Description:

Through the lens of artists and educators

Educators and the arts and cultural community play a significant role in lifting up issues. We will look to these sectors to help tell the stories of our community members adversely impacted by a broken food system so that we can incentivize our fellow citizens to get involved and be part of the change that needs to happen. This program seeks to bring together artists, community members, and food system stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of just and sustainable food systems. The program encourages creative expression and collaboration and aims to spark social change. Nonprofits are invited to submit proposals for projects that use the arts and/or education to uplift opportunities or inform on issues related to the food system.

Projects or programs should be designed to widen community participation, promote collaboration and dialogue, and to engage and empower the community at large.

Convenings and Connections

WNY Foundation believes in the power of convening and its potential to lead to more informed decision-making processes, effective coalition building and collaboration, and stronger results for solution-based inquiry. This grant program promotes knowledge sharing and collaboration among food system actors.

The program also supports the facilitation and exchange of learnings, insights, and expertise related to the food system that serves to inform the public-at-large. Learning agendas should be focused on sharing practical knowledge, raising awareness, and inspiring action to create a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food system.

Applicants are encouraged to employ creative and interactive approaches that might include TedX style conferences, panel discussions, interviews with persons with lived experience who directly impacted by food system disparities, and live Q&A sessions to make the learning agendas more informative, dynamic, and participatory.

Application Process:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants can apply one of two ways:

• Conversation with Foundation staff

  We are dedicated to supporting an organization's capacity so that they may continue to provide the essential services that they are uniquely positioned to offer our community. As such, the Western New York Foundation is open to engaging in a conversation instead of a written application. To schedule, please contact Lauren at ProgramOfficer@WNYFoundation.org.

• Online via our grants portal

  All grant applicants will need to create an account on our online grants portal when first using the system to apply. Your organization's basic information will be stored for future use when accounts have been set up or any grant activity has occurred. If you need to update your organization’s information, please contact Lauren at ProgramOfficer@WNYFoundation.org