About the Food Justice Fund

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 FJF will distribute funding in two categories:

  • Grassroots Grants: $1.5 million in Grassroots Grants of $2,000 to $75,000 to 501(c)3 non-profits with a budget of $500,000 or less, or to individuals and unincorporated groups represented by a fiscal sponsor.
    • These grassroots grants are not available to for-profit entities. The city has partnered with New Sun Rising to manage the distribution of these funds, and applications will open later this Fall. Eligibility guidelines, evaluation criteria, and application questions will be published soon.
    • Please follow this page for email updates.
  • Large-scale investments in Pittsburgh's food system: $1.1 million will be awarded as contracts of up to $500,000 to several organizations to carry out projects with a transformative impact on Pittsburgh's food system and/or food security.

Questions?

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


Sign up for Funding Alerts!

Fill out the FJF survey (on the righthand side of this page) and you’ll be first to know about applications opening and other announcements.

FJF Governance Committee

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 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

Committee members will serve a two-year term.

The FJF Governance committee will review Tier 1 grant applications and select projects for funding with City Council Approval, and the committee will also advise the City on strategies for ensuring the Tier 2 large-scale investments best meet the needs of our communities and local food system.