Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders (SAFSF)

In light of…. *waves hand in the air* … all the things going on in the country, we are especially excited to celebrate Black History Month in February - and beyond! From the Black Panthers’ free breakfast program seeding the idea of the universal school lunch program, to farmer Karen Washington coining the term “food apartheid,” to the fact that much of American cuisine comes from Black chefs and cooks, as well documented in Stephen Satterfield’s TV series High on The Hog: all our lives have been shaped by African American leadership in food and agriculture. Yet, systemic racism over generations and still today drives disproportionate land loss and diminished economic opportunity for Black farmers and food makers, as well as unequal access to healthy food, high rates of food insecurity, and preventable health inequities in the Black community. Our call to action for funders is to move beyond charity and invest in Black leadership, self-determination, and food sovereignty. Today, in our work, it is critical that we listen and support Black-led organizations that are revolutionizing food and agriculture across our nation, including: ✨ DETROIT BLACK COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY NETWORK INC ✨ Black Soil KY ✨ Black Urban Growers (BUGs) ✨ National Black Farmers Association ✨ National Black Food and Justice Alliance ✨ Federation of Southern Cooperatives ✨ Soul Fire Farm ✨ SAAFON ✨ Land Loss Prevention Project ✨ Feeding Black Futures ✨ Dion's Chicago Dream ✨and SAFSF member organizations such as Freedman Heirs Foundation and Potlikker Capital. These are just a FEW of the organizations that are blazing trails in food justice, sustainable farming, and community empowerment. 🧑🏿🌾 Who do you follow? Tag a Black-led food and agriculture organization or Black-owned farm or food business you love in the comments below.    #BlackHistoryMonth #FoodJustice #Agriculture #CommunityLeadership #BHM #BlackExcellence #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackHistoryMatters

Congratulations Masika! We are grateful for your talent, expertise, and the immense amount of care you showed while stewarding the narrative in Digging In.

SAFSF is seeking a Membership and Engagement Director to develop and execute strategies to cultivate, attract, retain, and engage diverse capital partners as members. The Director will oversee membership engagement events and initiatives, track and evaluate member engagement, serve as a connector and thought partner for members, and steward an overall welcoming and inspiring member experience. A successful candidate for this role has an impressive track record of driving organizational growth through partnership development, expanding resource opportunities, and collaborative teamwork. This is a full-time, exempt, permanent position with a starting salary of $90,000-$100,000, based on experience. 🗓️ Applications are due February 5, 2025, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position will remain open until filled. All SAFSF employees work remotely; candidates may live anywhere within the United States. Learn more and apply ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dv383_Vi

SAFSF is seeking a Membership and Engagement Director to develop and execute strategies to cultivate, attract, retain, and engage diverse capital partners as members of SAFSF. They will be responsible for increasing membership and retention while driving revenue growth from membership dues. They will oversee membership events and initiatives, track and evaluate member engagement, serve as a connector and thought partner for members, and steward an overall welcoming and inspiring member experience. A successful candidate for this role has an impressive track record of driving organizational growth through partnership development, expanding resource opportunities, and collaborative teamwork. This individual is comfortable in business development or fundraising roles, loves to network, and brings familiarity of the philanthropic and impact investment field. This role shares responsibility for meeting organizational revenue goals. The Membership and Engagement Director is motivated by a sincere desire for a more equitable and sustainable food system. This is a full-time, exempt, permanent position with a starting salary of $90,000-$100,000, based on experience. Applications are due February 5, 2025, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position will remain open until filled. All SAFSF employees work remotely; candidates may live anywhere within the United States. For more details, please review the job description below and help us spread the word! https://lnkd.in/dv383_Vi

Today is the National Day of Racial Healing The 9th annual National Day of Racial Healing is today. Originated by SAFSF member W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2017, the National Day of Racial Healing is an opportunity for people of all identities and backgrounds to begin or continue their journey of healing from the effects of racism. This day serves as a reminder to create spaces for meaningful conversations—whether one-on-one or in small groups within your neighborhoods, community spaces, or organizations. If you're looking for resources to spark these discussions or want to find an event to join, the website linked below has excellent tools and opportunities to get involved. www.DayofRacialHealing.org. 

Today, we celebrate #MLKDay and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. of fighting for a more just and inclusive society. Dr. King understood that as a nation we already have the resources to ensure that every American can be fed, housed, and live a life of dignity. “There is no deficit in resources,” he said, “The deficit is in human will.” Let us honor Dr. King's vision by channeling our resources and collective will toward transformative investments in food and agriculture, ensuring that all communities have access to nourishment, opportunity, and dignity.

🚨 Last Chance: this is the final week to submit your ideas to help shape the 2025 SAFSF Forum—submissions close this Sunday, January 12 at Midnight PT! The 2025 Forum will focus on advancing solutions through a systems change approach, grounded in our theme of Resilience, Justice, and Democracy. We are looking for ideas for workshops and panels, learning dinners, networking, and field-based learning that explore strategies for systems change across: culture, policy, markets, tools, and capital. We’re seeking your innovative ideas for: 🔹 Workshops & panels 🔹 Learning dinners 🔹 Networking sessions 🔹 Field-based learning experiences Submitting is easy! Our Request for Ideas (RFI) is designed to be accessible, and inclusive. First-round submissions require only a brief paragraph, a working title, and a couple of sentences about how your session connects to social and racial equity, plus a few clicks on boxes to help us categorize content. Don't wait—submit your ideas today and help us co-create a more just and sustainable food and agriculture system. We look forward to seeing your ideas! https://lnkd.in/e2W3GHWa

Help us shape the 2025 SAFSF Forum by submitting your ideas by January 12! The 2025 Forum will focus on advancing solutions through a systems change approach, grounded in our theme of Resilience, Justice, and Democracy. We are looking for ideas for workshops and panels, learning dinners, networking, and field-based learning that explore strategies for systems change across: culture, policy, markets, tools, and capital. We have designed the RFI to be accessible, inclusive, and a light lift in the first round! First-round submissions require only a brief paragraph, a working title, and a couple of sentences about how your session connects to social and racial equity, plus a few clicks on boxes to help us categorize content. Learn More & Submit Your Ideas ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/e2W3GHWa

✳️ There's still time to join us TODAY, December 10, at 12 PM PT for an essential farm bill advocacy conversation. Thanks to sustained advocacy and organizing both at the Congressional and Administrative level, USDA has made strides in recent years addressing key issues such as climate change mitigation and support of disadvantaged farmers. The incoming Congress and Administration have already signaled a different approach, and we anticipate an increased need to protect and advance critical policies and programs. This webinar will provide expert prognostications on what federal funding may be at risk, what advocacy efforts around the farm bill and other legislation could be particularly helpful, and what mutual aid support may be needed for vulnerable communities such as farmworkers. Speakers include: Bidisha Bhattacharyya, Senior Advisor for Climate and Conservation, USDA Sarah Hackney, Coalition Director, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Jose Oliva, Campaigns Director, HEAL Food Alliance Edna Rodriguez, Executive Director, RAFI-USA Joe Shultz Executive Director of PACT (Platform for Agriculture & Climate Transformation) This webinar is sponsored by the Grassroots Farm Bill Project Team (Regenerative Agriculture Foundation, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), and Waverley Street Foundation) in partnership with The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders, Funders for Regenerative Agriculture, Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN), Rural Climate Partnership, and Climate and Energy Funders Group (Biodiversity Funders Group). Register ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gpRugN9V

SAFSF's VP of Impact, Caesaré Assad and other food justice leaders will join the Food and Society at Aspen Institute for a powerful discussion exploring how philanthropy measures up in tackling hunger and poverty. Don’t miss it! More details below ⬇️