H2HC 2025 Prizes for Innovation

Official Rules for Applicants

The “Official Rules”

Program Overview 

The Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Hunger to Health Collaboratory Prizes for Innovation (“Prizes”) celebrating organizations working to drive systemic change in food and nutrition and advance health equity for youth in the U.S.  

The Prizes for Innovation are sponsored by H2HC in collaboration with Newman’s Own Foundation (the “Foundation”) and support eligible nonprofits, public schools, and federally recognized tribes working toward food justice for youth in the U.S. and its territories. The Prizes provide up to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in total over two years of funding for up to two (2) eligible organizations, and Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) over one year of funding for up to four (4) eligible organizations. Total maximum annual prize amount per eligible organization in 2025 is One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) (to be paid in two [2] disbursements of Fifty Thousand Dollars [$50,000] each in 2025 and 2026). 

In 2026, at the one-year mark, Prize winners will be expected to share a written summary of their use of Prize funding to serve as a learning opportunity for other organizations. 

Funding Opportunities 

Eligible funding areas include: 

Eligibility 

Eligible organizations include: 

Please note, H2HC and the Foundation do not fund: 

  • 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 under way, contemplated, or completed, or organizations that use litigation as a primary tool to carry out their mission 
  • Private foundations, Type III supporting organizations, or other organizations that require expenditure responsibility by H2HC and 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 

H2HC and the Foundation shall determine, at their sole discretion, whether an application meets the eligibility criteria to apply for our Prizes. H2HC and the Foundation’s decisions regarding eligibility and all other aspects of the Prizes are final and binding. The Prizes are subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and are 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 six (6) applicants selected (each a “Recipient,” and collectively, the “Recipients”), with up to two (2) Recipients in each eligible funding area.  

  • Up to two (2) applicants will receive a Grant of up to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) each in 2025, of which $50,000 will be disbursed in 2025 and $50,000 will be disbursed in 2026. 
  • Up to four (4) applicants will receive a Grant of up to Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) in 2025.  

The total value of all Grants in 2025 and 2026 will be up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000). Applicants who are selected as Recipients will be required to attend the H2HC Fall Summit on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Boston, MA. Economy travel costs will be reimbursed for one (1) representative per organization.

Application Period 

Eligible organizations must submit their applications via JustFund.Us by 8:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, adhering to the outlined guidelines. 

By applying to the Prizes and providing an email address, each applicant grants H2HC and the Foundation express permission to send applicant emails related to the Prizes, including, but not limited to, H2HC and the Foundation newsletters, 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 Prizes and application, to be used in the planning and design of future programs. H2HC reserves the right to update and/or modify the application processes described above at its sole discretion. 

Key Dates

The application period begins on May 20, 2025, at 9:00 am EDT, and ends with Grants being disbursed in October 2025. Key dates for the Prizes include: 

May 20, 2025, 9:00 am EDT  Application period opens 
July 1, 2025, 8:00 pm EDT  Application period closes 
Mid-August 2025  Finalists announced/notified after initial screening and review 
Mid-September 2025  Final deliberations and winners announced 
September 2025  Applicable agreements signed 
October 2025  Grant funds are disbursed 

Selection Process and Criteria

After the application deadline of July 1, 2025, at 8:00 PM EDT, each application will be reviewed by H2HC and Foundation staff to ensure compliance with the eligibility criteria. In a second round, reviewers (the “Review Panel”) will assess eligible applications using the following criteria scored 0-20: 

Alignment
All work and projects are focused on youth (up to age 18), align with one of our three prize categories listed below, and are based in the U.S. 

  • Food and Nutrition Policy Work Advancing Health Equity for Youth 
  • Nutrition Education and School Food 
  • Indigenous Food Justice for Youth

Innovative
Work and projects offer a novel, changemaking solution or approach that has the potential to spark new collaborations and pathways. 

  • For example, what makes your project unique and changes the status quo for youth? 

Inclusive
Work and projects demonstrate leadership by, collaboration with, and consolidation of power within the communities that the organization seeks to serve. 

  • For example, how are relevant stakeholders (including but not limited to youth, caregivers, school leadership, community leaders, and/or those with lived experience) a part of your work, and what roles do they play?

Systemic
Work and projects demonstrate a long-term vision and focus. 

  • For example, how does your project incorporate a long-term, sustainable approach? 

Measurable Outcomes
Work and projects include 2-4 SMARTIE (strategic, measurable, ambitious, realistic, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable) goals for work within the next 12 months. 

Notification and Acceptance 

H2HC will notify all Recipients on or around September 15, 2025. 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. H2HC may withhold taxes and/or other amounts from any Grant, prize, or award as it, at its sole discretion, may determine to be required by law. H2HC 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 H2HC, at its sole discretion, determines to be required by law. Prior to receiving the Grant, Recipients must provide H2HC with verification of the Recipient’s public charity status under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) (and notify H2HC of any change in the Recipient’s status), and execute a W-9 tax form verifying their tax identification number. Recipients may be required, as instructed by H2HC, to complete and sign (i) an affidavit of eligibility/liability certifying that such Recipient has complied with the Official Rules of the Prizes, 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 H2HC’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 H2HC in accordance with these Official Rules will remain the property of H2HC. Payment of federal, state, local, or other tax liabilities and fees due for any Grant or prize accepted by Recipient as part of the Prizes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the Recipient. 

Publicity 

All applicants are welcome to share their participation on social media.  

No Purchase Necessary 

Applying to and being considered for the Prizes does not require any purchase or donation. A purchase or donation will not increase the odds of receiving any Grant. 

Publicity Release 

By applying for the Prizes, applicants grant permission and hereby convey a license to H2HC and 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 Prizes without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. 

Compliance with Laws 

The Prizes are subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Any violation of these rules may result in disqualification. 

Modification of Rules or Process 

H2HC reserves the right to modify these Official Rules at its discretion. Changes will be effective upon posting on the applicable website. H2HC reserves the right to modify or cancel the Prizes at its discretion and will communicate any changes to applicants in a timely manner. 

Disqualification 

H2HC and the Foundation reserves the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any applicant at any time that it finds to be tampering with the application process or the Prizes; 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 their 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 H2HC and the Foundation believes may violate any applicable law or regulation or the rights of any third party or may subject the Prizes or H2HC and the Foundation to controversy, negative publicity, scorn, or ridicule. Should H2HC and the Foundation disqualify an applicant, they shall have no obligation to award a Grant to the applicant. 

Indemnification 

By submitting an application to receive the Prizes, each applicant agrees to release, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless H2HC and the Foundation, as well as their officers, directors, employees, affiliates, funders, and agents—including any supporting foundations—from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with the applicant’s participation, including but not limited to any third-party claims related to intellectual property, misrepresentation, or misuse of funds. 

Limitation of Liability 

In no event shall H2HC or the Foundation be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, or use, arising out of or relating to participation in or application to the Prizes. Total liability shall not exceed the amount of the prize awarded. 

Contact Information 

For technical questions, contact JustFund. For questions regarding the Prizes or these Official Rules, contact info@h2hcollaboratory.org. 

Effective Date 

These Official Rules are effective as of May 20, 2025.  

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