Shared Gifting Resonates in 2020
Regional Shared Gifting Circles
“You got to open up your own hand to receive. And what we just did today is a very good witness to that,” reflected Ms. Lavonia Lewis who participated in the 2020 Shared Gifting microgrant program for food councils this year.
Shared Gifting is a participatory grantmaking process that is a democratic, collaborative exchange of funds that allows the grantee participants to also be the grantors. This process builds on our values of centering equity, prioritizing relationships, amplifying community leadership, and encouraging collaboration.
Twenty-six food councils participated in six Shared Gifting Circles by region in 2020, with microgrants ranging from $0-$8256, averaging nearly $4000 per food council. In the evaluation, 92% of participants said that they would participate again for the same amount or even a lesser amount of funds. The participants increased their knowledge of the issues and of each other’s work. They invested in each other. They strengthened their relationships across the region, which will help them stay accountable to each other and their communities.
Given the positive feedback and layered benefits of this process to the network, we plan to facilitate Shared Gifting microgrants again in 2021. To learn more about Shared Gifting, watch RSF Social Finance’s 4-minute Gifting Power video here or see the 2020 Shared Gifting request for proposals.
"It's not even about the money. It's about working together, helping each other, and doing the social equity work that we've been talking about for a long time," shared Debbie Roos, Chatham County Cooperative Extension.
THEME DESCRIPTIONS
Support Black Farmers - $28K
Project funds supported the development and success of Black farmers through investments in infrastructure and relationship building.
Deepen Organizational Capacity - $20K
Funds were used to build food councils’ ability to represent and work with their communities.
Create Educational Programming – $19K
Funds were used to create educational content and programming about gardening, produce, and cooking, as well as spotlighting Black farmers and related historical racial inequities.
Invest in Markets & Infrastructure – $16K
Funds will improve the capacity and viability of farmers through developing markets, entrepreneurial models, and food distribution channels.
Amplify Community Voices – $11K
Funds will create opportunities for communities to share stories, propose solutions, and inform recommendations for action.
Pay Farmers to Feed Communities – $8K
Funds will pay farmers to feed communities with limited access to food, addressing COVID-related needs of farmers and communities.
2020 Microgrant Project Themes
The following themes and brief descriptions cannot share the depth and breadth of these thoughtful proposals, and yet they highlight the collective work of the network as a whole. The funding allocations show the network investments and reflect their values.
“A big part of equity is ground up work. This really takes it to that level. To say we are working and distributing funds from the ground up where we really get to make those decisions. I think that's very empowering." Monique Bethel
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS BY REGION
CHARLOTTE CIRCLE PARTICIPANTS
CHARLOTTE CIRCLE THEMES
$20,260 distributed across 5 food councils
DEEPEN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY
Char-Meck Food Policy Council ($3490) will use these microgrant funds to hire a new part-time Communications Specialist to enhance online connection and resource sharing with the broader Charlotte food community. This position will help the organization stay connected with and serve the community while they search for more sustainable funding for an Executive Director position.
INVEST IN MARKETS & INFRASTRUCTURE
Rowan Farm & Food Network ($4252) is working to connect small produce farmers with new food outlets while providing health food options to low-income communities. They will use these funds to support the exploration and initiation of three projects: 1) Local produce in corner stores, 2) Mobile markets, and 3) New high school food pantry.
AMPLIFY COMMUNITY VOICES
Union County Food Council ($4,519), a new food council, will be using data collected from a recent community-wide survey to create a useful website in response to survey responses. The website will connect different parts of the food system, build awareness of the food council, and share educational resources, events, and opportunities for involvement with the food council.
PAY FARMERS TO FEED COMMUNITIES
Catawba Farm & Food Coalition ($3530) works to increase sales for local small farmers across five counties and the Catawba Indian Nation in South Carolina. This microgrant is being used to pack and distribute free produce boxes to the community in Chester County while also helping support local farmers by purchasing local produce. Chester County has limited food outlet options and a high low-income population. Recipe cards with ideas for how to use the produce will be provided in each box.
Spartanburg Food System Coalition ($4,469) is working to positively impact people in need and people seeking free or affordable local produce. These funds will support 1) making connections between local food producers and emergency food providers, 2) farmers in planting extra rows for FoodShare Spartanburg to purchase the produce to include in FoodShare boxes, and 3) Ebenezer Baptist Church, a community partner, in stocking their new healthy food pantry and beginning to create a culture of health in their church.
NORTHEAST CIRCLE PARTICIPANTS
NORTHEAST CIRCLE THEMES
$16,208 distributed across four food councils
“You learned a lot about yourself in this process. I think that anything that you can do to reinforce relationship building... is well worth the effort.” Ms. Sue Perry-Cole, NCACDC
SUPPORT BLACK FARMERS
Beaufort HEAL ($6,800) is supporting a close network of Black farmers in Beaufort County who provide fresh vegetables to their community. These funds will provide much-needed support to these collaborative farmers in building and repairing infrastructure to expand their growing season and operations.
The Just Foods Collaborative ($5,332) will use these funds to support the work of two key partner organizations. Ripple Effects, a local emergency food program for seniors and disabled persons, will be purchasing new equipment and supplies to better manage the increased demand of purchasing, packaging, and delivering hundreds of food boxes to community members. This grant will also support Golden Organic Farm to plan and advocate for a collaborative grocery store in the nearby historic town alongside other Black and brown, women and beginning farmers. The funding will be used for the promotion and advertising of the effort as well as labor costs on the farm. Ripple Effects and Golden Organic Farm are also working together to have food from the farm purchased by Ripple Effects to support feeding community members.
CREATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
ABC2’s Grow K Youth Council ($4,076) will use the microgrant to provide youth and family gardeners with online resources to create a garden at home. This project will provide 50 garden kits to families and step-by-step guidance on how to create a garden with fun interactive videos through a YouTube channel. They wanted to support families who lack the resources and opportunities for fresh food in their community.
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Pitt County Farm & Food Council initially requested funds to support their three working groups’ activities in 2021. After hearing other food councils’ needs, they decided to rescind their request and give all of their $3052 in funds to support the work of the other councils in their region.
SOUTHEAST CIRCLE PARTICIPANTS
SOUTHEAST CIRCLE THEMES
$16,208 distributed across four food councils
"I'm blown away. This part of the process for me has been really eye opening. This part of the process (re-gifting) is a whole other layer of expressing gratitude to each other and demonstrating cooperative sharing." Sarah Daniels
SUPPORT BLACK FARMERS
MWUYF’s Youth Ambassadors ($8,256) used this microgrant to sustain their youth agriculture entrepreneurship program by providing stipends for youth, creating promotional materials, and purchasing local produce, seeds, transplants, and other necessary supplies.
DEEPEN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY
Cape Fear Food Council ($1,000) ultimately decided to withdraw their proposal due to leadership transitions and limited capacity. They planned to host a series of socially distanced resource fairs in low-wealth communities, particularly for community members with barriers to accessing information technology or transportation. They still participated in the Shared Gifting Circle and used the $1,000 to help pay for short-term staff support.
CREATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Carteret Food & Health Council ($4,352) purchased 1,000+ pounds of local sweet potatoes to give away at local farmers’ markets along with recipe cards and educational materials on Sweet Potato Celebration Day. Any remaining sweet potatoes were donated to area food pantries.
INVEST IN MARKETS & INFRASTRUCTURE
Robeson Food Council ($2,600), a newly forming food council, is partnering with UNC Pembroke to establish an Agriculture Health and Sciences Farm. This microgrant will add needed equipment to their tool lending library, support hosting educational workshops, and continue the exploration of alternative markets for local farmers.
TRIAD CIRCLE PARTICIPANTS
TRIAD CIRCLE THEMES
$24,312 distributed across six food councils
SUPPORT BLACK FARMERS
Island CultureZ ($7,331) will use this microgrant to purchase necessary equipment and supplies to continue building capacity and operations for their urban farm enterprise.
DEEPEN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY
Alamance Food Collaborative ($4,888) will use these funds to build infrastructure and capacity by developing a co-leadership model, hiring part-time organizational support, and supporting a strategic planning process that more deeply embeds community leadership and allows for a more autonomous structure independent of a white-led organization.
INVEST IN MARKETS & INFRASTRUCTURE
With these funds, Caswell Local Foods Council ($4,390) will continue to operate and promote the Caswell County Farmers Market, supporting local food growers and food eaters. The CLFC will also be able to support local churches that host food pantries by providing locally sourced produce for their clients.
Guilford Local Food Council ($4,703) will partner with the Greensboro Farmers Market to streamline online ordering and new distribution channels for their local farmers, better connecting production and consumer demand. The funds will also be used to design and collect survey data to help understand possible racial barriers to entry at the market and bring more inclusivity to the market environment.
AMPLIFY COMMUNITY VOICES
Greater High Point Food Alliance ($3,000) had to shift their annual Food Summit this year to their first-ever Virtual Food Summit. They plan to host four different Zoom call events for the four primary neighborhoods that they work with. The funds will be used to provide meals and door prizes to participants.
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Piedmont Triad Regional Food Council did not apply to receive funds in this Shared Gifting Circle. They applied to participate, connect with other food councils, and learn from the process.
TRIANGLE CIRCLE PARTICIPANTS
TRIANGLE CIRCLE THEMES
$8,104 distributed across three food councils
CREATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Capital Area Food Network ($4052) and Chatham Community Food Council ($4052) submitted a collaborative proposal to increase awareness of and learn more about the racial inequities suffered by Black Farmers who have been historically disadvantaged as a result of unfair policies and systemic discriminatory treatment. Working across counties, they will engage Black farmers to build relationships and hear how to best support their work. Ideas include developing an educational video highlighting Black farmers and creating advocacy and educational resources to complement the video and deepen learning and action.
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Orange County Food Council did not submit a proposal for funding, and did participate to hear about neighboring councils’ work and offer any supportive feedback.
WESTERN CIRCLE PARTICIPANTS
WESTERN CIRCLE THEMES
$16,208 distributed across four food councils
"Doing something that's not hierarchical - I really resonated with that. This is a group decision and it's not being handed down. That feels really good." Cathy Cleary, Bountiful Cities
DEEPEN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY
McDowell Local Food Advisory Council ($5,226) and the Foothills Food Hub have maximized their two staff and numerous volunteers with an incredible increase in demand throughout 2020. These funds will support a part-time staff person to supervise volunteers, sort produce, pack boxes, coordinate community distribution sites, and provide additional administrative support.
Watauga Food Council ($4,334) will use this microgrant to support day-to-day council operations. Expenses will include staff time, 501(c)3 incorporation, promotional materials for the High Country Grown restaurant label, local food events and promotion, and continued regular dialogue with members of the council’s workgroups.
CREATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Catawba County Food Council ($2,000) will partner with Catawba County Cooperative Extension, the YMCA of the Catawba Valley, local chefs, and others to develop the cooking videos using food pantry staples. Their goal is to create monthly educational videos and recipes highlighting healthy meals and seasonal produce when available.
AMPLIFY COMMUNITY VOICES
Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council ($3,974) plans to work in collaboration with the City of Asheville Reparations Commission to research and recommend a course of action to address food access and food insecurity through City-led initiatives. Using Story Circles with community elders, they will explore the idea of reparations that center food and land as it relates to the impact of urban renewal on the Black community living in Asheville, NC.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 SHARED GIFTING FUNDERS
