Applications now open
2026-2027
Grant Program
Our 2026-2027 Grant Program provides unrestricted funding to food policy councils.
Funds are unrestricted, meaning that councils can choose how best to spend them to support their work.
Apply for funding →Background
The Better Food Policy Fund is a values-based fund that exists to support local, regional, or tribal groups who are working in the US to effect better food policy through civic collaboration.
We invest in US-based food policy councils, empowering community and government collaboration for better food policy. We provide financial resources to councils, communicate the value of food policy councils, and provide opportunities for shared learning.
We are a Collective Action Fund of the Tides Foundation, a purpose-driven fund that relies on an Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) to make recommendations for grants in support of our mission. The IAC ensures continuity, stability, and equity within the Fund.
We use participatory grantmaking processes to enhance equity and redistribute power in the food system funding landscape.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible groups are food policy councils in the US working to effect better food policy through civic collaboration. These groups meet all the following criteria:
- Councils, networks, coalitions, or other groups working across boundaries at the tribal, municipal, county, state, regional, or intertribal level;
- Fostering an enabling environment for practices, procedures, ordinances, laws, etc. of governing institutions which strengthen community-based food systems;
- Joining together community and government; and,
- Can be structured as community groups, government-embedded entities, higher education-embedded entities, non-profit organizations, etc.
- Based in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa.
New this year!
2026 funding priorities
The Better Food Policy Fund will prioritize food policy council applicants who meet these two criteria:
- Have annual council budgets of less than $100,000.
- Serve a region whose food system work has been historically underfunded. These regions include the states, territories, and tribal lands listed below:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Wyoming
- U.S. Territories
- Tribal lands
If you don’t meet these criteria, you are still welcome to apply. While we are prioritizing councils that meet either or both criteria, we will also consider funding other qualified councils.
How do I apply?
Apply using our online application.
We believe all food policy councils are worthy of funding, and have intentionally kept our application process simple to reduce barriers to participation. You’ll be asked to provide basic contact information, some background about your council, and answer two questions (limited to 2,500 characters each) that tell us about your council’s policy work and the values that guide it.
Start your application →Submit by November 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Timeline
- November 2, 202611:59 p.m. Eastern TimeApplications due
- November 2026The Independent Advisory Committee meets to select grantees
- December 2026Grants announced and funds awarded
Frequently asked questions
How much funding is available?
The Better Food Policy Fund is making a total of $300,000 available in 2026, and another $300,000 in 2027. We anticipate that this will allow us to fund at least 15 food policy councils in this two-year grant program.
FPCs can apply for up to $20,000 per year (for a total of $40,000 over the two-year term). Funds are unrestricted, meaning that councils can choose how best to spend them to support their work. If you don’t need the full amount, please ask for less so we can fund additional councils!
How did you decide to prioritize certain criteria?
As part of our strategic planning process, we heard from stakeholders that the scale of grants we provide can have the most impact for councils with small annual budgets.
Also, we learned from our partners at Food Policy Networks that food systems funding across the U.S. has been uneven, with some regions receiving significantly less funding than others. Therefore, we are prioritizing supporting councils in these regions that have historically received less funding for food systems work.
Who is on the Independent Advisory Committee that selects grantees?
The Better Food Policy Fund is governed by an Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) that uses participatory grantmaking processes to award funds. All IAC members have formed, served on, or led a food policy council. They bring deep experience in collaborative governance, cross-cultural communication, policy development, and food systems.
What entities are eligible to apply for funds?
Eligible applicants may be embedded within government entities, non-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education. Community groups with fiscal agents/sponsors are also eligible to apply. Please note that individual applicants and community groups without fiscal agents/sponsors are not eligible for this opportunity. If you have specific questions about your FPC's structure and your eligibility to apply, contact Molly Norton: [email protected]
Can I see the grant questions in advance?
Sure! Here's a pdf of the questions as they appear in the Google Form application.
Even if I don't meet the preferred funding priorities, should I bother to apply?
Yes! We have two filters that we'll use to prioritize applicants this year. These filters are: FPCs that have annual council budgets of less than $100,000, and FPCs who serve a region whose food system work has been historically underfunded. (see list of states/regions above).
However, the IAC wants to fund a mix of FPCs, and will consider funding applicants even if they don't meet these priorities.
Can grant funds be used to start a food policy council?
The Better Food Policy Fund supports food policy councils that have already been established. Therefore, funds cannot be used to start a food policy council. However, if you have recently established a council and are in start-up mode, you are eligible to apply for support.
What is the evaluation requirement for these funds?
The Better Food Policy Fund provides unrestricted funding, and we intentionally keep the evaluation burden very light and relationship-based. With past rounds of grantees, we have hosted an annual 1.5- to 2-hour meeting with grantees and IAC members. We use an appreciative inquiry framework to elevate stories of the fund's impact, and we capture those stories for our own Fund reporting. No financial reports or lengthy written reports are required.
Questions?
Contact Eileen Horn, Fund Facilitator:
[email protected]