it is not enough. While any student 18 and under is provided breakfast and lunch, district parents tell us overall food insecurity is a growing concern for their entire family, as businesses and organization shut down.

That’s why Edina Public Schools, Edina Education Fund, and Edina Give and Go have created the MealFund for Edina Public Schools COVID19 Response Fund. Working in partnership with Edina Education Fund, and Edina Give and Go, we have a goal to collect $75,000. We will use these donations to purchase and distribute evening meals, as quickly as possible, to families in need.

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief

Geographic scope: Local (Edina, Minnesota)

Mid-Atlantic Food Resilience and Acccess Fund (MAFRAC)

Fund information: https://mafrac.com/; http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MAFRAC.pdf

About the fund: The Mid-Atlantic Food Resilience and Access Coalition is a fund that supports food hubs, food and farming organizations, emergency food providers, local restaurants and caterers, and disaster response experts that are coming together to keep communities fed and small farmers and food businesses afloat across DC, Maryland, and Virginia in the face of COVID-19. MAFRAC is providing funding for food banks, commercial kitchens, schools delivery vehicles, and all of the collective assets in DC’s regional food system to form the supply chain that will get good food to those who need it in the immediate crisis and beyond. MAFRAC is intaking needs and requests from “boots on the ground” organizations and matching them with existing assets, complementary organizations/partners, and/or funding as needed. This centrally coordinated approach allows for unique, place-based solutions while ensuring that assets are fully leveraged, needs are met, and efforts are additive rather than duplicative. This fund is hosted by the Windward Fund.

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production; Food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: Regional (Maryland, DC, Virginia)

Fund contact: Tom McDougal, [email protected]

National Farm to School Network: COVID-19 Relief Fund

Fund information: http://www.farmtoschool.org/covid19

About the fund: National Farm to School Network is adapting our work during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep supporting the farm to school and farm to early care and education (ECE) community in this rapidly changing and challenging environment. As part of those efforts, we’re shifting our resources to create a COVID-19 Relief Fund to aid our Partners, networks, and Native communities in continuing their important work during this difficult time.

Issue Areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: Local; Tribal Nation; National

Fund contact: Krystal Oriadha, [email protected] or [email protected]

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation: Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

Fund information: https://rerf.us/

About the fund: The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund was created to help restaurant industry employees experiencing hardship in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Through this Fund, grants will be made to restaurant industry employees who have demonstrated being financially impacted by COVID-19, whether through a decrease in wages or loss of employment.

These grants will be made on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability of funds. 100% of the Fund’s proceeds will go to providing grants to restaurant workers. This Fund is operated by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, whose mission is to attract, empower and advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workers.

Issue areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: National

Fund contact: Allison Rhyne, [email protected]

Native Americans in Philanthropy: Native American Community Response Fund

Fund information: https://nativephilanthropy.org/coronavirus/

About the fund: In these times, Native American families turn to trusted community organizations for support and resources. In turn, we want to generously support Native American nonprofits on the ground who are caring for our most vulnerable – those facing food insecurity, access to housing, and low-income elderly.

We are proud to partner with the Decolonizing Wealth Project and the National Urban Indian Family Coalition in establishing a rapid response fund to provide emergency support for the most vulnerable Native American families and communities impacted by COVID-19.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief

Geographic scope: Tribal Nations, National

New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association: New Mexico COVID-19 Local Food Supply Chain Response Fund

Fund information: https://www.newmexicofma.org/docs/Fund_Overview_English.pdf

About the fund: The New Mexico COVID-19 Local Food Supply Chain Response Fund (the Fund) has been designed to provide funding to address gaps in and disruptions to the local food supply chain in New Mexico. The Fund will offer small grants to individual producers as well as other supply chain actors (aggregators, farmers’ market organizers, CSA operators or managers, non-profits, etc.). Tribal producers and organizations working in and with tribal communities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Issue areas: Farmers and agricultural production; Food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: State (New Mexico)

Fund contact: Denise Miller, [email protected]

New Mexico Foundation: Native American Relief Fund

Fund information: https://nmcf.org/programs/native/; http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Native-American-Relief-Fund-Press-Release-4.20.20.pdf

About the fund: The Native American Relief Fund will provide for emergency food, water, and other urgent needs in response to COVID-19 to tribal communities in New Mexico, which are among some of the hardest-hit communities in the country. The Fund will provide emergency grants to organizations serving these communities.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief, Water, Other basic needs

Geographic scope: State, Tribal communities in New Mexico

Fund contact: JoAnn Melchor, [email protected]

The New England Food System Resilience Fund

Fund information: https://www.jmfund.org/new-england-food-system-resilience-fund/

About the fund: The New England Food System Resilience Fund is a joint philanthropic effort designed to reinforce, restore, and promote the resilience of the regional food system in a time of unprecedented disruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will do so in three phases over the course of 12-18 months: Reinforcement, Restoration and Resilience. The fund is hosted by The John Merck Fund, with additional support from The Henry P. Kendall Foundation.

Issue areas: Farmers and agricultural production; Agricultural workers; Food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: Regional (Boston, MA and New England)

NOFA-VT Covid Response Fund

Fund information: https://nofavt.org/resilience-our-response-covid-19

About the fund: The fund will support both long and short term needs. In the near term, it will provide additional funds for our Farmer Emergency Fund to provide critical support for farmers in times of emergency to help them recover and ultimately become more resilient farmers, including but not limited to our dairy farmer relief milking effort. It will also help pay for additional NOFA-VT Farm Shares this season so more low-income and vulnerable Vermonters can have access to subsidized CSAs, and farmers continue to have robust markets. In addition, this fund will pay to secure technical assistance for businesses looking to adjust their marketing channels (for example learning how to do direct and online sales), protecting food access for all and ensuring viable businesses for farms at the same time. It will, in short, mitigate the very real harm facing our most vulnerable populations.

The fund also supports our longer term, systems-change work. We cannot return to business as usual after this crisis. We must take this moment of disruptive change to build programs and policies that lay the path to a healed food system with ecology and justice at its heart. This includes policy and advocacy work, convening innovative conversations, pushing public conversations about resilience, and providing community organizing and education efforts that will make us stronger on the other side.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production; Agricultural workers; Technical assistance to food businesses and food policy advocacy

Geographic scope: State (Vermont)

Fund contact: Erin Buckwalter, [email protected]

North Carolina Restaurant and Hospitality Foundation: NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund

Fund information: https://www.ncrestaurantrelief.com/

About the fund: The NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund has been established and will be managed through the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that has provided financial assistance to hospitality employees and students for more than a decade.

The goal of the NC Restaurant Workers Relief fund is to provide immediate financial assistance to the tens of thousands of cooks, servers, dishwashers, housekeepers, and others who live paycheck-to-paycheck, and suddenly find themselves in distress.

Issue areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: State (North Carolina)

One Fair Wage: Emergency Coronavirus Tipped and Service Worker Support Fund

Fund information: https://onefairwage.com/

About the fund: We are providing free, cash assistance to restaurant workers, delivery drivers and other tipped workers and service workers — who are seeing their income decline during this disaster, or aren’t able to work because of quarantines or other health concerns.

Because the federal tipped minimum wage is *still* just $2.13/hour, we’re trying to raise $213,000 to give no-strings-attached cash assistance to tipped restaurant workers, delivery drivers, personal service workers and others affected by coronavirus and the economic downturn.

Issue Areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: National

Oregon Trail Community Foundation (OTCF): COVID-19 Food Fund

Fund information: https://www.otcf.org/covid-19-disaster-response

About the fund: The Oregon Trail Community Foundation (OTCF) is providing a fund for those who wish to donate toward the Covid 19 crisis in our community. The OTCF will make a grant to establish this fund, and welcomes other donations for those who are interested in helping those working on the frontlines.

This effort will initially provide funding to local restaurants that are addressing food insecurity, especially for youth and older adults. These establishments have been preparing and serving food since the disaster first began to unfold in our community. Donations will pay the food distributors and/or grocery stores directly, so these efforts can continue doing what they are already doing, and not be burdened with fundraising.

This fund will remain nimble, and will evolve to meet the greatest unmet needs of the community as they unfold, and donations grow proportionately.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Restaurants; Food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: Regional (Western Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming)

Philanthropy New York: Green Spaces Relief and Recovery Fund

Fund information: 
https://cityparksfoundation.org/nyc-green-fund//a>

About the fund: The NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund will provide support to nonprofits and community groups that provide essential maintenance, stewardship, public programming, and management of parks and open spaces across the five boroughs of New York City. Organizations of all sizes are eligible for the Fund, with consideration given to budget and staff size, population and community served, amount of parkland maintained, and ability to serve as a resource to other organizations. 

Issue areas: Green space

Geographic scope: Local (New York)

Contact: Adriana De Lucio, [email protected]

ReFED’s COVID-19 Food Waste Solutions Fund

Fund information: https://www.refed.com/covidsolutionsfund; http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ReFED’s-COVID-19-Food-Waste-Solutions-Fund-2020.05.04.pdf

About the fund:In response to the impacts of COVID-19 on our food system – especially the increase in wasted food and the growing number of people facing food insecurity – ReFED has established The ReFED COVID-19 Food Waste Solutions Fund to provide philanthropic donors a one-stop, rapid response vehicle to get funds to a portfolio of high-impact organizations vetted by ReFED. The ReFED COVID-19 Food Waste Solutions Fund aims to enable organizations to rescue and deliver over 10,000,000 pounds of food to food insecure Americans in the next 90 days. 100% of contributions to the fund will be regranted directly to organizations combating the negative consequences COVID-19 is having on our food system.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production; Food distribution/distributors; Food Waste, Supply Chain Logistics, Last Mile Delivery

Geographic scope: National

Fund contact: Katy Franklin, [email protected]

Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United: Restaurant Worker Disaster Relief Fund

Fund information: https://rocunited.org/relief/

About the fund:In this time of acute hardship, we are requesting emergency financial support to establish this Restaurant Worker Disaster Relief Fund. With the dramatic increase in the number of restaurant closures, we are shifting our efforts to provide emergency relief to the millions of restaurant workers who we expect will lose their livelihood in the coming weeks. Many of these workers, both documented and undocumented, have no safety net to rely on due to both the public charge rule and increased immigration enforcement. We aim to raise at least $500,000.00 to provide emergency financial assistance to workers that have the highest unmet need. Any contribution, big or small, will help make a huge impact on restaurant workers’ lives. 

Issue areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: National

Restaurant Workers Community Foundation: COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund

Fund information: https://secure.restaurantworkerscf.org/np/clients/restaurantworkerscf/donation.jsp?campaign=2&forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&test=true

About the fund: Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation is an advocacy and action nonprofit created by and for restaurant workers.

The RCWF Board of Directors has approved directing funds raised via our COVID-19 Fundraising Page during this crisis to be allocated in the following ways:
– 50% for direct relief to individual restaurant workers
– 25% for nonprofit organizations serving restaurant workers in crisis
– 25% for zero-interest loans for restaurants to get back up and running

In this time of acute hardship, we are requesting emergency financial support to establish this Restaurant Worker Disaster Relief Fund. With the dramatic increase in the number of restaurant closures, we are shifting our efforts to provide emergency relief to the millions of restaurant workers who we expect will lose their livelihood in the coming weeks. Many of these workers, both documented and undocumented, have no safety net to rely on due to both the public charge rule and increased immigration enforcement. We aim to raise at least $500,000.00 to provide emergency financial assistance to workers that have the highest unmet need. Any contribution, big or small, will help make a huge impact on restaurant workers’ lives. 

Issue areas: Restaurants; Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: National

Robin Hood: COVID-19 Relief Fund

Fund information: https://www.robinhood.org/relief-fund-application/

About the fund: Robin Hood anticipates making grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in New York City that are well-positioned to serve low-income communities. The initial grants, expected to last three months in duration, will average $45,000. The purpose of these grants is to provide resources to support nonprofits that are on the front lines of this work and can move swiftly to serve affected communities.

The fund is accepting applications from organizations on a rolling basis for immediate response grants in the following priority areas:
– Serves vulnerable populations including low-income children and families, low-wage workers, individuals and families who are homeless and immigrant communities.
– Provides or will expand services to include emergency assistance (e.g. food, shelter, and other basic needs)
– At risk for gaps in government contracts due to interruption of services
– Incurred unexpected expenses (e.g. overtime pay, technology)
– Track record with administering emergency cash grants to individuals and families

Robin Hood will only fund 501(c)(3) organizations providing services in New York City.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief

Geographic scope: Local (New York City)

Rural Advancement Foundation International – USA: COVID-19 Farmer Emergency Relief Mini-grants

Fund information: https://www.rafiusa.org/blog/funding-available-from-rafi-usa/; http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RAFI-USA-COVID-19-Farm-Emergency-Grant-Application.pdf

About the fund: $500 mini-grants are available to lessen the immediate financial needs of farmers and their households (i.e. food expenses, medical bills, utility bills,). The funds are NOT meant to cover farm production expenses. At this time the mini-grants are only available to farmers in North Carolina. We hope to increase this geographic scope if funding allows.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production

Geographic scope: State (North Carolina)

Fund contact: Lisa Misch, [email protected]

San Diego’s Small Business Relief Grant Fund

Fund information:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/SDSmallBizReliefGrantFund

About the fund: The City of San Diego allocated $6 million to create the Small Business Relief Fund, to provide certainty and offer financial support businesses facing reductions in demand, shorter business hours, and business closures due to the pandemic.

In this expanded program, financial assistance will range from $1,000 to $10,000 and will be allocated to eligible small businesses based on the availability of funds and program guidelines. Guidelines include but not limited to: located within the City of San Diego; Businesses with 0-100 employees; ability to demonstrate financial hardship.

The fund is hosted by San Diego Grantmakers, Cal Coast Cares Foundation and City of San Diego.

Issue areas: Restaurants; Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: Local (San Diego, CA)

Seed Commons: Worker Response Fund

Fund information: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/seed-commons-worker-response-fund

About the fund: The COVID-19 outbreak and associated social distancing measures are hitting small businesses hard, and worker-owners of cooperative enterprises around the country will struggle to cover payroll and rent costs during this time. The Seed Commons Worker Response Fund will provide direct support to worker-owners at cooperative businesses most affected by closures and downturn associated with the COVID-19 outbreak, such as food service businesses, custom manufacturing, and child care cooperatives.

Seed Commons – a national network of cooperative loan funds, anchored by The Working World – is designed to support those workers who are most marginalized from the economy, and these communities are the ones that are going to be most impacted by closures, cancellations, and economic downturn in the coming months. Our community – made up of low income workers, workers of color, sole income earners, single parents, and immigrant workers – is coming together to raise a collective emergency fund to ensure all of our workers’ needs are met and our cooperatives can stay open during this crisis.

Issue areas: Cooperative enterprises; food service businesses and worker-owners

Geographic scope: National

Slow Food USA: Slow Food National Resilience Fund

Fund information:  https://slowfoodusa.org/national-resilience-fund/; http://www.safsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SFUSA-National-Resilience-Fund-one-pager-.pdf

About the fund: Slow Food USA is leveraging and supporting its broad network of local chapters and on-the-ground partners to ensure that diverse small-scale producers — farmers, ranchers, fish-harvesters and other food producers — continue to sustain the local economy, provide fresh and nutritious food to vulnerable communities and build resilience for future disasters. Special priority will go to chapter and partner efforts that support people of color, women, and Indigenous communities, particularly through the Slow Food Turtle Island Association.

Issue areas: Farmers and agricultural production; Agricultural workers; Restaurants; Restaurant and food service workers; Food distribution/distributors

Geographic scope: Local; Regional; State; Tribal Nation; National

Fund contact: Anna Mule, [email protected]

Southern Smoke Foundation: Emergency Relief Fund

Fund information: https://southernsmoke.org/fund/

About the fund: Southern Smoke Foundation provides funding to individuals in the food and beverage industry who are in crisis. Established in 2017, our emergency relief fund has distributed more than $1 million to individuals in the food and beverage industry in crisis.

Our Emergency Relief Program provides emergency funding to those employed by or own restaurants or bars or are employed by a restaurant or bar supplier that are faced unforeseen expenses that cannot or will not be covered by insurance. We stand with those in our community and are committed to “taking care of our own”.

Issue areas: Restaurants; restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: Regional (Houston, Texas)

St. Louis Community Foundation: Gateway Resilience Fund

Fund information: https://stlgives.org/covid19/gateway-resilience-fund/

About the fund: This fund will provide short term monetary relief to employees and owners of independent bars, restaurants, and shops in the St. Louis area affected by closures and other circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Gateway Resilience Fund makes grants to support employees, essential contractors, and owners of small businesses in the St. Louis region who are experiencing a financial burden due to a disaster or other extreme situation.

Issue areas: Restaurants; restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: Local (St. Louis, Missouri)

Thousand Currents: Above & Beyond Solidarity Fund

Fund information: https://thousandcurrents.org/above-beyond-solidarity-fund/

About the fund: Thousand Currents has 35 years of partnership with grassroots organizations and movements in Latin America, Asia and Africa working on the intersecting issues of food sovereignty, climate justice, and building economic alternatives. They are rooted in their own communities, the first responders in times of crisis and continuing their work regardless of and long after piquing moments of disaster.

We know the pandemic will exacerbate existing inequities and further marginalize those who are already vulnerable, particularly such communities in the Global South.

We have heard from our grassroots partners and they need immediate support before the crisis worsens in their countries. In addition to an ever-growing pandemic, partners are battling inadequate access to information and healthcare; decreasing income as social distancing and lockdowns expand; increasing levels of gender-based violence in the home; and concerns about state violence from militarized responses and surveillance.

Our first action was to launch an emergency fund to respond to these immediate needs. We are raising funds to give immediate general operating support grants to all 60+ of our grassroots partners in addition to our usual annual general operating grants.

Issue areas: Farmers and agricultural production; Agricultural workers; Other (agroecology, food sovereignty, climate justice, Global South grassroots leadership, Indigenous rights and leadership, alternative economies, gender-based violence, youth leadership, women’s leadership)

Geographic scope: International

Fund contact: Jessie Spector, [email protected]

UndocuFund

Fund information: https://undocufund.org/

About the fund:The UndocuFund is opening our mission to the victims of the COVID-19 shelter in place orders in Sonoma County. We are working to care for and protect our community, and we have decided to re-activate Undocufund as the COVID-19 pandemic intensifies. Many of our undocumented community members work in temporary or low-wage jobs, without access to sick leave, unemployment or the ability to work remotely. Immigrants, many of them undocumented, do essential work that sustains us all. It remains unclear whether national relief plans will include immigrants in their plans for support. We cannot wait to take action. Your support for UndocuFund will provide relief and support to undocumented families and individuals. 

Issue areas: Agricultural workers; Restaurant and food service workers; Undocumented community members

Geographic scope: Local (Sonoma County, California)

805 UndocuFund

Fund information: https://805undocufund.org/

About the fund: We have reopened the 805 UndocuFund to serve immigrant families who are being impacted by the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). The 805 UndocuFund is a collective effort among Ventura and Santa Barbara County-based grassroots organizations to assist local undocumented immigrant individuals and families who are excluded from federally funded safety net programs; that have been economically impacted by the loss of their homes, wages, and/or employment due to disasters in our community like wildfires, mudslides, and the coronavirus.

We are currently fundraising and hiring staff to serve our community. We will open applications to receive assistance soon. We know many affected families are facing hardship right now and we hope to support as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Issue areas: Agricultural workers; Restaurant and food service workers; Undocumented community members

Geographic scope: Local, Regional (Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, California)

United Way of Southeast Louisiana: Hospitality Cares Pandemic Response Fund

Fund information: https://www.unitedwaysela.org/hospitalitycares

About the fund: United Way of Southeast Louisiana and Entergy Corporation are committing $250,000 and $200,000, respectively, to stand up the Hospitality Cares Pandemic Fund and are actively recruiting donations, along with Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, from business and industry, foundations, and the public. Fidelity Bank responded to the call, pledging the first gift of $25,000, and will join the effort in challenging its fellow banks to contribute. The fund will provide crisis grants to hospitality workers who are unable to afford basic financial needs during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Issue areas: Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: Regional (Southeast Louisiana)

Washington Dream Coalition: COVID-19 Relief Fund for WA Undocumented Folks

Fund information: https://www.scholarshipjunkies.org/relief?fbclid=IwAR1Zu3veMEc-2sl1voPORpdB__-RwMHk-7GfpYUio0FT8efsX47GjRYx_cU#aid

About the fund: Our undocumented community is one of the most vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington State. The Washington Dream Coalition, in partnership with Scholarship Junkies, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, and WA Immigrant Solidarity Network, is seeking to provide direct economic support to our undocumented community during the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. Join us today, to ensure we are able to collectively reach our goal of $150,000 to support a minimum of 65 families. 100% of donations will go directly to families in need.

Issue areas: Agricultural workers; Restaurant and food service workers; Undocumented community members

Geographic scope: State (Washington State)

WhyHunger: Rapid Response Fund

Fund information: https://whyhunger.org/rapidresponsedonate/

About the fund: During the COVID-19 crisis, it’s essential to protect food access for all people, especially those who are most vulnerable. For 45 years, WhyHunger has worked with emergency food providers, small-scale farmers, and food chain workers across the country to end hunger and ensure access to healthy food. We’re uniquely positioned to coordinate an immediate national response and distribute resources to the communities and organizations that need them most.

Issue areas: Food assistance and hunger relief; Farmers and agricultural production; Restaurant and food service workers

Geographic scope: National

Fund contact: [email protected]