The purpose of the Food Justice Fund (FJF) is to increase public investment in a just, equitable, and sustainable food system that supports our neighborhoods, local economy, and the environment.

The FJF aims to support grassroots, creative efforts increasing opportunities to grow, learn about, and eat healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant foods. Funding selections will prioritize projects serving City of Pittsburgh communities of higher need, with strong connections to the communities they serve.

The FJF was established by City Council in July 2023 in response to community advocates with the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council organizing to build food sovereignty and end food apartheid in their neighborhoods. All funding for the FJF came from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The first round of funding awarded a total of $1.1Million in late 2024 through the city’s RFP process. The city issued an RFP for large-scale investments in Pittsburgh’s food system with project budgets up to half-a-million dollars. Awardees were selected by a committee of city staff, as required by the RFP procurement process. You can view the RFP at this Project overview

A total of $1.1Million was awarded to four organizations

• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will distribute food to small food pantries across the city.
• Grow Pittsburgh will strengthen urban agriculture around the city, including urban farms and produce distributions, a farmers market, support for dozens of community gardens, and collaborations with Freeman Family Farm and Greenhouse, Mwanakuche Farm, Oasis Farm and Fishery, Operation Better Block, and Sankofa Village Community Garden,
• Just Harvest will enhance their Food Bucks program at city-run farmers markets, doubling the purchasing power of shoppers using SNAP (food stamps) while also supporting local growers.

Jasmine Nyree Homes will start a daily meal program for seniors, children, and people with disabilities at their campus in the West End neighborhood of Sheraden.

Grassroots funding coming soon!

Applications for the second round of funding will open in March 2025, distributing a total of $1.5Million in grassroots grants up to $75,000 each. Specific dates for the application opening and deadline will be announced soon. Awardees will be selected in Fall 2025, and project funds must be spent by June 30^th, 2026.

The online application, selection criteria, and guidelines on eligible expenses will be posted on this page. Sign up for alerts with your email below or follow this page.

Projects must provide one or more of these services:

• Distributing free food/meals
• Supporting community gardens and non-profit urban agriculture
• Enrolling residents in public benefits (Ex. SNAP, WIC, Allegheny Go)
• Operating farmers markets (indoors or outdoors)
• Offering educational programming about growing, cooking, or preserving food, nutrition, healthy living, or composting
• Increasing residents’ access to composting
• Job training or youth employment in fields related to the food system

Applicants for this second round of funding must be 501C3 non-profits or people represented by a fiscal sponsor, and have an annual budget of half-a-million dollars or less.

Funds may not be used to provide direct assistance to businesses, such as equipment, capital improvements, grants, or loans. Applicants can pay businesses as vendors providing goods and services and may specify their choice of local food system vendors in their application, such as a food pantry purchasing produce from a local for-profit farm.

Project budgets must be between two thousand dollars and seventy-five thousand dollars, and any additional funds needed for the project must be secured by the time of application.”

Questions?

Contact Food Justice Fund Coordinator Gabbi McMorland (she/her) at gabriel.mcmorland@pittsburghpa.gov.

The City of Pittsburgh has selected 15 community members to join the Food Justice Fund (FJF) Governance Committee, which will recommend FJF grant awards for approval by City Council.

The FJF committee is intended as a way to share power with and learn from the experience of communities affected by food apartheid, food insecurity, and lack of access to resources. Each Committee member brings their own food systems expertise, lived experience, and community connections.

The FJF Governance Committee will review the grassroots funding applications for projects with budgets up to $75K and select projects for funding with City Council approval.

The Committee selections are as follows:

• Alyson McAtee (she/her; Garfield): Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, Garfield Community Farm
• Angela Williams (she/her; Perry South): Pittsburgh Community Services, Inc. Board Vice-Chair, Northside Leadership Conference Board Member, Charles Street Area Corporation Executive Director
• Councilwoman Deb Gross (she/her; Highland Park) City of Pittsburgh Councilwoman for District 7
• Darius Wallace (he/him; Marshall-Shadeland): Office of Mayor Ed Gainey
• Dina “Free” Blackwell (she/her; Homewood): House of Manna, Homewood Renaissance Association Founder, Freedom Foods CO-OP Market Founding Organizer
• Dr. Noble Maseru (he/they; Friendship): Professor, Public Health Practice and Director, Social Justice Equity and Faculty Engagement at the University of Pittsburgh
• James Reid (he/him; Westwood): Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Invest PGH
• Jordan Shoenberger (he/him; Brookline): Abiding Missions Executive Director, Hilltop Food Access Collective Chair
• Lisa Freeman, MSW, MPA (she/her; Manchester): Freeman Family Farm & Greenhouse Owner
• Loukeisa Denise Edwards (she/her; Allentown): Triple Moon Alchemy Owner, Grow Pittsburgh Education & Outreach Coordinator
• Merecedes J. Williams (she/her; East Hills): Pittsburgh Public Schools Director of Communications/Stakeholder Engagement, 412 Food Rescue Hero
• Pastor Lutual M. Love, Sr. (he/him; Hazelwood): Pastor of Praise Temple Deliverance Church, Greater Hazelwood Coalition Against Racial and Ethnic Disparities (GHCARED) Founder

• Stephen O’Brion (he/him; Downtown): Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Advocacy Coordinator, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council Board Member
• Win Nunley (they/all pronouns; East Liberty): Black Dream Escape Co-Founder