farm & local food
Investing in the sustainability and resilience of farming communities in Massachusetts
Since 2016, our environmental grantmaking has focused on sustainable agriculture and the local food system in Massachusetts.
Over the years, our environmental grantmaking had supported nonprofits working at the nexus of natural resource protection and community economic sustainability. Like many of our funding colleagues drawn to environmental causes, we recognized that we can’t protect our environment unless we consider how conservation measures affect people, their communities and their economic livelihood.
As we see it, farming and local food is perhaps one of the most comprehensive nexus issues of all.
The food system is a complex web of players beginning on the farm with the farmer and farm worker, moving to the processor, distributor, marketer and eventually to all of us who buy and eat food. How we grow and distribute food matters. By building a robust local food system that values sustainable practices, we can help protect our natural resources while serving the varied constituencies who depend on those resources for their health and economic well-being.
The Farm & Local Food Initiative is designed to help build a thriving Massachusetts farming community that:
encourages sustainable practices to protect our land, air and water
is economically viable, providing a quality standard of living for farm owners and workers
increases the availability of fresh, healthy food to local communities, including populations in need.
Our initial funding supports nonprofits working in Massachusetts (outside of Greater Boston) who provide technical assistance and educational supports to farmers running small-to-mid-sized farms. These farms lend themselves to sustainable practices and tend to find their best niches in local markets within local food systems.
We also support a few related food system areas including food waste and recovery; access to fresh, healthy food; and youth education around farming and sustainable practices.
The Foundation accepts proposals by invitation only. We will not be adding any additional organizations to our portfolio at this time. If you would like, you may reach out to Executive Director Sonia Shah with introductory materials.
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Gardening the Community, Springfield, MA: $10,000 - Emergency Grant for support after July 2023 flooding.
Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund, MA: $10,000 - Emergency Grant for support after the July 2023 flooding.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA: $100,000 - Over three years for general operating support.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA: $25,000 - Capital support for construction at their newly acquired Pawtucket Farm Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Carrot Project, Boston, MA: $100,000 - Over three years for general operating support.
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Beverly, MA: $100,000 - Over three years for general operating support.
Regional Environmental Council, Worcester, MA: $25,000 - Capital support to acquire their current site.
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Massachusetts Food Systems Collaborative, MA: $50,000 - Over two years for general operating support.
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Boston Area Gleaners, Acton, MA: $100,000 - Over three years for general operating support.
Boston Area Gleaners, Acton, MA: $25,000 - For capital support to purchase an Acton farm.
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), South Deerfield, MA: $100,000 - Over three years for general operating support.
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), South Deerfield, MA: $15,000 - For supplemental support during COVID.
Gardening the Community, Springfield, MA: $50,000 - Over two years for general operating support.
Lovin’ Spoonfuls, Inc., Boston, MA: $100,000 - Over two years for general operating support.
MetroWest Food Collaborative, Hudson, MA: $5,000 - For a intern to create an online presence.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA: $50,000 - Over two years for general operating support.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA: $15,000 - For supplemental support during COVID.
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Lowell, MA: $50,000 - Over two years for general operating support.
Regional Environmental Council, Worcester, MA: $100,000 - Over three years for general operating support.
Regional Environmental Council, Worcester, MA: $15,000 - For supplemental support during COVID.
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Boston Area Gleaners, Acton, MA: $15,000 - For general operating support during COVID.
Carrot Project, Boston, MA: $100,000 - Over three years for general operating support.
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), South Deerfield, MA: $15,000 - For general operating support during COVID.
Gardening the Community, Springfield, MA: $15,000 - For general operating support during COVID.
Lovin’ Spoonfuls, Boston, MA: $10,000 - For general operating support during COVID.
Mass Food System Collaborative, MA: $50,000 - Over two years for general operating support.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA: $15,000 - For general operating support during COVID.
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Lowell, MA: $15,000 - For general operating support during COVID.
Regional Environmental Council, Worcester, MA: $15,000 - For general operating support during COVID.
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Boston Area Gleaners, Waltham, MA: $25,000 - For general operating support.
Gaining Ground, Concord, MA: $15,000 - For general operating support.
Gardening the Community, Springfield, MA: $20,000 - For a succession planning and board development consultation.
Mass Food System Collaborative, Greenfield, MA: $25,000 - For general operating support.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA: $50,000 - Over two years, for general operating support.
Regional Environmental Council, Worcester, MA: $50,000 - Over two years, for general operating support.
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Boston Area Gleaners, Waltham, MA: $25,000 - For general support.
Franklin County CDC / Fiscal Agent for MA Food System Collaborative, Greenfield, MA: $25,000 - General support for the Collaborative to implement the MA Local Food Action Plan.
Gaining Ground, Concord, MA: $25,000 - For general support.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA: $25,000 - For general support.
Regional Environmental Council, Worcester, MA: $25,000 - For general support.
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, S. Deerfield, MA: $100,000 - Over 3 years For general support.
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Lowell, MA: $100,000 - Over 3 years For general support.
Lovin’ Spoonfuls, Boston, MA: $75,000 - Over 3 years To support food recovery and distribution in MetroWest.
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Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, S. Deerfield, MA: $25,000 - For general support.
Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, MA: $100,000 - Over three years for general support for the Legal Food Hub in Massachusetts.
Franklin County CDC / Fiscal Agent for MA Food System Collaborative, Greenfield, MA: $25,000 - General support for the Collaborative to implement the MA Local Food Action Plan.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA: $25,000 - For general support.
Third Sector N.E. / Fiscal Agent for New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Lowell, MA: $25,000 - For general support.
Third Sector N.E. / Fiscal Agent for The Carrot Project, Boston, MA: $100,000 - Over three years For general support.
Mass. Department of Transitional Assistance, Boston, MA: $25,000 - To support a state level evaluation of the Healthy Incentives Project.
Gaining Ground, Concord, MA: $25,000 - To complete the transition to a no-till farm.
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Franklin County CDC / Fiscal Agent for MA Food System Collaborative, Greenfield, MA: $25,000 - General support for the Collaborative to implement the MA Local Food Action Plan.
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, S. Deerfield, MA: $25,000 - For an outreach and communications project.
Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, MA: $25,000 - To expand and enhance the work of the Legal Services Food Hub in Massachusetts.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA: $25,000 - To design and build outdoor education centers at each of MCG’s two urban farms.
Third Sector N.E. / Fiscal Agent for New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Lowell, MA: $25,000 - To extend a strategic planning consultation in order to implement the fundraising recommendations of the strategic plan.
Boston Area Gleaners, Waltham, MA: $25,000 - To work with a consultant to create a customized inventory management system to expand the agency’s ability to glean and distribute local produce to food banks and food pantries.
Third Sector N.E. / Fiscal Agent for The Carrot Project, Boston, MA: $25,000 - To work with a senior fellow for one year on client coordination, tracking and evaluation.
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Lovin’ Spoonfuls, Boston, MA: $75,000 - Over 3 years To bring Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ Food Recovery Program to MetroWest. This grant is in partnership with the MetroWest Health Foundation, the Foundation for MetroWest, and Middlesex Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.
Franklin County CDC, Greenfield, MA: $25,000 Interim funding to establish the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, an alliance of stakeholders working to implement the recommendations of the recently-completed Mass. Food System Plan.