Food Justice for Kids Prize Official Rules for Applicants
(the “Official Rules”)
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OF NEWMAN’S OWN PRODUCTS WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF RECEIVING FUNDING.
- Program Overview:
The Food Justice for Kids Prize (the “Program”) is sponsored by Newman’s Own Foundation (the “Foundation”) to support eligible nonprofits, public schools, and federally recognized tribes working towards food justice for children in the United States and its territories. The Program provides up to One Million Dollars ($1,000,00) in total over two years of funding for up to ten (10) eligible organizations. Total maximum annual prize amount per eligible organization is Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) in 2024 with an opportunity to receive an additional grant of up to Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) in 2025.
- Funding Opportunities:
Eligible funding areas include:
- Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Program, organizations must apply via the Newman’s Own portal on JustFund.Us.
Eligible organizations include:
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- 501c3 Public Charities
- Federally Recognized Tribes
- Federally recognized Urban Indian Organizations
- Indian Tribal Governments (IRS, section 7871)
- U.S. Public Schools and School Districts
- U.S. governmental entities or affiliated organizations that are eligible to receive 501c3 funding
- You may also apply via a 501c3 Public Charity Fiscal Sponsor
Please note, the Foundation does not fund:
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- Organizations that discriminate on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, political beliefs, disabilities, or any other protected categories
- Lobbying or political activities
- Major research projects
- Any commercial business
- Any litigation that is underway, contemplated, or completed, or organizations that use litigation as a primary tool to carry out their mission
- Other private foundations, Type III supporting organizations, or other organizations that require expenditure responsibility by the Foundation
- Direct grants to individuals
- Organizations that do not comply with all laws and regulations, including those related to the USA Patriot Act, Executive Order 13224, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S. Based Charities. In this regard, the USA Patriot Act prohibits willfully providing funds for terrorism.
- Specific religious activities or beliefs or organizations that require adherence to a specific religion or belief
- Any other organization that does not meet the IRS funding requirements for a private foundation
The Foundation shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether an application meets the eligibility criteria to participate in the Program. The Foundation’s decisions regarding eligibility and all other aspects of the Program are final and binding. This Program is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and is void in all geographic locations where prohibited by law.
- Grants:
Through the process outlined herein, certain applicants will be selected to receive a grant (each, a “Grant,” and together, the “Grants”). There will be up to ten (10) applicants selected (each a “Recipient,” and collectively, the “Recipients”), with five (5) Recipients in each eligible funding area, to receive a Grant of up to Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) each in 2024. These Recipients will then be eligible for additional funding opportunities including a potential Grant of up to Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) in 2025. The total value of all Grants in 2024 and 2025 will be up to One MIllion Dollars ($1,000,000) in total. Applicants who are selected as finalists may also be considered for the Newman’s Own Foundation Community Choice Award, a Ten Thousand Dollar ($10,000) Grant via the Newman’s Own Community Fund on the Grapevine platform.
- Application Process:
Eligible organizations must submit their applications through the application portal on JustFund.Us by 1:00 PM ET on June 11, 2024, adhering to the outlined guidelines.
By applying to the Program and providing an email address, each applicant grants the Foundation express permission to send applicant emails related to the Program, including, but not limited to, the Newman’s Own Foundation newsletter, requests for additional information including for vetting and background check if required, finalist preparation if selected, Recipients announcement, and a follow-up survey email to gather feedback regarding the Program and application, to be used in the planning and design of future programs.
Newman’s Own Foundation reserves the right to update and/or modify the application processes described above in its sole discretion.
- Program Period:
The Program period begins on March 20, 2024, at 8:00 am ET, and ends with grants being disbursed in October 2024. Key dates for the Program include:
| March 20, 2024, at 8 am ET | Application period opens |
| June 11, 2024, at 1 pm ET | Application period closes |
| End of July 2024 | Finalists announced/notified after initial screening and review |
| September 10, 2024 | Finalist Pitch Event, Final Deliberations, and Winners Announced |
| September 2024 | Applicable agreements signed |
| October/November 2024 | Grant funds are disbursed |
- Selection Process and Criteria:
After the application deadline of June 11, 2024, at 1:00 PM ET, applications will first be screened by Foundation staff for eligibility and to validate alignment with the Foundation’s mission. Each application will then be reviewed by the Advisory Council, Foundation staff, and additional Foundation-selected reviewers (the “Review Panel”) using the following criteria, scored 1-10:
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- Alignment: To what extent does the organization/project align with the selected priority program area (Indigenous Food Justice or Nutrition Education and School Food)?
- Evidence of Impact: To what extent does the organization/project have demonstrable evidence of past impact and/or potential for future impact, in regard to food justice for kids and the selected priority program area?
- Innovative Approach: To what extent does the organization/project offer a new solution or approach that could improved the status quo with regard to food justice for kids?
- Community Power: To what extent is the organization/project led by, collaborating with, and building power within the communities it seeks to serve?
- Ease of Implementation: To what extent does the organization/project have a realistic plan with clearly defined objectives, adequate resources, the right stakeholder engagement, and a clear path to progress?
For each program priority area, a selection of potential finalists will be vetted. Following successful vetting, finalists will be invited to join the Virtual Finalist Pitch Event, after which the 2024 Food Justice for Kids grant recipients will be announced. Decisions by the Foundation with the input of the Review Panel are final and binding.
- Newman’s Own Foundation Community Choice Award:
Applicants selected as finalists may be considered for one of two Newman’s Own Foundation Community Choice Awards, each consisting of a Ten Thousand Dollar ($10,000) Grant via the Newman’s Own Community Fund on the Grapevine platform. The Newman’s Own Foundation Community Choice Award will be informed by public voting that occurs through the Grapevine platform.
- Notification and Acceptance: Newman’s Own Foundation will notify all winners on or around September 10, 2024. A completed and signed agreement will be required for funds to be disbursed. Disbursement should occur within approximately 60 days following receipt of the applicable agreement. Failure to return the agreement in a timely manner may result in forfeiture of the Grant.
- Tax Liability:
A Recipient may waive its right to receive the Grant. The Grant is non-assignable and non-transferable. No substitutions may be made by the Recipient. The Foundation may withhold taxes and/or other amounts from any Grant, prize, or award as it, in its sole discretion, may determine to be required by law. The Foundation may file with the Internal Revenue Service and/or any other government agency a return identifying any payment of money and/or property to a Recipient as the Foundation, in its sole discretion, determines to be required by law. Prior to receiving the Grant, Recipients must execute a W-9 tax form verifying their tax identification number. Recipients may be required, as instructed by the Foundation, to complete and sign (i) an affidavit of eligibility/liability certifying that such Recipient has complied with the Official Rules of the Program, and (ii) a liability and publicity release (except where prohibited by law). Failure to sign and return any of these documents or to comply with any term or condition of these Official Rules may result in a Recipient’s disqualification, the forfeiture of its interest in the Grant, and, at the Foundation’s discretion, the presentation of the Grant to a substitute recipient. A Grant not awarded and/or claimed by a Recipient and not awarded to a substitute recipient by the Foundation in accordance with these Official Rules will remain the property of the Foundation. Payment of federal, state, local, or other tax liabilities and fees due for any Grant or prize accepted by Recipient as part of the Program, if any, are the sole responsibility of the Recipient.
- Publicity:
All applicants are welcome to share their participation on social media. Any such promotion must adhere to the Communications Guidelines for Grantee Partners provided by the Foundation (available here).
- No Purchase Necessary:
Participation in the Program does not require any purchase of Newman’s Own products. A purchase of Newman’s Own products will not increase the odds of receiving any Grant.
- Publicity Release:
By applying to the Program, applicants grant permission and hereby convey a license to the Foundation to use their name, logo, any submitted photographs, entry material, and other submitted or publicly available likenesses for advertising and promotional purposes in connection with the Program without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.
- Compliance with Laws:
The Program is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Any violation of these rules may result in disqualification.
- Modification of Rules or Program:
The Foundation reserves the right to modify these Official Rules at its discretion. Changes will be effective upon posting on the Program Site. The Foundation reserves the right to modify or cancel the Program at its discretion, and will communicate any changes to applicants in a timely manner.
- Disqualification:
The Foundation reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any applicant at any time that it finds to be tampering with the application process or the Program; to be acting in violation of these Official Rules; or to be acting in an inappropriate or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person; or in any way that is otherwise inconsistent with its standards, mission, or reputational interests or in any depiction containing images, words or symbols widely considered offensive to individuals of a certain race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic group, or that the Foundation believes may violate any applicable law or regulation or the rights of any third party or may subject the Program or the Foundation to controversy, negative publicity, scorn, or ridicule. Should the Foundation disqualify an applicant, it shall have no obligation to award a Grant to the applicant.
- Contact Information:
For questions regarding the Program or these Official Rules, contact grants@newmansown.org.
- Effective Date:
These Official Rules are effective as of March 20, 2024.
