The purpose of the Cycle of Food Fund is to support and accelerate organizations’ efforts to eliminate food waste to address climate change and advance a more sustainable and equitable food life cycle from production to soil regeneration.
Grant requests will be accepted on a rolling basis. The Community Foundation program director will review grant applications, and the Board of Directors will approve all grant recipients. If deemed necessary by the Foundation, an evaluation committee may be convened to assist with selection.
The Community Foundation will consider potential grantees in accordance with the following process for selection:
- Requests for grants must be completed and submitted by an organization that qualifies as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
- Applicant organizations must operate in Monroe County, and their applications must support efforts in Monroe County.
- Awards will range from $500 to $10,000 per application.
- An organization may be awarded a grant more than once within a 12-month period, provided each grant is for a different project and/or location.
- Awards will be made in accordance with available funding.
- Requests must be specific to the cycle of food. Yard waste / composting initiatives are not eligible for grants from this fund.
- Organizations requesting funds to support an educator are highly encouraged.
- Organizations that request funds to hire food waste fermentation education organizations are highly encouraged.
Examples of eligible uses include but are not limited to: education about methods and techniques to eliminate food waste, education promoting the full life cycle of food (amend the soil, plant the crops, harvest the food and preparation, eat, and/or store the food, ferment the food waste), consulting expenses for implementation, equipment, materials and instruction on soil bokashi fermentation, outreach and educational programming and workshops, construction of new garden plots utilizing food fermentation methodology and food waste regeneration areas, staffing including paid interns, purchase of storage infrastructure, tools or technology, or associated operational costs.
Questions or technical assistance needed? Contact Program Director Marcus Whited at marcus@cfbmc.org.