Food and Farm Communications Fund: Wildseed Grants

The Food and Farm Communications Fund's Wildseed Grants program supports grassroots organizations in the U.S. that aim to bring transformative change to food and agricultural systems. With grants ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 for one year, and up to $75,000 for two years, the program emphasizes strategic communications, community engagement, and racial equity. Eligible organizations must demonstrate alignment with the Fund’s mission and have a revenue of less than $3 million.

The Food and Farm Communications Fund is a multi-funder collaborative and pooled grant program organized around a shared belief in the role of strategic communications and narrative to build power and embolden transformative change in our food and farm systems. To that end, we maintain an open application process and take cues from those closest to the problems we seek to address.
Background
Food & Farm Communication Funds’ Wildseeds Grants program is our primary offering for non-profit, grassroots organizations.
Through Wildseeds Grants, we resource movement organizers by investing in solutions that support the development of their ideas, amplification of their messages, and their long-term movement infrastructure.
The Wildseeds Grants program funds community organizations, strategists and media makers working to uplift frontline stories, build power, and embolden transformative food and farm systems change. We do this all in an effort to grow deeper roots with our grantee partners by making sure they have the infrastructure, communications skills, and strategic support they need to thrive now and forever.
Wildseeds Grants support strategic communications efforts including, but not limited to:
Base building communications projects that increase connectivity and grow collective powerIntegrated communications planningCommunications-based professional development for staff/ leadership/ membersImplementing or upgrading communications toolsDevelopment of content or creative media initiatives including videos, zines, websites, etc.Sourcing short-term communications staffing support or outside consultingNarrative development, message framing, and integrationCampaigns, events, or experiences that use communications to foster engagement around food and farm issuesLanguage justice planning and implementationFFCF will prioritize projects that are grounded in:

• Range and Term of Wildseeds Grants

Wildseeds Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000 over a one-year term. The Fund is able to make a very limited number of two-year commitments for projects requiring a longer timeframe of support. Two-year requests are capped at a total of $75,000 over two years. Grant amounts are contingent on demonstrated need, alignment with the Fund’s purpose and criteria, as well as the Fund’s giving capacity in any given year.

Eligibility

Applicant criteriaIs a U.S. based grassroots organization or network with 501(c)(3) status or with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor; or a tribal governmentHas an annual revenue of less than $3 million; or, if current revenue is over $3 million, has an average annual revenue over the last three years that is less than $3 millionIs working on initiatives that directly affect change within food and agricultural systems (e.g. land sovereignty, food security, inclusive economy, water and soil stewardship, climate justice, labor organizing, sustainable/regenerative/reindigenized practices and healing traditions)Operates from a deeply shared understanding of structural and institutional racism in the food and farm system and actively works to advance racial equity and justiceIs committed to integrating the leadership of constituents within the organization’s staffing, advising, and governance structuresFocuses on one or more of the following priorities: Cultural Organizing; Inclusive Economic Models & Community-Controlled Systems; Reclaiming Democracy; Promoting Indigenous and Ancestral Foodways and Agricultural Practices

Ineligibility

With limited resources, the Fund is not able to support an organization’s ongoing communications activities.Not eligible:Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status or do not have a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status;Individuals or scholarship programs;Businesses or business associations;Schools, Colleges, or Universities;State agencies or government programs;Furthermore, the Food and Farm Communications Fund does not support the following activities:academic research projects; endowment campaigns; discretionary or emergency requests; or litigation or legal expenses.