What is the Food Security Equity Impact Fund?
The Food Security Equity Impact Fund has been established to drive investments to communities of color known to be disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is designed to deepen existing partnerships and create new ones at the community level that focus inordinately on people who are most impacted by food insecurity. It will focus on addressing root causes of hunger, reserving seats at the table for people with lived experience.
The Fund is being seeded with a $20 million donation made by MacKenzie Scott to Feeding America in December 2020. This fund aligns with Ms. Scott’s intent and philanthropic approach to focus on communities facing high projected food insecurity, high measures of racial inequity, high local poverty rates, and low access to philanthropic capital. The Fund will seek to build pathways within disproportionately impacted communities by uncovering solutions with people of color to meet their needs and ultimately to thrive.
Why was the Fund created?
Feeding America is accelerating its work to address disparities and advance solutions for an America where no one is hungry. In the U.S., Native Americans (by 2.9 times), Blacks (by 2.4 times), and Latinos (by two times) are more likely to live in food-insecure households than whites. Food insecurity rates vary among populations that identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander. A 2018 study on the Overlooked Burden of Food Insecurity Among Asian Americans, identified groups with food insecurity rates higher than 16%.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenges with reaching many who are in need of help, especially Native American communities, and has brought to light the health disparities and additional structural barriers minority communities are facing. Through this concerted effort and focus, Feeding America aims to ensure access and opportunity for all as well as strengthen the health and wellbeing of all communities.
How will grants be awarded through the Fund? What are the grant amounts that will be awarded?
Grantmaking strategies for the Fund will be informed by community needs and developed in collaboration with Feeding America, member food banks, and community partners – both existing food pantry and meal program partners as well as local organizations led by and/or serving communities of color. This collaborative creation process will take time to develop, but we expect it will launch in multiple locations later in 2021.
Who can I contact for more information about the Equity Impact Fund?
To receive more information about the specifics of how the Fund will work once the co-creation group has determined the greatest needs and specific criteria, please complete this equity impact fund information form.
How can I or my organization learn more about donating to support this work?
If you are interested in potentially making a gift to the Feeding America Equity Impact Fund, please fill out this donor interest form.
To hear more about our food security equity work, listen to the “Elevating Voices, Ending Hunger” podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.