Food Justice Grant Program

The $1 million program was divided into two tiers: small grants and large grants, with small grants providing up to $5,000 and large grants providing up to $200,000. A total of 17 organizations received grants, with five small and 12 large grants awarded. The money was instrumental in enhancing the capacity of the recipient organizations to deliver essential food services to at-risk populations.

“These are worthy community organizations that will put dollars out to work helping people who need it most." - Mayor Darrell Steinberg

 Click here to download final report 

The following metrics highlight some of the impact that the 17 Food Justice grantees collectively had on the Sacramento community:

• 229,614 individuals served*
• 63,666 households served*
• 1,321,111 pounds of food distributed
• 700+ food distributions held
• 147,472 fresh meals served
• 29,831 food bundles distributed
• 3 food delivery vehicles purchased or leased
• 4 new food pantries established

*Numbers are duplicated

In addition to the collective metrics, the Food Justice Grant Program resulted in the following outcomes:

• Increased Food Distribution Capacity: Many grantees utilized the funds to significantly boost their food distribution efforts. For example, Common Ground Covenant Church distributed over 455,000 pounds of food to 41,018 individuals, thanks to improvements such as the purchase of a box truck and enhanced food facility infrastructure. Similarly, the South Sacramento Christian Center served more than 290,000 pounds of food to 52,160 individuals through its weekly distributions.
• Enhanced Access to Nutritious Food: The grants enabled organizations to offer not just more food, but also healthier options. Alchemist CDC, for example, facilitated the use of CalFresh benefits at farmers' markets, resulting in $1.089 million in fresh produce spending. Wellspring Women's Center incorporated farm-fresh eggs into their meal program, serving over 25,000 meals, with more than 9,100 containing this nutritious addition.
• Supported Vulnerable Populations: The funding directly supported various vulnerable groups, including low-income seniors, unhoused individuals, and culturally specific communities. Meals on Wheels by ACC delivered 27,221 meals to low-income seniors, with 83% reporting improved nutrition. Hmong Youth and Parents United hosted Harvest Market events and educational gardening projects, directly engaging 102 seniors and youth in these activities.
• Improved Operational Infrastructure: Several grantees invested in operational upgrades that will have long-term benefits for their food distribution capabilities. NorCal Resist Fund, for example, purchased a delivery van and expanded their community farm, enhancing their ability to distribute fresh produce. Mutual Housing California established four new food pantries at their affordable housing sites, enabling them to regularly serve more than 2,500 people over the course of the grant and hundreds each month moving forward.
• Amplified Community Engagement and Education: Beyond immediate food distribution, some organizations focused on long-term community engagement and education. The Health Education Council held cooking courses and cultural events for Afghan families, fostering trust and better nutrition outcomes through direct community involvement. This not only addressed immediate food needs but also empowered communities with knowledge and resources for sustained food security.

 Download this final report  or click through the slides below to learn more about the grant recipients, the populations served, and the outcomes achieved.

Committed to an equitable recovery from the pandemic, the Food Justice Grant Program utilized racial equity best practices throughout each phase of the grant process. Actions taken to advance equity and inclusion included:

Grant Design Phase:

• Convening a cross-departmental staff team to complete a racial equity analysis tool to ensure that the grant was thoughtfully designed. Grant design decisions made in direct response to either inequities identified or feedback received included:
  • No match requirement
  • Advance payments considered
  • Fiscal sponsors allowed
  • Solicitation open for longer than 30 days
  • Streamlined application process, especially for small grant applicants
• Seeking community input through multiple convenings of the Food Justice Taskforce

Grant Application Phase:

• Devising an outreach plan in collaboration with the City’s Community Engagement Team targeting historically underserved and disinvested areas of the City
• Ensuring language accessibility by translating outreach materials into Spanish, Hmong, and Vietnamese and hosting two information sessions featuring live translators

Grant Selection Phase:

• Implementing a community review panelist application and selection process
• Offering a debrief to all applicants not recommended for funding

Grant Award Phase:

• Developing and providing a standardized reporting template for grantees
• Developing and administering a grantee demographic survey to better understand the composition of selected grantees
• Convening a grantee orientation and grantee meetings to share resources, updates, and feedback for City consideration
• Identifying capacity building and technical assistance opportunities

 Engage Sac Article: Mayor Steinberg, Councilmember Vang announce recipients of $1 million in funding to fight hunger 

 1/26/2023 - Business Journal Article: Alchemist CDC's Sam Greenlee encourages economic opportunity through food-based businesses