Across hunger, health, habitat, and humanity, growing food is one of the most powerful investments a community can make in itself. Here's what that looks like across our network of 200+ organizations.
Report improved food security and access to fresh produce
Report positive changes in nutrition, health outcomes, and physical activity
Report measurable environmental benefits and improved land use
Report stronger community bonds, social cohesion, and workforce development
This data reflects analysis as of May 2025
Across our network, organizations are tackling food insecurity where it lives — in the neighborhood, on the block, in the backyard. Our grantees grow food directly for their communities, run food distribution programs, and build the local infrastructure that keeps fresh produce accessible year-round. Together, they're proving that food sovereignty isn't a distant goal. It's already growing.
of grantees report improved food access
of fresh food grown annually across our network of permanent gardens
return: every $1 invested in a community garden yields ~$6 worth of produce
of our partner organizations report that Big Green directly enabled them to increase fresh food distribution in their communities
The organizations in our network aren't just growing vegetables — they're changing health outcomes. From community gardens that bring fresh produce to food deserts, to school programs teaching kids to cook what they grow, our grantees are addressing the root causes of chronic illness. When Big Green invests in these organizations, the ripple reaches dinner tables, doctor's offices, and entire families.
report improved nutrition and health outcomes
in healthcare costs saved if Americans ate one additional serving of fresh food per day
more likely to eat the recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables
of gardeners meet daily produce intake recommendations vs. 25% of non-gardeners
Our grantees are doing something remarkable with the land around them. Vacant lots become urban farms. Schoolyards become ecosystems. Neighborhoods with no green space get it back. The organizations in Big Green's network don't just grow food — they restore soil, increase biodiversity, and create environments where communities and nature can both thrive. Every garden in our network is a small act of environmental repair.
report measurable environmental benefits and improved land use
Big Green garden beds and grow bags across America
reduction in temperatures with dense vegetation in urban green spaces
increase in property values within 1,000 feet of urban community gardens
Time and again, the organizations in our network tell us the same thing: the garden brought us together. What starts as a food project becomes a gathering place, a youth program, a source of shared pride. Our grantees build cross-cultural connections, create pathways for young people, and strengthen the social fabric of their neighborhoods in ways that outlast any single harvest. Big Green is proud to fund the people behind this work — and the communities they're building.
of Big Green grantees report stronger community bonds and social cohesion
communities across 37 states growing together
of grantees explicitly focus on youth development
of home gardeners report an increased connection to nature
"In our gardens and urban farms, we see the growth evolving both in people and plants."— Vero Dimas, Brownsville Wellness Coalition
Learn about our network of organizations changing the face of food across America.
The CommunityThe why that underpins everything we do.
Why Food?
