The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) is offering the Starter Fund Grant Program, a nimble grant designed for smaller, grassroots organizations with an annual budget under $500,000. This program aligns with the DON's mission to advance an equitable and sustainable local food system, acknowledging and addressing the deep and persistent inequities in the food system caused by structural racism across the United States and in Seattle. The fund aims to provide institutional funding access to organizations that have historically faced limitations.
The Food Equity Fund component of this program specifically targets increasing investments in food work led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, refugees, people with low incomes, youth, and/or elders. Eligible projects must occur within Seattle, be accessible to and benefit people who live, learn, work, and/or worship in Seattle, and focus on contributing to an equitable and sustainable local food system.
The program prioritizes a variety of eligible activities, including capital projects (e.g., greenhouses, farm irrigation, commercial kitchens), coalition-building for food justice and sovereignty, community organizing, food programs for elders and youth, food distribution sites, food justice leadership development, food pantry and meal services, gardening or farming, food-related job training, activities that advance economic opportunities, and storytelling & cultural preservation/education. These activities are expected to foster a more equitable and sustainable local food system, addressing the identified inequities through direct action and community empowerment.
Expected outcomes include enhanced access to food resources, increased economic opportunities within the food system, improved community capacity for food justice and sovereignty, and the development of sustainable food infrastructure. Projects should be completed within 24 months of contracting, with an award amount ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community groups with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, and Tribes and tribal organizations, reinforcing the strategic priority of supporting diverse community-led initiatives.
