WHAT WE DO
We believe change begins with strong organizations, informed communities, and meaningful partnerships. Our work is grounded in continuous learning and a deep understanding that access to healthy food, strong local economies, and community well-being are deeply interconnected. This perspective guides our investments in organizations advancing food equity and building community driven solutions that strengthen Western New York's regional food system.
OUR APPROACH
We advance our mission through three pillars that guide how we work and how we partner with organizations across Western New York.
BUILD CAPACITY
Strong organizations create stronger communities.
Through traditional capacity-building grants and our Impact Capacity Assessment Programs (iCAP and iCAP Core), we invest in organizations by helping them build the leadership, systems, resources, and infrastructure needed to grow. From leadership and board development to communications, financial systems, and fund development, we help nonprofits strengthen the foundation needed to carry out their mission.
BUILD AWARENESS
Meaningful change begins with understanding.
Through storytelling, the arts, convenings, and shared learning, we support projects that help more people understand Western New York's local and regional food system. Whether through public art, exhibits, community events, films, educational programming, or other creative projects, we help shine a light on the organizations and people shaping our region.
BUILD CONNECTIONS
Complex challenges require collaborative solutions.
Through convenings, peer learning, and strategic partnerships, we bring together nonprofits, community leaders, funders, and other food system partners. From collaborative projects to regional conversations, we create opportunities to share ideas, strengthen relationships, and align efforts across Western New York.
FUNDING PRIORITES
The Foundation strives to empower innovation within the nonprofit sector by providing the resources needed to create and implement sustainable solutions that will build a thriving and equitable food system that reflects the community it serves. We prioritize food ecosystem partners focused on the wellbeing of BIPOC communities, families disproportionally impacted by poverty, immigrants and refugees, and disadvantaged people in rural areas. We will support efforts that work to decrease social inequities and reject the disparities of conventional food systems.