Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship Grant

The Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship empowers experienced school food professionals to lead sustainable and equitable food reform over a 13-month program. Participants enhance their leadership skills, gain in-depth knowledge of the U.S. food system, and advocate for healthy school food policies. The fellowship includes live virtual sessions, coursework, and hands-on projects, culminating in a capstone project. With a focus on collaboration and networking, selected fellows will drive impactful change in their school districts.

The Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship was designed for experienced school food professionals committed to driving healthy, sustainable, and equitable school food reform.
Over a 13-month period, Fellows cultivate their leadership skills; deepen their knowledge about how school food is influenced by and affects the wider U.S. food system; become experts on and advocates for healthy school food policy; and expand their professional network.
Core Pillars
Experience - Hands-on learning allows Fellows to gain knowledge they can apply at their home school districts.Build - Fellows expand their professional network while honing existing knowledge and skills.Lead - Fellows develop skills that help them effectively lead a team of school food professionals as well as navigate school food change in collaboration with district administrators, parents, community members, and others.Inspire - Fellows acquire a comprehensive understanding of the power of school food within the larger U.S. food system and prepare to confidently inspire and lead school food change.
School Food Learning Topics
NutritionPolicy and CompliancesProcurementFinancesFacilitiesHuman ResourcesEnvironmental SustainabilityMarketingLeadershipFood SystemsGrant Writing and Fundraising
The Fellowship consists of the following:

• Live virtual learning sessions with pre-reading and homework
• Food systems coursework supported by a leading academic institution
• Five online courses through the Chef Ann Foundation’s School Food Institute
• Asynchronous learning and applied on-site work

Five trips for in-person training and relationship-building with a national peer network, including on-site learning with the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition and two on-site experiences with host school districts
Group policy project
Self-led capstone project (includes a grant to support project implementation)
In-person capstone presentations and closing celebration
The Fellowship is an intensive program that can require up to eight hours of learning time per week (except for site visits, which require more time) over 13 months. All work, except for the capstone project, can be completed during personal time unless previously agreed to by the Fellow’s supervisor.

Eligibility

School food professionals working under the National School Lunch Program anywhere in the U.S. are eligible to apply for the Fellowship.Successful applicants typically have experience in school food service as an assistant director, head chef, area supervisor, or other similar mid- to upper-level positions.Applications from individuals in a director-level position will also be considered if they are newer to the role and/or operate in a small district.We anticipate selecting 24-28 Fellows, with 12 from California, 2 from Arizona, 2 from New Mexico, 1 from Colorado, and 7-11 from the rest of the U.S.