Values of the efod fund

EQUITY IN OWNERSHIP AND DESIGN
Authentic practitioner leadership and authority in decision-making, co-creating design, and governance. Ally funders and partners support, but those who have built and led organizations doing deep community food and justice work and are accountable to their communities lead and own EFOD as a field and fund.

EQUITABLE FINANCING
Existing capital models are extractive and perpetuate wealth inequity. Our financing process will move away from a 'vetting' model, to one that uplifts impact and prioritizes getting EFOD projects ready and resourced. A cohesive body of experienced EFOD leaders will package lending and grantmaking in a valuable and effective way. The Fund will urgently fund EFOD initiatives, with attention to community needs.

LEARNING THROUGH ACTION
The Fund will demonstrate and test key equity principles and food systems change practices through finance and grants. We aim to influence further changes in philanthropic and lending institutions. EFOD leaders bring rigor in iterative testing, entrepreneurial passion, and experiential knowledge to fund management and support.​

UPLIFTING UNIQUE NETWORKS
The Fund will identify and support emergent and established community-led food-based community and economic development organizations. Aligned organizations can then be considered for further funding from foundation and CDFI partners using EFOD criteria.

purpose and structure
​of the efod Fund

The EFOD Fund is building an alternative model to demonstrate that when given the right nurturing, environment, and responsiveness, EFOD projects can thrive. We want to create a new way of funding grassroots equitable food oriented development projects, a way which seeks to dismantle embedded racist practices.
​
The EFOD Fund will provide both grants and patient loans to capital-intensive EFOD projects, alongside comprehensive skilled technical assistance to support projects as they seek financing. Loan committee and fund board will be comprised of EFOD leaders and funding/financing allies. Join the nationwide EFOD Collaborative as we co-create this landmark fund. If interested, whether as a fund recipient or potential fund investor, get in touch by emailing
​trisha@daisaenterprises.com.

Kelly Curry (left) and Adela Flores (right) making smoothies for the Fruitvale community at Oscar Grant BART station in Oakland.

gaps in FUNDING and FINANCING

Research shows significant gaps across financial institutions funding food oriented development. That gap is demonstrated across but not limited to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). There is a palpable stress among EFOD leaders, recognizing a misalignment of their funding needs with the stated mission of CDFIs, which were intended to fund and promote economic growth in poor and working-class communities. The EFOD Fund is an alternative to that funding, and imagines EFOD-aligned leaders making critical investments in BIPOC-led community leadership and development.
​
​EFOD organizations play an important role redirecting capital to communities that have often suffered the effects of historic disinvestment and capital extraction. In a vacuum of public funding for these communities, community-based organizations have stepped in to ensure that the same wealth gains made in surrounding well-invested neighborhoods are available to their communities as well.