The Black Farmer Fund Rapid Response Fund exists to support Black farmers & food actors across the Northeast in emergency situations including but not limited to equipment breakdown, weather damage, loss of crops or animals, medical expenses, stolen or damaged supplies, etc.

This fund seeks to support anyone working with growing, processing, preparing, distributing and educating others about food or herbal medicine who is aligned with the values and intentions of the fund. We are open to considering all applications from eligible states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, and New York, Pennsylvania). We will uplift community based businesses and projects that empower and have a healthy impact on their community and local food web, prioritizing projects that are currently supporting lower income and marginalized communities.

If you apply for funds as an individual, you must be the owner of the business to ensure the funds are going to support the operations of the business and not for personal use. If the grant is for a business, the business must apply as a whole for funding.

The creation of this fund emerged from providing support to farmers affected by The Bronx fire in 2022 and community members at TOPS in Buffalo after the attack in 2022. Learn more about the other businesses and projects we have funded since then here on our website.

A clear narrative and understanding of the emergency, context of the situation and cost of the emergency repair or service.

To provide more information about the emergency, we look for videos, photos, an established point person for contact and having a follow up meeting. If you hear back from us for a follow up conversation, we strongly recommend following up with a call to clarify and provide more information to be considered for funding.

Our intention is to provide direct financial support more quickly than traditional fundraising options. Decisions are made by a community led committee. We will reach out with a response between 10-14 weekdays after the application is submitted.

We close applications one month after the applicant receives a follow-up email from the rapid response committee. Only applications who meet the eligibility criteria will be asked for additional information.

The main goal of this fund seeks to address acute emergencies to provide immediate restoration of your operation, not capacity building costs such as general business expenses, recurring expenses, start-up costs or rental assistance. We also understand the challenges the communities we support deal with that lead to systemic emergencies so we seek to fund 2-3 acute emergencies and 1 systemic emergency per quarter as needs emerge.

This money is intended to solve problems caused by acute emergencies, not for chronic issues or long term funding support. (We encourage applicants to consider: Is this a chronic issue or an emergency? Has this been going on for a while or is this an emerging issue? Is the issue likely to happen again because there is a capacity building issue or will the funding help to fix the issue?)

Acute emergencies include but are not limited to equipment breakdown, weather, loss of crops or animals, medical expenses, stolen or damaged supplies, etc. We prioritize acute emergencies that have happened within the last 6 months. We consider recurring expenses to be chronic and not eligible for this fund.

Systemic emergencies include but are not limited to emergent needs for farmers and food actors affected by historical challenges and barriers to the necessary resources they need to support their business or project. We acknowledge the impacts of systemic oppression in this work and we prioritize emergent needs that can restore food actors experiencing these issues to full operations.

No. This fund does not support capacity building costs such as general business expenses, recurring expenses, start-up costs or rental assistance.

If you’re hiring an outside company or contractor to support the service for your emergency, they must be licensed. We will ask for quotes from licensed contractors if that’s a need.

To put the power in the hands of community members, the BFF Rapid Response Committee collectively makes these decisions together. Learn more about these farmers and food actors here on our website.

The Rapid Response Committee is guided by these values when making funding decisions:

• Prioritizing existing businesses or organizations that had an emergency interfere with regular operations

• Prioritizing businesses or organizations that have a clear community involvement and/or impact

• Looking for clear narratives and responding with transparency

• Funding folks who are committed to longevity

• Funding businesses that are currently serving the demographics of concern (underserved communities, those living in food apartheid and those that have historically been divested from)

• We support our community and build up interconnectedness by spreading funding around to support folks all over the northeast

• We use integrity, due diligence and opportunities for follow up that give the benefit of the doubt

We use intentional consideration for all applications and the response process. If and when someone isn’t selected, it is done with love and we consider the next steps to share additional trusted resources.

After applications are reviewed, the BFF Rapid Response Committee will follow up with a decision or for more information within 10-14 weekdays. After the follow up conversation, we will send a decision within 10-14 weekdays.

Applications are accepted quarterly.

Rapid response grants are given out quarterly. Quarters start and end with the seasons of the land. (Ex. Quarter 1 begins with the winter solstice and ends with the spring equinox.)

We seek to fund 2-3 acute emergencies and 1 systemic emergency per quarter as needs emerge.

Every 6 months.

Generally, once a year. Although we will review all applications based on events or community needs.

Yes and any additional information such as photos, videos, production, sales or any other documents that feel relevant that you can provide about your impact in the community that can support your application. We will also require context and evidence for the specific emergency you’re experiencing.