Chicago Region Food System Fund

The Chicago Region Food System Fund (CRFSF) is accepting applications for its 2025 funding round focused on strengthening the local and regional food system in the greater Chicago area. With $3.85 million available for grants, this funding opportunity supports two key focus areas: “Increasing Hard Infrastructure & Capacity Building” and “Policy Change & Power-Building (Including Workers’ Rights).” The Fund aims to address the pressing disruptions caused by declining federal food system support, emphasizing community resilience, equity, and sustainability. Organizations may apply for either one-year or two-year grants, with funding levels ranging from $25,000 to $200,000. The Fund is managed by Fresh Taste and exists to transform the Chicago foodshed, defined as the city and surrounding areas within a 200-mile radius. The current funding round is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or those using fiscal sponsorship. This includes community associations and food businesses collaborating with nonprofits. While large institutions such as hospitals and universities may apply, they must demonstrate clear community integration and justify their need for external funding. All applicants must demonstrate a connection to and reflection of the communities they serve. The two focus areas allow applicants to tailor their proposals accordingly. The infrastructure and capacity-building focus supports food production and related physical systems, including equipment, storage, processing facilities, shared labor systems, and climate-resilient growing methods. Personal resilience for staff is an allowable cost. The policy and power-building focus supports organizing, movement-building, and policy reform to improve food equity, worker rights, and local food production access. This focus also supports educational efforts, communication strategies, and stakeholder engagement that influence change in the food system. Applicants must select only one focus area per application. Fiscal sponsors may submit multiple applications on behalf of different projects. All applicants must answer primary narrative questions aligned with their chosen focus, as well as a shared community connection question. This shared question probes the applicant’s connection to their community, governance structure, and inclusion of marginalized groups. The Fund prioritizes applicants with BIPOC-led boards and leadership and centers communities historically excluded from food policy and production. The application process opened on August 11, 2025, and will close on September 8, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT. CRFSF held a public information webinar on August 20, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. CT to discuss funding priorities and application tips. Applicants are encouraged to request indirect costs up to 15% of their total budget. Grantees will be required to submit a final report describing project outcomes, challenges, and learnings to support future system-wide improvements. Funding decisions are expected to be announced in November 2025. While this is currently the only open call for 2025, CRFSF indicates that the Fund will continue through at least 2026 and may respond to emerging needs in the food system. Although not confirmed, this suggests the likelihood of future funding rounds. Interested applicants with questions about eligibility are encouraged to contact the Fund directly at foodsystem@freshtaste.org.

Applicants are encouraged to request indirect costs up to 15% of the project budget. CRFSF requests narrative framing focused on community assets rather than deficits.