Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    COMMUNITY FEASTS - DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, EAT FOR EQUITY DID NOT HOST ANY IN-PERSON EVENTS OR FUNDRAISERS. WE HAVE TYPICALLY HOSTED COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AROUND FOOD THAT RAISE SUPPORT FOR OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. WE HOPE TO RESUME IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING IN 2022.BONNAROOTS COMMUNITY FEASTS - DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, BONNAROO MUSIC FESTIVAL WAS CANCELED AND EAT FOR EQUITY DID NOT HOST BONNAROOTS, OUR ANNUAL FARM-TO-TABLE DINNER SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OXFAM AMERICA AND BONNAROO. INSTEAD, WE PACKED BOXES OF FOOD LIKE GRITS AND SEA ISLAND PEAS, CHEESES AND CURED MEATS, COLORING PAGES, BANDANNAS, AND EDIBLE GLITTER. WE SENT THEM TO VOLUNTEERS, PARTNERS, AND ADVOCATES FOR THE DINNERS. WE PURCHASED THE INGREDIENTS FROM THE TENNESSEE FARMERS AND SUPPLIERS THAT PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE DINNERS EACH YEAR, SPENDING ABOUT $1,000 WITH SMALL BUSINESSES.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $40.1K

  • Program 2 [2020]

    2020 WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED AND CHALLENGING YEAR FOR EVERY SINGLE NONPROFIT, INCLUDING EAT FOR EQUITY. WE ADAPTED CONSTANTLY TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND SURVIVE THE YEAR, AND USED OUR MISSION AND VALUES AS GUIDING FORCES IN THOSE DECISIONS.WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAD JUST MOVED INTO A NEW KITCHEN AND OFFICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DU NORD CRAFT SPIRITS AND OUR BENEFIT CORPORATION, EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING SBC. WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE COLLECTIVE GRIEF AND UPRISING IN SUPPORT OF BLACK LIVES DEMANDED THAT WE MARSHALL ALL OUR RESOURCES - SPACE, FOOD, MONEY - TO TRY TO MEET SOME OF THE FOOD NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. EAT FOR EQUITY DID THIS EVEN THOUGH THE BUILDING WE SHARE WITH DU NORD CRAFT SPIRITS WAS BROKEN INTO AND SET ON FIRE. THIS DIDN'T STOP US FROM COLLECTIVELY RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE CLEANED UP, TEAMED UP, AND KEPT ON PROVIDING NOURISHING, ACCESSIBLE FOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE DISTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE AND VEGETABLES TO THE DU NORD EMERGENCY FOOD SHELF, IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. WE PROVIDED FRESH, HIGH QUALITY FOOD TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND WERE ABLE TO SPEND THAT MONEY LOCALLY AND KEEP IT IN OUR COMMUNITY.WE COMMITTED TO SERVING ONGOING COMMUNITY HUNGER NEEDS BY WORKING WITH DU NORD TO LAUNCH A PERMANENT FOOD PANTRY, THE DU NORD FOUNDATION COMMUNITY MARKET. WE CONTRIBUTED ONGOING STAFF SUPPORT, INCLUDING APPLYING SUCCESSFULLY FOR GRANT FUNDING, AND HELPING TO HIRE A FOOD PANTRY DIRECTOR TO MANAGE THE PROGRAM. EAT FOR EQUITY CONTINUES TO HAVE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP AND DAILY WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DU NORD FOUNDATION COMMUNITY MARKET.IN 2020, ESSENTIALLY 100% OF OUR FOOD DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON EITHER LOCAL OR ORGANIC FOOD, AND WERE DISTRIBUTED TO COMMUNITY FOR FREE. OUR FOOD WAS EITHER LOCAL [41%] OR ORGANIC [58%]. WHILE OUR OVERALL SPENDING ON FOOD DECREASED THIS YEAR, A HIGHER PERCENTAGE [82%] OF OUR FOOD DOLLARS THIS YEAR WERE SPENT AT COOPERATIVES, WOMEN-OWNED, OR MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $6K

  • Eat For Equity Community Dinners

    BONNAROO COMMUNITY FEASTSEAT FOR EQUITY PARTNERED WITH BONNAROO MUSIC FESTIVAL IN 2023, OUR 9TH TIME HOSTING COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING DINNERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MUSIC FESTIVAL. WE BROUGHT TOGETHER A TEAM OF VOLUNTEER COOKS TO MAKE TWO FOUR-COURSE FEASTS AND AN EPIC SALAD FOR HUNDREDS OUT OF A 90 DEGREE TENT IN TENNESSEE. WE ALSO GET TO WORK WITH ROCK STARS AT BONNAROO, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ARTISTS FOR SOME MENU ITEMS, LIKE MAGGIE ROSE'S LEMONY VINAIGRETTE.IN 2023, 90% OF OUR FOOD DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON EITHER LOCAL OR ORGANIC FOOD. WE PRIORITIZED PURCHASING INGREDIENTS FROM THE TENNESSEE FARMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PROVIDED FOOD FOR THE DINNERS EACH YEAR.EAT FOR EQUITY CATERINGEAT FOR EQUITY CATERING IS A SEPARATE BENEFIT CORPORATION OWNED BY EAT FOR EQUITY, AND BECAME A SEPARATE ENTITY IN JANUARY 2018. WHILE A SEPARATE COMPANY, EAT FOR EQUITY IS THE OWNER OF EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING, AND SO WE'LL HIGHLIGHT HERE THE VALUES-DRIVEN WORK OF THE COMPANY.EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING PROMOTES AND MODELS EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOURCING, PROVIDES ACCESS TO CONSCIOUS FOOD CHOICES, AND USES CATERING TO SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFIT CAUSES. OUR VALUES ARE SUSTAINABILITY, DIVERSITY, GENEROSITY, INCLUSION, AND COLLABORATION.SLIDING SCALE MEAL BOXESEAT FOR EQUITY CATERING MAKES DELICIOUS, SUSTAINABLE PREPARED FOOD ACCESSIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY AT A SLIDING SCALE. WE ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY - OUR CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE TO PAY IT FORWARD SO OTHERS CAN PAY WHAT THEY CAN. OUR MEAL BOX PROGRAM INCLUDES BOTH PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN AND PAY-IT-FORWARD OPTIONS, SO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS CAN ACCESS GOOD, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING SOURCES FRESH, LOCAL AND ORGANIC INGREDIENTS AND FEATURE A NEW MENU EACH WEEK.OUR CUSTOMERS RESPONDED GENEROUSLY TO A PAY-IT-FORWARD OPTION, PAYING MORE THAN THE "REGULAR PRICE" TO BE ABLE TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN OPTION FOR OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OMNIVORE MEAL BOX, OUR MOST POPULAR OPTION, 42% OF CUSTOMERS CHOSE A PAY-IT-FORWARD OPTION [RANGING FROM $5-$20 MORE / BOX] TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN OPTIONS.OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKE GOOD FOOD AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE, BY PROVIDINGOPTIONS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO A WIDE RANGE OF CLIENTS. OUR PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN MEAL BOXES ARE THE SAME QUALITY MEALS AND CHOICES AS IN THE "REGULAR OR PAY-IT-FORWARD MEAL BOXES, AND IN 2023, WE DISTRIBUTED THE EQUIVALENT OF OVER 1700 PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN MEALS. WE GIVE DIGNITY AND CHOICE TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN BOXES. THEY ARE ABLE TO SELECT EVERY ITEM FOR THEIR BOX. THEY ARE NOT ASKED TO DEMONSTRATE OR PROVE ANY FINANCIAL NEED, AND CHOOSE THE AMOUNT THEY ARE ABLE TO PAY [$40-$90 IN $10 INCREMENTS].ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS WROTE, "I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT E4E.YOUR PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN OPTION REALLY HELPS US, AND WE ALWAYS PAY AS MUCH AS WE CAN MANAGE."FREE PREPARED MEALSOUR CONTINUED WORK WITH KITCHEN COALITION [FORMERLY NAMED MINNESOTA CENTRAL KITCHEN] ANDSECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND RECOGNIZES THAT HUNGER ISN'T JUST ABOUT ACCESS TO FOOD. IN 2023, EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING PROVIDED 35,240 OF THOSE FREE PREPARED MEALS, AN INCREASE OF 2% MORE MEALS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING HAS BEEN A KITCHEN COALITION PARTNER SINCE 2020. WE PREPARE 600-800 MEALS A WEEK THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED TO OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. WE'RE PART OF A NETWORK OF LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND CATERERS WHO TURN FOOD BANK INGREDIENTS INTO NUTRITIOUS, FRESHLY PREPARED MEALS.KITCHEN COMMISSARYIN 2023, EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING MOVED INTO A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN IN THE UPTOWN AREA OF MINNEAPOLIS AND MADE THAT KITCHEN A SHARED COMMISSARY KITCHEN FOR OTHER FOOD BUSINESSES AND CHEFS.EAT FOR EQUITY AND EAT FOR EQUITY CATERING HAVE ALWAYS SHARED KITCHEN SPACES WITH OTHERS, FROM THROWING FUNDRAISING PARTIES IN HOME KITCHENS TO OUR FIRST COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACE AT CITY FOOD STUDIO ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO. WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE KIND OF SPACE AND CULTURE WE WANTED TO CREATE IN OUR KITCHEN. WE WANTED TO DESIGN A SHARED KITCHEN MODEL THAT WAS EQUITABLE AND COULD SUPPORT BUSINESSES AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF GROWTH.OUR GOAL WAS TO CREATE A PRODUCTIVE, SAFE, AND WELCOMING KITCHEN FOR OUR BUSINESS AND OTHERS.WE WANTED TO SHARE AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACE TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF WOMEN AND BIPOC CHEFS AND SMALL FOOD BUSINESSES. IN 2023, OF THE TEN FOOD BUSINESSES WORKING IN THE KITCHEN, 90% ARE BIPOC OR WOMEN-OWNED /RUN BUSINESSES.BY MAKING AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACE AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, WE ARE PROVIDING THE SPACE FOR THEM TO MAKE GREAT, SUSTAINABLE FOOD. WE'VE DESIGNED OUR MODEL SO THAT REGULAR KITCHEN USERS HAVE 24/7 ACCESS AND UNLIMITED TIME (INSTEAD OF BEING BILLED BY THE HOUR OR THE DAY). DIFFERENCES IN RATES ARE AROUND LEVEL OF PRIORITY ACCESS, STORAGE NEEDS, AND OPTIONS FOR USING OPEN SPACE, DEDICATED SPACE, OR EXCLUSIVE SPACE. KITCHEN USERS CAN BUILD THEIR BUSINESS BY RENTING PRIVATE OFFICE SUITES,SHARING OFFICE SPACE, OR USING THE LOBBY FOR PICKUP/DELIVERY OR MEETING SPACE.WE OFFER EXCLUSIVE SPACE, DEDICATED SPACE, AND OPEN SPACE TO FIT THE NEEDS OF BUSINESSES AT DIFFERENT STAGES. MANY COMMISSARY KITCHENS DO NOT ALLOW BUSINESSES TO LEAVE ANY EQUIPMENT OR FOOD IN COMMON SPACES, AND STORAGE SPACE MAY BE FAR AWAY OR ON ANOTHER LEVEL FROM PRODUCTION SPACE.WE WANT TO MAKE OUR KITCHEN ACCESSIBLE, WHILE ALSO UNDERSTANDING ITS VALUE AND THE COST OF RUNNING A PROFESSIONAL, FUNCTIONAL COMMERCIAL KITCHEN. WE BUILT INTO OUR MODEL SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNTS TO KITCHEN USERS FOR CLEANING CHORES, SIGNING AN ANNUAL AGREEMENT, WORKING IN OFF-HOURS TIME, AND FOR EMERGING NEW BUSINESSES. WE GAVE OUT $21,473 IN DISCOUNTS TO KITCHEN USERS IN 2023.CATERINGEAT FOR EQUITY CATERING IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERING OFF-SITE CATERING SERVICE. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER PICK-UP OR DELIVERY CATERING ON A LIMITED BASIS, AS WE HAVE SHIFTED MUCH OF OUR FOCUS TOWARD MEAL BOXES AND COMMUNITY FOOD RELIEF.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $71.4K