Request For Ideas

Purpose of the RFI

SAFSF is excited to announce the launch of our Request for Ideas (RFI). This initiative will gather ideas throughout the year for our general programming, with a specific call for 2025 SAFSF Forum submissions by Sunday, January 12. For this deadline, we are particularly seeking ideas that can be developed into proposals to engage a diverse range of funders—including philanthropy, community development finance institutions, public agencies, and impact investors—in strategies that drive systems change. These proposals can address elements of systems change  such as culture, policy, markets, and tools, all in support of building a more resilient, just, and democratic food and agriculture system.

Beyond this deadline, the RFI will remain open throughout the year to gather ongoing input and foster continuous dialogue with our network of collaborators. We aim to engage more broadly in partnership for the ongoing development of SAFSF’s programs, both for the Forum and future program initiatives.

SUBMIT AN IDEA

About the 2025 SAFSF Forum

The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) Forum is a unique gathering for the full capital spectrum of funders interested in education, skill building, and leadership development in food and agriculture. We will partner with the national ecosystem of funders, frontline community and movement leaders, and practitioners dedicated to advancing equity and sustainability in food and agriculture. The 2025 SAFSF Forum, hosted at the Tamaya Resort, in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, will focus on advancing solutions through a systems change approach, grounded in the values of resilience, justice, and democracy. 

Core Values & Co-Creation Approach

We are committed to making this process as inclusive and non-extractive as possible. As part of developing your proposal, please review SAFSF’s commitment to Social Justice and Racial Equity. We also encourage you to consider:

  • Collaborative Co-Creation: As desired, SAFSF will partner with contributors to refine session concepts, help identify speakers, and ensure accessibility and impact in the context of the broader program.
  • Mutual Benefit and Reciprocity: Especially for field-based learning experiences, sessions should provide tangible benefits for the local communities involved, ensuring a positive and reciprocal experience.
  • Compensation for Community Partners: All non-funder speakers and facilitators must be fairly compensated, with their travel and accommodation covered by their funder sponsor.
  • Accessibility and Inclusion: Sessions should prioritize inclusion for all participants, including people with disabilities and from varied socioeconomic backgrounds.

What We’re Looking For

We invite high-level ideas for workshops, structured networking, learning dinners, and field-based learning experiences that align with SAFSF’s vision for systems change in food and agriculture. This RFI is designed to be accessible and collaborative, providing an opportunity for potential collaborators to share their initial thoughts and receive support in developing full proposals. By engaging a broad range of voices—from frontline communities and movement leaders to funders, government leaders, field-based practitioners, and other stakeholders—we aim to create a program that is inclusive, equitable, and representative of diverse perspectives.

Submission Requirements

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions page and then submit your ideas by completing this form, which includes:

  • Concept Title and Session Type: Specify the type of session you’re proposing (e.g., workshop, table topic, field-based learning experience, or other programming).
  • High-Level Overview (up to 250 words): Provide a short description of your concept. Include your initial ideas for content, your collaborators, and how the session connects with SAFSF’s key themes of Resilience, Justice, and Democracy. Use the provided checklist in the form to indicate which themes your proposal addresses.
  • Social Justice & Racial Equity Focus (up to 100 words): How will your session center the experiences, perspectives, and expertise of marginalized communities, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, 2SLGBTQ+, and low-income communities?
  • Preparation & Readiness Needs: SAFSF will provide typical conference speaker prep for each session. Let us know if you might need additional support from SAFSF, such as identifying speakers, accessibility needs, or help refining your content.
  • Additional Comments (up to 100 words): Share any other relevant information about your submission that you think would be helpful.
  • Suggested Speakers (Optional): Share any potential speakers you have in mind for this session. Please share their name, title, and organization.

No detailed budgets or confirmed speakers are required at this stage, but it is helpful to know other organizations you plan to work with and if you have specific speakers in mind or confirmed. Proposals for the 2025 Forum that are selected will be invited to discuss their concept with SAFSF staff and asked to submit more detailed information by mid-March 2025.

SUBMIT AN IDEA

Next Steps

SAFSF will request those selected to be part of the 2025 Forum to provide more details. Selected partners will also be offered the opportunity to discuss and co-design your ideas further, as needed.  

Submitted ideas will also inform ongoing program partnerships and development throughout the year.  

We encourage you to sign up for one of our upcoming RFI Open Houses where our team will support potential collaborators in developing their ideas, review the process, discuss Frequently Asked Questions, and answer anything else still unresolved.

For questions or more information about this RFI, please contact the SAFSF Program Team at events@safsf.org.

We look forward to reading your ideas and working together to build a just and equitable food and agriculture system.