Maine Food Systems Grants

Kristina Kalolo
kkalolo@sewallfoundation.org
207.865.3810

The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation offers funding for projects designed to create a thriving, healthy, and just food system where local Maine communities are guiding decisions about, and have abundant access to, the resources needed for collective well-being and nutritious foods.

Projects should focus on:

• Food justice
• Food sovereignty
• Land and water sovereignty and access
• Nutrition equity
• Food networks
• Food policy

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Are led by, and/or serving, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, rural Mainers, and women that strengthen Maine's local food system
• Are equity-driven, grassroots efforts guided by the expertise of those closest to the injustices of the current food system
• Contribute to the viability of healthy and just food systems
• Resource communities most affected by racial and socioeconomic inequity to build collective power and wealth
• Support both the immediate material conditions of those in need and the emergence of sovereign and just food systems
• Are smaller and have barriers to accessing resources

Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations and programs in Maine. Organizations without 501(c)(3) status will need a fiscal agent with 501(c)(3) status.

Award ceiling: $60,000 for individual organizations and $200,000 for collaborations involving multiple organizations
Award floor: $10,000
Project period: 1-5 years
Estimated number of awards: 13
Estimated total program funding: $1,870,000

A link to the online application will be available on the program website in January, 2025.