Food Access Community Grants
This grant program provides funding for outreach and destigmatization activities, and community-based solutions to foster a more just food system in Boston.
The Office of Food Access is offering two community grant opportunities. Applicants may apply to one or both grants.
- Food Safety Net Destigmatization and Outreach: This grant seeks to increase use, awareness and access to the different programs and food resources available for Bostonians and empower community-sourced approaches to destigmatize the food access safety net and facilitate conversations around food assistance.
- Equity in Food Access: This grant will fund community-based solutions to foster a more just food system in Boston.
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Have questions? Contact:
Food Access -
DEADLINEFriday, September 17, 2021, at 5 p.m. (EST).
Late applications will not be accepted.
Application and Eligibility
EligibilityWe invite residents and nonprofits serving Boston residents to submit proposals. It is open to any individual or entity who would like to respond. The City encourages participation from:
- small and Boston-based,
- minority-led, and
- women-led entities
All applicant organizations must serve Boston residents and collect a minimum set of anonymous data around race, ethnicity, language, and geographic location.
The City strongly encourages partnerships with and among local community groups and partners.
VENDOR-ID
To apply, you need to become a registered vendor with the City of Boston and have received your vendor ID. You can sign up for a Vendor ID through these instructions:
proposal focus
In order to be eligible for the Safety Net Destigmatization and Outreach funding, proposals must do the following:
- Increase use, awareness, and access to the different food resources available in Boston and in their community.
- Reduce or address the stigma associated with food insecurity and asking for food assistance, and normalize conversations about it.
- Enhance the outreach efforts around the food safety net network in their neighborhoods or communities.
FUNDING LEVELS
Applicants should choose one level of grant funding to apply for.
Basic (capped at $50,000)
Basic outreach grants are intended to fund smaller-scale outreach and/or facilitation projects that focus on information sharing, referrals, and activities aimed at reducing food assistance stigma.
- Some examples include but are not limited to flyering, door-knocking, referrals to safety-net programs, community facilitation sessions, art interventions, open conversations, and hosting community events.
Expanded (capped at $100,000)
Expanded outreach grants are intended to fund more holistic outreach projects that provide their communities with a one-stop food safety net service.
- Activities can include those under basic outreach but should additionally include activities such as: performing wellness checks, assisting with safety net program referrals and/or sign-ups, hosting or attending community events including farmers markets with safety net registrations on-site and conducting follow up.
proposal focus
In order to be eligible for the Equity in Food Access funding, proposals must do the following:
- Address equity in food access and food security in focus populations including but not limited to immigrants, older adults, and people living with disabilities.
- Propose innovative solutions that build on existing work and/or fill gaps in at least one of the focus areas identified by the 2021 Mayor’s Food Access Agenda.
- Affordability and Quality
- Accessibility and Choice.
- Underutilization of programs. - Projects can include different community-driven solutions to create a more just food system that empowers communities to grow, sell, and eat healthy foods.
FUNDING LEVELS
Applicants should choose one level of grant funding to apply for.
Basic (capped at $50,000)
- Basic grants are intended to fund smaller-scale projects that can lead to larger-scale solutions in the future.
- Examples may include but are not limited to solidifying new coalitions, implementing pilot projects, or targeting specific sub-populations of need.
Expanded (capped at $100,000)
- Expanded grants are larger projects that build on existing initiatives or partnerships and/or offer innovative solutions to current food access issues. Projects should consider systemic improvements to current food access issues.
- Some examples of implementation grants can include but are not limited to addressing food waste, improving food distribution strategies, or connecting existing producers with new markets.
BUDGET
Applicants must select one funding level for either or both grants.
- Basic (capped at $50,000)
- Expanded (capped at 100,000)
timeline
The maximum length of both grants is one year and all funds must be used by October 2022.
FUNDING AVAILABLE
- Food Safety Net Destigmatization and Outreach: $900,000
- Equity in Food Access: $1,000,000
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The evaluation criteria for this grant’s review process are available online. Review the evaluation criteria.
REQUIRED DATA COLLECTION
All applicant organizations must collect a minimum set of anonymous data around race, ethnicity, language, and geographic location.
EXPANDED LEVEL DATA COLLECTION
Grantees that receive expanded grants will be required to collect additional metrics including sexual orientation, gender identity; employment status; disability status; food insecurity; household data, and safety net program usage. A Google Form for data collection will be provided by the Office of Food Access.
- City of Boston vendor ID
- Nonprofit Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Copy of the most recent Form 990 from your organization (or your fiscal sponsor, if applicable), or most recent audited financial statements or annual report
- A signed IRS Form W-9 from your organization (or your fiscal sponsor, if applicable)
- Budget proposal using our template
Please use this application link to submit an application for one or both of the OFA Community Grants.
Deadline
5:00PM EST Friday September 17th, 2021.
- You will receive an email confirmation after your submission has been received.
- Decisions on grantees will be released the week of September 27, 2021.
Application Support
informational sessions
We will share an overview of both grants in two presentation sessions. Cantonese and Spanish interpretations will be available for both sessions. Additional language accommodations are available upon request. Video and audio recordings will be posted after the sessions are held.
- Information Session #1
Wednesday, August 18, 2021, from 12 - 1:30 p.m. - English Presentation from August 18, 2021
- English Recording from August 18, 2021
- Information Session #2
Wednesday, August 25, 2021, from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
OFFICE HOURS
Do you have a question about your application? Do you need help applying? Join us for office hours with staff to receive limited one-on-one assistance in navigating the application process. Sign up for 15-minute sessions:
- Wednesday, August 25, 2021
- Thursday, August 26, 2021
- Tuesday, August 31, 2021
- Thursday, September 2, 2021
- Thursday, September 9, 2021
- Tuesday, September 14, 2021
EVALUATION COMMITTEE
All proposals received by the City will first be reviewed to determine whether the proposal meets all minimum criteria identified in the grant in their respective funding level.
For proposals that meet all minimum criteria, the comparative evaluation criteria will be used for the grant’s review process for both Safety Net Destigmatization and Outreach and Equity in Food Access grants.
Safety Net Destigmatization and Outreach
Grantees for this grant will be chosen by an internal City of Boston committee including members from the Office of Food Access.
Equity in Food Access
Grantees for this grant will be chosen by an evaluation committee comprised of 8 community members co-selected by the Office of Food Access and the Boston Food Access Council, and City of Boston staff from the Office of Food Access, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, and the City of Boston Equity and Inclusion Cabinet.
Grant documents
Grant DocumentsWho's Involved:
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Have questions? Contact:
Food Access -
DEADLINE
Friday, September 17, 2021, at 5 p.m. (EST).
Late applications will not be accepted.
