A new initiative aimed at strengthening Indianapolis’ local food system is investing directly in the farmers, growers and food retailers already working to feed neighborhoods across the city.
Earth Charter Indiana recently launched the Roots to Rise: Indianapolis Food Fund, an initiative focused on improving food access and supporting community-based food systems through a series of micro-grants. The first round of Community Catalyst grants opened May 6 and offers up to $1,000 per applicant for Indianapolis farmers and food retailers selling fresh produce.
Addressing food insecurity
The initiative comes as Indianapolis continues to grapple with food insecurity and unequal access to healthy food. According to SAVI research cited by Earth Charter Indiana, roughly 16% to 17% of Marion County residents are food insecure, while more than one in 10 Central Indiana residents live in a food desert.
Food deserts are areas where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food options, often due to a lack of nearby grocery stores or transportation barriers. In many Indianapolis neighborhoods, more than 40% of households rely on SNAP benefits.
The Roots to Rise fund is designed to help ease some of those barriers by putting resources directly into the hands of the people already doing the work.
“We recognize that microgrants aren’t going to change things overnight, but our goal is to take a step that moves us in the direction of change,” said Tatjana Rebelle, director of engagement for Earth Charter Indiana.
The grants can be used for operational and equipment costs, including refrigeration, shelving, signage, mobile market support, staff time and Fresh Bucks onboarding. Organizers said helping cover those expenses can keep costs from being passed on to consumers while helping small growers and retailers continue operating.
The first round includes $25,000 total in available funding, with applications open through May 31. Grant disbursement is expected June 22.
According to Earth Charter Indiana, applications will be evaluated using the organization’s Equity Matrix, prioritizing BIPOC growers, women-owned operations, veterans and businesses operating in neighborhoods with limited food access.
“This is about community agency,” Rebelle said. “When we support the people who are already growing and selling food in their own neighborhoods, we’re not just filling a gap. We’re helping build something that belongs to the community … a food system that is locally rooted, equitable, and built to last.”
The launch of the food fund reflects broader conversations happening across Indianapolis about nutrition insecurity and the long-term health impacts connected to food access.
In 2023, the American Heart Association, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, IU Health and Purdue University launched the IU Health Nutrition Hub at IU Health Methodist Hospital as part of a food-as-medicine program focused on Marion County residents.
“Growing evidence shows that nutrition insecurity is one of the main drivers of the disparate health outcomes observed for underserved communities in Indianapolis,” said Dr. William Gill, a cardiologist with IU Health and president of the American Heart Association’s local board of directors. “This is a tremendous opportunity to improve the health of people with the greatest cardiovascular health risks by providing healthy food and education.”
The program allows eligible participants to access healthy and culturally relevant foods while also receiving nutrition support and education.
Community-based solutions
Community leaders and advocacy groups across Indianapolis have increasingly emphasized that food insecurity is tied to larger systemic issues, including poverty, unemployment, transportation access and historic disinvestment in certain neighborhoods.
Earth Charter Indiana’s approach centers on the idea that communities themselves are best positioned to identify solutions.
The organization said the Roots to Rise fund is intended to become an evergreen funding source that continuously supports local growers and food retailers.
Additional grant rounds are expected later this summer.
In June, Earth Charter Indiana plans to launch Grower Micro-Grants totaling another $25,000 for community gardens, co-ops and farms operating outside of a for-profit model. Those grants are expected to support equipment for season extension, cleaning stations, lighting and rain barrels.
A third round of funding planned for July will focus on cistern grants. According to the organization, many small-scale growers in Indianapolis and Marion County struggle with reliable water access, and cistern installation could provide a more affordable and sustainable water source.
The additional grant rounds are being supported in partnership with the Office of Public Health and Safety’s Division of Community Nutrition and Food Policy.
The initiative aligns with ongoing efforts throughout Indianapolis to improve equitable food access.
The city’s Thrive Indianapolis food and agriculture goals include reducing food insecurity by 20% compared to the 2017 baseline and supporting community-driven food solutions such as co-ops and community-supported agriculture programs.
Other local organizations have also invested in food access initiatives in recent years.
Partnership for a Healthier America announced in 2025 that Indianapolis had become one of its “Good Food Cities,” part of a nationwide effort to increase produce consumption and improve nutrition security.
“It just shouldn’t be that hard to eat well,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said during the announcement.
The Indianapolis Food Fund aims to contribute to that larger vision by building what organizers describe as a more localized and community-driven food system.
According to Earth Charter Indiana, the long-term goal is to create a network where residents have access to healthy, locally grown food regardless of their ZIP code.
Future plans also include creating a Resident Lead Advisory Board made up of paid Indianapolis community members. Organizers said the board would help guide the initiative and ensure residents most affected by food inequities are directly involved in shaping solutions.
Earth Charter Indiana described the effort as rooted in food sovereignty, economic justice and culturally relevant food access.
The organization said supporting small growers, community gardens and neighborhood retailers can strengthen not only food access, but also local economies and long-term neighborhood stability.
Where to apply
Applications for the first round of Community Catalyst grants are open through May 31.
More information about the Roots to Rise: Indianapolis Food Fund and application details can be found on earthcharterindiana.org.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854
