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Newman’s Own Foundation - Food Justice for Kids Prize: Nutrition Education and School Food


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About

Up to $1M in total funding available for nonprofits, public schools, and tribes working to advance food justice for children in the U.S.

 

Is your organization working towards food justice for kids in the United States? If so, this is your chance to receive up to $100,000 in grant funding over the next 2 years and deepen your impact!

To help nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity in the U.S., Newman’s Own Foundation is launching the Food Justice for Kids Prize, focused on two priority program areas: (1) Indigenous Food Justice and (2) Nutrition Education and School Food. As many as 5 applicants in the Nutrition Education and School Food priority program area will receive up to $50,000 each in 2024, with the opportunity for an additional grant of up to $50,000 each in 2025. Learn more about the Food Justice for Kids Prize, including FAQs and Rules here.

The foods children eat and encounter early in life, whether at home or in school, set the stage for their preferences and habits as they grow up. Yet, over half of children in the United States fail to meet the recommended intake of key food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. There are large gaps between what we know will help children thrive and what is available to them both in and out of school.

Across the United States, forward-thinking schools, community-based nonprofits, and policy-makers are working to transform the school food system so that children can eat free, healthy, and culturally relevant meals. Beyond that, innovative organizations from Appalachia to Arizona's White Mountain Apache Reservation and beyond are working tirelessly to give children opportunities to learn about, grow, gather, and cook food themselves, and create good habits to last a lifetime.

Through the Food Justice for Kids Prize, Newman’s Own Foundation invites applications from eligible organizations with innovative projects that support community-based direct service, ecosystem and community power building, and/or sustainable practices that drive enhanced nutrition education and nutritious school food. 

We encourage you to apply if your organization is implementing a project that:

  • Supports children learning about, growing, gathering, or cooking healthy, nutritious, culturally relevant foods; 

  • Shifts school policy, practices, and/or systems so that children have access to healthy school meals; and/or

  • Supports nutrition education and nutritious food in schools in any one of a number of ways.

 

Why Food Justice for Kids

In the United States, more than 1 in 6 children (13.4 million) live in households where they do not have enough nutritious food to eat or know where their next meal may come from. We know what can work—as increased funding for nutrition assistance programs during the pandemic led to a significant decrease in childhood hunger. However, much of that progress was lost starting in 2022, with the termination of those benefits.

Food insecurity is associated with several adverse outcomes, including delayed development, chronic diseases (such as asthma and anemia), and anxiety and depression. Such outcomes can limit children’s ability to live healthful lifestyles, thrive, and realize their full potential.

Newman’s Own Foundation envisions the United States as a country where all children have access to nutritious, culturally relevant foods; learn about healthy foods and sustainable food systems; and have opportunities to grow, gather, and cook food and be nourished physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

To help nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity in the U.S., Newman’s Own Foundation is launching the Food Justice for Kids Prize, focused on two priority program areas: (1) Indigenous Food Justice and (2) Nutrition Education and School Food.

 

Key Dates

  • Application Period Opens: March 20, 2024

  • Q&A webinar #1: April 9, 2024 (3:00 pm ET) Register here

  • Q&A webinar #2: May 6, 2024 (4:00 pm ET) Register here
  • Application Deadline: June 11, 2024 at 1:00PM ET

  • Finalists Announced: End of July 2024 

  • Finalist Pitch Event, Final Deliberations, and Winners Announced: September 10, 2024 (virtual, open to the public)

  • Grant Funds Disbursed: October/November 2024

 

Evaluation of Applications

Applications will be reviewed by the Advisory Council, Foundation staff, and additional  Foundation-selected reviewers using the following criteria, scored 1-10:

  1. Alignment: To what extent does the organization/project align with the selected priority program area (Indigenous Food Justice or Nutrition Education and School Food)?

  2. Evidence of Impact: To what extent does the organization/project have demonstrable evidence of past impact and/or potential for future impact, in regard to food justice for kids and the selected priority program area? 

  3. Innovative Approach: To what extent does the organization/project offer a new solution or approach that could improve the status quo with regard to food justice for kids?

  4. Community Power: To what extent is the organization/project led by, collaborating with, and building power within the communities it seeks to serve?

  5. Ease of Implementation: To what extent does the organization/project have a realistic plan with clearly defined objectives, adequate resources, the right stakeholder engagement, and a clear path to progress?

 

Registration Instructions:

When creating your JustFund account, if your organization is signing up as any of the following: Indian Tribal Government, U.S. Public Schools and School Districts, U.S. Governmental Entities, or affiliated organizations that are eligible to receive 501(c)(3) funding please choose "Other" under the "Tax Status" in your JustFund registration. You will also need to enter the name of the Funding Opportunity which you are applying to.

Please enter: Newman’s Own Foundation - Food Justice for Kids Prize: Nutrition Education and School Food

 

Learn more about the Food Justice for Kids Prize, including FAQs and Rules here.

 

 

Eligibility

The following types of organizations are eligible to apply:

 

Eligible programs must serve and/or benefit children under 18.

Unsure if your organization is eligible? Check out the Food Justice for Kids Prize FAQs and Rules here.

 

Grant Award Range

As many as 5 applicants in the Nutrition Education and School Food priority program area will receive up to $50,000 each in 2024, with the opportunity for an additional grant of up to $50,000 each in 2025. In 2026 and beyond, these grantee partners may be eligible for further funding. In addition to receiving a grant of up to $50,000, the Food Justice for Kids grantee partners will have the opportunity to participate in a learning cohort, meeting periodically throughout the year (virtually) to network, share best practices, and engage in activities that can be leveraged for greater growth and impact. 

Applicants who reach the finalist stage may also be considered for a $10,000 grant awarded through the Newman’s Own Foundation Community Choice Award. Voting will open in the Newman’s Own Community Fund after the finalists have been announced at the end of July. (Join the Community Fund—donations are welcome but not required.)

Key Dates

Deadline to apply:
06/18/2024 09:00 PM, UTC
NEW DATE

Decisions Expected to be Announced:
09/10/2024
NEW DATE

Application

Before you get started, learn more about how the JustFund Common Application™ works. Please ensure that all fields in your profile are up to date. As part of your application, your profile information will also be submitted and dated at time of submission.

Each grant award is $50,000 in 2024, with the opportunity for an additional grant of up to $50,000 in 2025. Please indicate $50,000 in the “Amount Requested” in your common application.

 

Application Specific Questions

  • Please describe how the proposed work is innovative compared to the status quo in your community. How does your project offer a solution or approach in your community that shows promise to improve the status quo? Innovative can but does not necessarily mean a new technology or a new approach…on the contrary! Whether rooted in traditional knowledge or borrowed from successful models in other communities, any unique aspect of your approach and its potential impact is of interest to us. *
  • Project Goals. Please include 1-3 SMARTIE Goals for your application to be completed within the 12-month grant period. “SMARTIE Goals” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Inclusive, and Equitable) are a strategic way to plan and achieve your objectives. Please see the Management Center’s resources for further explanation (https://www.managementcenter.org/resources/smartie-goals-worksheet/). *
  • Community Power. How is your organization and/or project led by, collaborating with, and building power within your communities? For example, how are children, caregivers, school leadership, and/or community leader voices and agency part of your organization and/or project? *

Application Specific Attachments

  • Required: A proposed budget is required, outlining how you would use this funding. Please see the FAQs for a sample template, or use another format of your choosing. (https://newmansown.org/food-justice-for-kids-prize/) *
  • Optional: We value diversity and accessibility in communication. You may submit an optional video or audio file (3-minute max) in lieu of or in support of your written responses. Please upload the file to a platform of your choosing (e.g., Vimeo, YouTube, etc.) and then click on the "Add URL" button on JustFund.Us to submit this as part of your application. See the FAQs for more details on creating the video. (https://newmansown.org/food-justice-for-kids-prize/)
  • Optional: You may attach one piece of programmatic material (annual report, case study, document with a link to a video, etc.) in support of your application.

Contact Information

Name: Sam Lyman