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.

The FJF will invest in food insecure areas identified by various indicators including the Healthy Food Priority Access Areas, USDA Food Access Research Atlas, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) eligible Census tracts.

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).

All funds will be allocated and grantees selected before the end of 2024, and grantees must spend all funds before the end of 2025.

The FJF will distribute funding in two categories:

Tier 1: $1.5 million in 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. Tier 1 grants are not available to for-profit entities.

Tier 2: $1.1 million in grants of $75,000 to $500,000 to for-profits, 501(c)3 non-profits, or people represented by a fiscal sponsor.

Questions?

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

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

FJF Governance Committee applications are now closed. The FJF Coordinator will follow up with applicants soon.

The nine-person committee includes one person from the Mayor’s staff, one person from City Council staff, and seven community members. Each community member brings their own food systems expertise, lived experience, and community connections.

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. Governance Committee members will be selected by Mayor Ed Gainey’s Office.

Time Commitment

The committee will meet monthly, with possible additional meetings if needed to reach agreement on time for federal funding deadlines.

Outside of meetings, committee members will need to review and score several hundred short applications for Tier 1 grants of $2,000 to $75,000, and some background materials related to projects seeking Tier 2 funding of $75,000 to $500,000.

Committee members will serve a two-year term.

Eligibility requirements:

• Committee members must be City of Pittsburgh residents and at least sixteen years old
• Committee members must not be formally involved with organizations applying for FJF funds as staff, board members, or individuals represented by a fiscal sponsor.
  • The city is still finalizing specific rules about funding eligibility, conflicts of interest, and what kind of projects the FJF can fund. Nominating yourself for the Governance Committee now does not disqualify you from applying for FJF funds in the future.

Contact City of Pittsburgh Food Justice Fund Coordinator Gabriel McMorland (she/her) with any questions at gabriel.mcmorland@pittsburghpa.gov.