LA Food Equity Fund

Geographic Scope: Los Angeles County, with priority given to Highest Need and High Need census tracts according to LA County's COVID-19 Vulnerability and Recovery Index

Funding Source: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funding in partnership with LA County Chief Sustainability Office

Focus Areas:

• Food production and urban agriculture
• Food distribution and access
• Nutrition education
• Benefits enrollment (CalFresh/government food assistance)
• Food as medicine/medically tailored meals
• Food system resilience and sustainability
• Small business incubation in food sector
• Street vendor support

Eligible Applicants:

• Community-based organizations
• Small businesses
• Faith-based groups
• Nonprofits of all sizes, with priority for smaller organizations and BIPOC-led organizations
• Organizations headquartered or with primary program location in or within one mile of Highest Need/High Need census tracts

Priority Populations (14 identified segments):

• Latino and Black households (experiencing disproportionate food insecurity at nearly 2:1 rate compared to White households)
• Immigrant families
• Transgender individuals
• Foster youth
• Justice-involved individuals
• Unhoused populations
• Vulnerable populations including parenting students

Award Amounts: Individual grants ranged from $100,000 to just over $400,000; awards varied based on number of applications, priority geographic location, organizational/programming budget size, and available funding

Key Achievements (per Six-Month Interim Report):

• 66,000+ community residents reached by food distribution efforts
• 9,000 food and essential household items distributed
• 35 capacity-building grantees and 10 food distribution grantees in first cohort
• 45 organizations in first cohort, 33 in second cohort
• Grantee outcomes: 19% improved affordability of healthy foods, 59% increased equitable accessibility, 41% built market demand, 43% supported sustainability and resilience

What They Fund:

• Strengthening food systems
• Nutrition promotion
• Public benefits enrollment
• Food distribution
• Capacity building for organizations
• Direct distribution of culturally relevant food, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items

Equity Approach:

• Streamlined processes and simplified requirements
• Language-inclusive and accessible materials
• Open communication channels
• Trust-based grantmaking
• Responsive to grantee requests
• Integration of grantee wisdom and expertise
• Capacity-building support

Background: Guided by recommendations of Los Angeles Food Equity Roundtable, a private-public partnership of government, philanthropy, and community-based organizations seeking to transform LA's disconnected food system