The City of Seattle is reinforcing its commitment to food equity by investing over $1.45 million in 23 community partners for 2026. These organizations provide free meals, share traditional food knowledge, support elders and youth, grow fresh produce, and strengthen local food systems. This funding maintains the high levels of investment from previous years while laying the groundwork for the upcoming Participatory Budgeting: Urban Farming grant, which will expand growing spaces, foster neighborhood connections, and enhance Seattle’s food system.
For 2026, the City will not issue an open competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Food Equity Fund (FEF). Instead, funding will renew contracts with existing partners and support previously identified alternates through a community review process. This approach ensures continuity for ongoing programs while providing time to develop and launch the new Urban Farming grant. The RFP process is expected to resume in 2027.
Established in 2021 following recommendations from the Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board, the Food Equity Fund targets investments in community work led by those facing the greatest food and health inequities. These include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, immigrants, refugees, low-income individuals, families with young children, youth, and elders. The fund is supported by Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax.
Grants from the Food Equity Fund support non-profits and community groups with a fiscal sponsor, and projects must take place within Seattle, be accessible to local residents, and contribute to an equitable and sustainable food system. In 2026, the City is also expanding the Starter Fund to $500,000, nearly doubling its 2025 level, to help small organizations launch or scale food access initiatives across the city.
Among the 2026 Food Equity Fund recipients, several organizations will receive $65,000 each, including the American Polynesian Organization, Black Dollar Days Task Force’s Clean Greens Farm and Market, Cambodian American Community Council of Washington, City Fruit, Duwamish Tribal Services, Eat Happy Now, Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle, Ethiopian Community in Seattle, FamilyWorks, FEEST, Hip Hop is Green, Kin On Health Care Center of Washington, Lake City Collective, Nurturing Roots, and Young Women Empowered. Several groups, such as CACCWA, Duwamish Tribal Services, and Eat Happy Now, are first-time recipients. Other organizations, including African Community Housing & Development, International Migrants Alliance, Mother Africa, Rainier Beach Action Coalition, Seattle Good Business Network, Seattle Indian Health Board, Tongan Community Food Pantry, and Villa Comunitaria, will receive $60,000 each.
The 2026 Food Equity Fund cycle reflects Seattle’s ongoing commitment to community-led food initiatives, combining continuity for existing programs with innovative approaches to grow equitable, resilient food systems citywide.
