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.

The FJF will prioritize investment 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: More than $1 million to be awarded through the city's RFP process in amounts between $75K and $500K to programs or projects making a large-scale, transformational impact on Pittsburgh's food system and increasing access to affordable, healthy food. Both for-profit and non-profit organizations may bid on these RFPs, and will need a Federal SAM number.

Questions?

Contact Food Justice Fund Coordinator Gabriel 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
  • Daniela Alcantara (she/her; Lawrenceville): Casa San Jose
  • Darius Wallace (he/him; Marshall-Shadeland): Office of Mayor Ed Gainey
  • Dina “Free” Blackwell (she/her; Homewood): House 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.