LA Food Equity Fund

LA Food Equity Fund

Status: Completed award cycle; over $20 million awarded to 78 organizations across two cohorts

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

Contact: Community Partners, 1000 N. Alameda Street, Suite 240, Los Angeles, CA 90012