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We are GROWING JUSTICE

...in institutional purchasing ...in school lunches ...in tribal food systems ...in regional food systems ...for health and prosperity ...for small farmers ...for growers ...for distributors ...for food workers ...for all of us.

Transforming Food Systems Through Equitable Good Food Purchasing

How We Are Meeting the Moment & RFP Launches this Fall!

GROWING JUSTICE FUND is a pooled fund co-designed by funders, farmers, advocates, food suppliers, purchasers and community partners from Native and non-Native communities across the country.

Types of Projects We Prioritize

GROWING JUSTICE FUND aims to invest in efforts to solidify the leadership, dignity and power of Tribal, Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian and immigrant people to identify and drive solutions that expand the market for good food from locally or regionally owned, and environmentally and economically sustainable farms, ranches, fisheries and food businesses. 

Building Infrastructure for good food procurement

Support for BIPOC+ good food producers, manufacturers, aggregators, small processors, and distributors to enter the institutional market and/or expand their business with institutions. These entities should be dedicated to specific community-serving institutions.

Building policy action through grassroots organizing and advocacy for good food procurement

Support for community coalitions and organizations that build power to engage institutions and governments to pass policy initiatives that include commitments to good food procurement and legal parameters for an institution or jurisdiction’s good food procurement priorities.

Cultivating Traditional Food Pathways to build community wealth within Tribal Nations

Support for inter- and intra-Nation work, including within Tribal Nations and across Tribal Nations, to increase food production and distribution for their direct communities, as well as distribution efforts to non-Tribal institutions serving Tribal and native peoples.

Fund Values

HEALTH EQUITY & RACIAL JUSTICE

ECONOMIC EQUITY & WORKER JUSTICE

ENVIRONMENTAL & FOOD JUSTICE

will be achieved when all people can participate and prosper in a just, fair and inclusive society and race is no longer a factor that determines who has the opportunity to reach their full potential for mental, physical and social wellbeing
will be achieved when all people and communities can access opportunities for safe, dignified work; participate in business ownership; and build the economic stability necessary to achieve and sustain wealth and prosperity
will be achieved when all people and communities can access, shape and benefit from good food and food systems that address environmental racism, promote food worker rights, utilize regenerative agriculture practices and advance food sovereignty

COLLECTIVE ACTION & PARTNERSHIP

are the building blocks essential for transformation, since we go farther together than alone, and make better and more equitable changes when we listen to and leverage the wisdom of the collective
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Fund Vision

GROWING JUSTICE FUND envisions a future in which Tribal, Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian and immigrant people engaged in food markets as suppliers, producers, distributors, workers, & eaters at community-serving institutions are economically and physically thriving thanks in part to efforts by large community institutions to prioritize equitable good food procurement.

Fund Values

HEALTH EQUITY & RACIAL JUSTICE

will be achieved when all people can participate and prosper in a just, fair and inclusive society and race is no longer a factor that determines who has the opportunity to reach their full potential for mental, physical and social wellbeing

ECONOMIC EQUITY & WORKER JUSTICE

will be achieved when all people and communities can access opportunities for safe, dignified work; participate in business ownership; and build the economic stability necessary to achieve and sustain wealth and prosperity

ENVIRONMENTAL & FOOD JUSTICE

will be achieved when all people and communities can access, shape and benefit from good food and food systems that address environmental racism, promote food worker rights, utilize regenerative agriculture practices and advance food sovereignty
Purple pear graphic
Image provided by USDA

Celebrating our Grantees

In 2024, GROWING JUSTICE FUND awarded over $5 million in grants to 36 organizations working to transform food systems in their Tribes, regions and communities.

Meet Our Grantees
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OUR FOCUS

What Is EQUITABLE GOOD FOOD PROCUREMENT?

Large institutions like school districts, universities, early childhood and elder care centers, hospitals, and government agencies spend billions of dollars annually procuring food for the communities they serve.
However, small farmers, fishers and others along the value chain – especially those led by people from Indigenous, Tribal, Black, Latinx, Asian and immigrant communities – struggle to gain access to the opportunities and markets needed for people to eat their good food and for their businesses to thrive.
EQUITABLE GOOD FOOD PROCUREMENT is the purchasing of good food from locally- or regionally-owned, and environmentally- and economically-sustainable farms, ranches, fisheries and food businesses that prioritize the needs of low-income communities of color and treat their workers with dignity.

LEARN MORE

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GOOD FOOD is affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate and supports physical, economic and community health; regenerates, and respects natural resources and animals; and ensures that all people involved in the value chain live with dignity and freedom from oppression and exploitation.

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Image provided by The Common Market

OUR COMMITMENT

INVESTING IN TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE OVER THE LONG TERM

GROWING JUSTICE: The Fund for Equitable Good Food Procurement is committed to investing in and solidifying the leadership, dignity and power of Tribal, Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian and immigrant people to identify and drive solutions to:
  • Promote learning among and connect leaders across the field of equitable good food procurement
  • Seed innovation and grow models for equitable good food procurement
  • Expand opportunities for small and local farmers, fishers, ranchers, producers, distributors, and suppliers to build the support and partnerships they need for equitable good food procurement
  • Advocate for equitable good food procurement among public and private stakeholders
  • Develop, implement and share effective policies, practices and partnerships across the equitable good food procurement field
  • Leverage resources and influence and realign systems to support equitable good food procurement
The Fund aims to invest at least $50 million in the field over at least 10 years. We have raised pledges of over $15 million at the time of our first funding opportunity announcement and are actively seeking donors to meet our next goal of $25 million.

GROWING JUSTICE FUND is a pooled fund driven by the wisdom and experience of farmers, community partners and other workers across the food value chain.

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MEET OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MEET OUR FUNDERS

MEET THE DIVERSE TEAM THAT DESIGNED THIS FUND

GET INVOLVED

Collective action is the key to achieving the society we dream of. Let’s work together to advance equitable good food procurement.

FUNDING PARTNERS

GROWING JUSTICE FUND Seeks Visionary Funders To Partner On This Historic Effort.

Participating funders gain opportunities to:
  • Contribute to food systems transformation through a sustained approach
  • Demonstrate their commitment to community-centered and community-led grantmaking
  • Leverage resources from to a wide range of sources
  • Understand emerging priorities and practices in the field
  • Support emerging priorities and movements in communities
  • Gain exposure to a wide range of potential grantees
  • Build and deepen relationships with like-minded funders


Are you ready to strengthen your understanding and efforts about equity, food, community development, and environmental sustainability by gaining access to the knowledge, tools, and networks of the pooled fund?

Get In Touch
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Image provided by Good Food Purchasing Program

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

GROWING JUSTICE Is Designed For And By Leaders In And Across The Food Value Chain.
GROWING JUSTICE aims to support community-led efforts to:
  • Develop and scale approaches for food value chain transformation
  • Efficiently share effective practices and emerging learnings in the field
  • Leverage resources from to a wide range of sources
  • Build and deepen partnerships across the field

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