Dear Colleagues,
Happy New Year! After an extended break and valued time with loved ones, we are off to the races already over here at Littlefoot. In this 6th year of operation I am emboldened to be even more strategic in the ways that Littlefoot contributes to food systems transformation in 2024.
To that end, I am thrilled to share with you the newest offering from Littlefoot Ventures: Climate Messaging Mastery for Food Nonprofits. This 6-week experience starting in March 2024 is the first offering of the inaugural Littlefoot Ventures Learning Academy.
This experience is inspired directly by the individual client work I already do in the philanthropic advising space both for nonprofits and foundations. The urgency to bridge the gap between the “food” and “climate” worlds is so great that I wanted to offer something that allows me to work with a larger pool of nonprofits at an intensive pace. Even as I write this, I am flipping through the headlines coming out of Davos to see the GAEA Initiative just announced a $50 billion commitment for climate and nature from world-leading philanthropies and government partners. The timing couldn’t be more perfect:
- More than 85% of U.S.-based funders believe climate change is one of the top three most pressing impact areas.
- Nearly $4 billion in philanthropic funds has been committed to climate mitigation efforts in the last 18 months (by US-based foundations), and has tripled over the last decade.
- If you are a nonprofit with a food focus: agriculture, food waste, public health, nutrition, recovery, or advocacy, you are already part of the solution to address the climate crisis.
This course is the perfect resource for any food-focused Nonprofits looking to widen their pools of funding and highlight their climate impact without the risk of Mission creep. I designed each module to provide practical learnings that can be implemented immediately to help nonprofits meet (and exceed?!) 2024 fundraising goals.
Learn more and secure your spot for the experience here. If you know of organizations who may benefit from this experience, please share with them and encourage them to reach out.
I hope this gets you as excited as I am. Here are a few course highlights:
This is a-week program tailored to empower food-focused nonprofits with the essential skills needed to craft compelling narratives that resonate with climate-focused donors, creating a pathway to secure crucial funding that propels your mission forward. - To complement my 16 years of food systems, fundraising and nonprofit experience, I have partnered with Nora Landis-Shack, a seasoned grant writer and social impact strategist with over a decade of experience securing $22M in grants. She holds an MPH from Columbia and is pursuing a Masters in Food Policy from NYU (expected 2024).
- We provide you and your fundraising team the practical tools, resources and storytelling strategies to significantly expand your fundraising pipeline to include climate dollars.
This is a-week program tailored to empower food-focused nonprofits with the essential skills needed to craft compelling narratives that resonate with climate-focused donors, creating a pathway to secure crucial funding that propels your mission forward. In other news:
- For my brand/CPF Colleagues reading, check out the nf.c Climate Lab: Spring 2024. Nick Francis is launching the nf.c Climate Lab, an ingenious, semi-annual, no-cost incubator program designed for climate organizations to learn expert growth marketing strategies for the climate industry while building internal growth marketing capacity for your team. Applications are due February 9.
- Hellmann’s just launched their Superbowl Commercial teaser for their #maketastenotwaste campaign for the fourth year in a row. I had the privilege of supporting their marketing team for the first two commercials and I love that they have invested in the long game by using their huge marketing platform to create consumer awareness and behavior change around food waste reduction.
- Where Food Comes From, Inc. Acquires Upcycled Certified® Program as Reducing Food Waste Through Upcycling Becomes Fastest Growing Consumer Trend: Upcycled Certified was launched in 2021 by the Upcycled Food Association and has grown to 93 companies with more than 480 products and ingredients certified. Collectively, these products and ingredients divert an average of 390,000 tons of food waste annually. As the program’s exclusive certifying body since 2021, Where Food Comes From will now propel the program to new heights through this acquisition.
As always, I am interested to know what’s going on in your world and how I can support you.
Yours in partnership,
Eva
What I’m Reading
Source: ReFED
New toolkit from IFPA helps produce industry expand diversity efforts – The Packer
IFPA’s innovative toolkit emerges as a catalyst for diversity in the produce industry, offering insights and resources that empower the sector to broaden social responsibility initiatives, fostering inclusivity and meaningful change.
Slow Progress, Big Opportunities: Insights from ReFED’s Food Loss and Waste Estimates for 2022 – ReFED
ReFED’s latest estimates provide nuanced insights into the persistent challenges of food loss and waste reduction, revealing both gradual progress and substantial untapped opportunities. The data serves as a valuable guide for stakeholders keen on driving impactful strategies for a more sustainable food system.
Food-date labels cause confusion and food waste, report says – The Packer
A compelling report underscores the impact of ambiguous date labels on food products, delving into the resulting confusion and avoidable waste. The findings advocate for standardized labeling practices, offering industry players actionable insights to minimize waste and enhance overall sustainability.
The state of food systems worldwide in the countdown to 2030 – Nature Food
This report investigates the potential of microbial protein production as a sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources. Providing valuable insights into the environmental benefits and challenges of this emerging technology, the study contributes essential knowledge for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals navigating the evolving landscape of sustainable food production.
100 Million Farmers: Breakthrough Models for Financing a Sustainability Transition – World Economic Forum
This report from the World Economic Forum introduces breakthrough models for financing a sustainability transition, emphasizing the empowerment of 100 million farmers. The report delves into innovative financial strategies that have the potential to drive widespread sustainability across agriculture, providing valuable insights for stakeholders committed to transformative change.
U.S. Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report – Sodexo
Sodexo’s Sustainability and Social Responsibility Report, “A Better Tomorrow: 2023 Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility,” offers a comprehensive overview of the company’s positive impact initiatives. This report includes insights into Sodexo’s commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and impactful practices, contributing to a transparent and accountable approach to corporate responsibility in the foodservice industry.