Nominations Open: Food Justice for Kids Prize (United States)

Deadline: 21-Apr-2026

The Food Justice for Kids Prize provides grants of up to $100,000 over two years to organizations advancing food justice and nutrition education for children. The program supports initiatives in Indigenous food sovereignty and school-based nutrition education, aiming to improve access to healthy, culturally relevant foods for young people.

What is the Food Justice for Kids Prize?

The Food Justice for Kids Prize is a US-based grant program that funds initiatives helping children access, learn about, and engage with healthy and culturally relevant food. It emphasizes two main focus areas:

• Indigenous Food Justice: Supports projects and policy work that promote food sovereignty, including gathering, growing, and cooking Indigenous foods.

• Nutrition Education & School Food: Supports projects and policy work that help children learn, grow, and cook healthy foods, integrate local and culturally relevant foods into school meals, and improve access to nutritious meals.

Grants of up to $100,000 are awarded over two years, with up to 14 organizations selected per cycle. The program seeks to advance equitable access to nutritious and culturally meaningful food for children.

Why This Prize Matters

Access to healthy and culturally relevant food is essential for children’s physical health, cognitive development, and cultural connection. Indigenous and school-based food programs help:

• Promote food sovereignty for Indigenous communities

• Improve nutritional outcomes for children

• Teach practical cooking and gardening skills

• Increase cultural awareness and engagement with local food systems

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• 501(c)(3) public charities

• Federally recognized Tribes

• Indian Tribal governments under IRS section 7871

• US public schools, school districts, and schools with 501(c)(3) status

• Governmental entities or affiliated organizations eligible to receive 501(c)(3) funding

• Organizations applying via a 501(c)(3) public charity fiscal sponsor

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to deliver programs that support food justice, nutrition education, or culturally relevant food access for children.

Who is Not Eligible?

The following entities cannot apply:

• Organizations that discriminate based on religion, gender, race, national origin, ethnicity, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disabilities

• Entities engaged in lobbying or political activities

• 501(c)(4) organizations, commercial businesses, and major research projects

• Organizations primarily using litigation or requiring expenditure responsibility

• Other private foundations, Type III supporting organizations, or organizations providing direct grants to individuals

How the Grant Works

• Funding Amount: Up to $100,000 per organization

• Grant Duration: Two years

• Number of Grants: Up to 14 per cycle

• Program Focus: Indigenous food justice or nutrition education & school food programs
  Recipients gain the resources to expand program reach, strengthen community engagement, and promote equitable access to healthy, culturally relevant foods for children.

How to Apply

1. Confirm Eligibility: Verify your organization meets one of the eligible entity types.

2. Define Your Project: Clearly describe your Indigenous food justice or nutrition education initiative, including objectives, activities, and expected outcomes.

3. Prepare Budget and Timeline: Outline how the grant funds will be used over the two-year period.

4. Submit Application: Complete the application according to the Foundation’s requirements, providing all supporting documentation.

5. Demonstrate Impact: Highlight measurable goals, including improvements in children’s access to healthy food and engagement in food programs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting applications from ineligible organizations

• Proposing projects unrelated to Indigenous food or nutrition education

• Failing to provide clear measurable outcomes

• Neglecting to show cultural relevance in programming

• Overlooking fiscal sponsorship requirements if applying through a third-party 501(c)(3)

FAQs

1. Can commercial businesses apply?
No, only non-profits, schools, Tribes, and eligible governmental entities can apply.
2. What is the maximum grant amount?
Up to $100,000 per organization for a two-year period.
3. Are direct grants to individuals allowed?
No, individual grants are not eligible.
4. Can organizations outside the US apply?
No, only US-based eligible entities can apply.
5. Can the grant fund lobbying or political activities?
No, the program prohibits lobbying or political activity.
6. Are there limits on the type of project funded?
Yes, projects must focus on Indigenous food justice or nutrition education and school food programs.
7. Can a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor submit on behalf of another organization?
Yes, organizations can apply via a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status.

Conclusion

The Food Justice for Kids Prize supports organizations that expand access to healthy, culturally relevant food for children. With grants up to $100,000 over two years, the program advances Indigenous food sovereignty, nutrition education, and school food initiatives, empowering children and communities to develop healthier eating habits and stronger cultural connections.

For more information, visit Newman’s Own Foundation.