Food Equity Fund
The City of Seattle Food Equity Fund supports community-led projects advancing food equity and sustainability for BIPOC, immigrant, refugee, low-income, youth, and elder communities.
Funder: City of Seattle (https://www.seattle.gov)
Due Dates: Closed for 2026 (no open competition)
Funding Amounts: $5,000–$25,000 per project; up to 24 months; approx. $325,000 total available (2026 cycle)
Summary: Supports Seattle community-led projects advancing food equity and sustainability for BIPOC, immigrants, refugees, low-income residents, youth, and elders.
Key Information: The 2026 cycle is not accepting new applications; only renewals for current/alternate partners.
Description
The Food Equity Fund, administered by the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, invests in community-led projects that advance an equitable and sustainable local food system. The fund prioritizes initiatives led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, refugees, people with low incomes, youth, and elders—communities most impacted by food and health inequities in Seattle. Projects may include food distribution, food production, food education, community organizing, coalition-building, and physical improvements such as gardens or kitchens.
For 2026, the fund is not holding an open, competitive application process. Instead, contracts will be renewed with current partners and previously identified alternates to ensure continued support while the City develops a new Participatory Budgeting: Urban Farming grant process. The open RFP process is anticipated to resume for the 2027 cycle.
