Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) is seeking an experienced consultant to lead a two-year national project at the intersection of philanthropic strategy and institutional food procurement. The goals of the project are to: (1) increase adoption of institutional procurement as a food systems strategy among funders, and (2) deepen strategy alignment and coordination among funders and field leaders around institutional procurement as a lever for food systems transformation.
The ideal candidate brings deep fluency in both the philanthropic funding landscape and the institutional procurement field — including familiarity with key funders, food system stakeholders, and the policy, infrastructure, and capital dynamics that shape procurement-led regional food system change. This person is equally comfortable conducting landscape research and stakeholder interviews as they are facilitating funder convenings and producing polished, publication-ready materials. They are a skilled project manager who can hold multiple workstreams simultaneously, a trusted presence who can represent SAFSF and this initiative with credibility across diverse funder audiences, and a strategic thinker who can synthesize complex information into clear, actionable guidance for philanthropy.
Contract Period: September 2026 – May 2028
Applications Requested By: July 31, 2026 (submission details below)
Anticipated Start Date: September 15, 2026
Background
SAFSF mobilizes diverse capital partners in support of just and sustainable food systems. We envision a future where food and agriculture are climate resilient, just, and democratic. We connect, guide, and mobilize funders in support of community-led solutions and systems change. Funders in the SAFSF network support work within all parts of the food and farming system and at the intersections of issues, including climate change and resilience, community health, equity, justice, and rural development.
SAFSF’s Procurement Project is designed to shift how philanthropy shows up in one of the most promising — and underleveraged — drivers of regional food system transformation: institutional procurement. At the individual and organizational level, this project aims to generate meaningful shifts in knowledge, attitude, and behavior among funders who are not yet investing in institutional procurement — as well as those who are investing but doing so in relative isolation. At the field and system level, this project aims to shift the landscape from fragmented, siloed philanthropic investment toward a more coordinated national funder strategy.
Project year 1 (2026-2027) will build shared understanding, relationships, and early alignment among funders around institutional food procurement. Project year 2 (2027-2028) will activate aligned philanthropic and blended capital strategies that catalyze scalable institutional procurement efforts across key regions.
Project Timeline At A Glance
- Contract Period: September 2026 – May 2028
- Conduct Landscape Assessment: October 2026 – March 2027
- Host Virtual Briefing: March 2027
- Host Two In-Person Convenings: Summer 2027 – Spring 2028
- National Funder Roadmap Production: October 2026 – May 2028
Qualifications
Qualified candidates will possess the following:
- Deep knowledge of the philanthropic and national funding ecosystem, key funders already supporting food procurement, and development of philanthropic strategies
- Deep familiarity with institutional food procurement pathways
- Familiarity with stakeholders in the field, including institutional food buyers, producers, food hubs, educational or verification programs, and coalitions
- Enthusiastic about collaboration with SAFSF staff, members, and diverse capital partners relevant to this project
- Experience conducting landscape research, leading strategy development, and facilitating collaborative meetings
- Familiarity with planning virtual and in-person events
- Demonstrated experience producing high-quality materials and reports on deadline
- Ability to effectively represent SAFSF and the project in a way that conveys respect for the field and the intention of the project to identify useful and impactful recommendations for funders
Submission Details
SAFSF encourages interested applicants to download the PDF to learn more about the project scope and deliverables. Interested parties are welcome to submit applications until Friday, July 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM PT. Please use this link to upload your resume or LinkedIn profile, 2 professional references, and provide answers to the following three questions:
- Subject Matter Expertise. Please describe your familiarity with institutional food procurement pathways. What sectors or institutions are you most familiar with (e.g., hospitals, universities, school districts, correctional facilities), and what do you see as the key barriers and opportunities for shifting food procurement toward regional, sustainable, or equity-centered supply chains? Please share any direct experience working with funders, advocates, institutions, or supply chain partners in this context. (2,000 characters max)
- Philanthropic Ecosystem & Strategy Development. Please describe your experience working with philanthropy and developing philanthropic (or other investment) strategies. What is your familiarity with funders supporting food systems and food procurement initiatives? Please share a specific example. (2,000 characters max)
- Research, Facilitation & Deliverables. Please give us insight into a project(s) in which you conducted landscape research, facilitated collaborative convenings (virtual or in-person), and/or produced written materials or reports under deadline. What was your process for managing these workstreams simultaneously, and how did you ensure the final products met a high standard of quality? (2,000 characters max)
SAFSF staff will contact a small number of applicants for a brief conversation and follow-up questions. All applicants will be notified of selection by August 31, 2026. The contract will commence on September 15, 2026.