Change Food for Good

What Change Food for Good does

Change Food for Good is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 (originally as The Urban Wild) that delivers AgTech-focused workforce development, community farm builds, and food relief to underserved NYC populations. Its core program, Intro to AgTech, is an 8-week, 140-hour training course covering agriculture (hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, vertical farming), introductory coding and 3D design, and construction skills, targeted at NYC young adults aged 18–24 who are out of school or un/underemployed and earning less than $45,000 per year, with priority for Bronx zip codes. The organization has run eight cohorts, secured 300+ job placements, and matched alumni into 3–6 month paid internships via its Employer Partner Network. A secondary curriculum, AgTech 101, is delivered in NYC partner schools (High School for Media & Communications, Longwood Prep Academy, PS 328), and Community Farm Development builds and maintains closed-loop hydroponic/aquaponic systems at partner sites including El Coqui Community Garden and Oko Farms.

The organization's underlying technology stack combines physical agricultural infrastructure — closed-loop systems delivering 90% water savings versus traditional farming — with student-built digital artifacts: a computer-vision Plant Health Diagnostic Tool (image-based disease identification and treatment), AR/VR Farm Filters for visualizing soilless systems, and websites delivered for ecosystem partners (Vertical Gardens Kenya, Brooklyn Supported Agriculture, FixThe13th, Oko Farms). Its revenue model is grant-funded: programs are free to participants, and operating capital is assembled from more than 20 foundation grants (Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, Bronx Community Foundation, Clif Bar Family Foundation, The Claneil Foundation, The Pinkerton Foundation, REDF, NY Women's Foundation, Levitt Foundation, Citizens Committee, Sea Cove, WellMet, Workplace Progress Program, and others) plus crowdfunding via iFundWomen. Distribution is community-led through schools, CBOs, and community gardens, with a new direct-distribution channel — the Free Food Vending Machine in the Bronx — added in late 2025 via Chipotle partnership. International footprint includes a 1,300-plant-site farm at Kwa Njenga Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya, with stated operations also in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Name

Change Food for Good

Legal name

Change Food for Good

Website

https://changefoodforgood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Change Food for Good is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free AgTech workforce training, community farm builds, and food relief to underserved young adults aged 18–24, funded primarily by foundation grants and operating community-led programs in NYC, Kenya, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Resilient Livelihoods & Climate-Smart Food Security (BPADAJAH), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL)

Keywords

• Workforce development programs
• Agricultural technology training
• Hydroponics education
• Urban farming services
• Food relief distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grants and Foundation Funding: Change Food for Good operates as a nonprofit organization funded primarily through grants and donations from foundations including Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, Bronx Community Foundation, Clif Bar Family Foundation, The Claneil Foundation, The Pinkerton Foundation, REDF, NY Women's Foundation, and others

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Change Food for Good is a NYC-based nonprofit that delivers free workforce development programs in agriculture, technology, and construction skills through its flagship Intro to AgTech 8-week (140-hour) training program and school-based AgTech 101 curriculum, paired with community smart farm builds, an Employer Partner Network for paid internship placements, and food relief via free vending machines. Programs are offered at no cost to participants earning less than $45,000/year and are funded through foundation grants and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Change Food for Good is a NYC-based nonprofit offering workforce development programs in AgTech. The core offerings are Intro to AgTech (an 8-week job training program covering agriculture, technology, and construction skills) and AgTech 101 (school-based curriculum). These programs are supported by the Employer Partner Network for internship and job placement, Community Farm Development for building smart farms, and the Free Food Vending Machine for food relief. Students also develop technology products including the Plant Health Diagnostic Tool, AR/VR Farm Filters, and websites for partner organizations. The product portfolio centers on education and training as the foundation, with farm builds and food relief as community impact outputs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intro to AgTech 8-week (140-hour) workforce training program for NYC young adults ages 18-24 who are out of school or un/underemployed. Covers agriculture (farm design, maintenance, food systems), technology (introductory coding, programming, 3D design), and construction skills. Participants build home or community smart farms using soilless farming methods and assist in designing, building, and maintaining farms. Includes resume workshops, mock interviews, work readiness assessment, and matching to 3-6 month paid internships through the Employer Partner Network. Free of charge to participants earning less than $45,000/year.
• AgTech 101 School-based educational program delivered at partner schools (High School for Media and Communications, Longwood Prep Academy, PS 328). Includes 2D/3D design for farm systems, sustainable design principles, farm maintenance fundamentals, drone operation, DNA extraction, and entrepreneurship modules. Students build and maintain farm systems for classroom use.
• Community Farm Development Design, build, and maintenance service for community smart farms, food hubs, and green spaces in partnership with NYC schools, community-based organizations, and community gardens. Uses sustainable agricultural technology (hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming) to improve food access in food-insecure areas. Projects include the El Coqui Community Garden central farm, Oko Farms 26-ft greenhouse, the Pole Pole Kenya farm build, and various school-based farm systems.
• Employer Partner Network Network of employers that integrates employment-based skills into training programs and receives alumni placements. Upon program completion, participants are matched to 3-6 month subsidized internship roles with community partners at no or reduced cost to employers across agriculture, technology, and construction sectors.
• Free Food Vending Machine Free vending machine service stocked with quality groceries (eggs, fruit, vegetables, meat) to feed families facing food insecurity. Operated in partnership with Chipotle Mexican Grill / Chipotle Cultivate Foundation; located in the Bronx, NY, to address food deserts.
• Plant Health Diagnostic Tool (Plant Identification API) Web-based plant identification tool with API capabilities that allows users to submit pictures of plants to receive general plant information, identify potential diseases, and get appropriate treatment solutions. Designed to help farm workers identify issues early and prevent crop loss. Developed during Intro to AgTech Cohort 6 during a cannabis farm visit.
• AR/VR Farm Filters Augmented and virtual reality farm filters that allow users to visualize which soil-less farm system would work best for them. Filters are modeled after vertical farming and aquaponic solutions, and are available on TikTok, Instagram, and Metaverse platforms.
• Website Development Services Website design and development services delivered by Intro to AgTech alumni for agricultural ecosystem partners. Includes website builds for Vertical Gardens Kenya, Brooklyn Supported Agriculture, Yes Bedstuy, FixThe13th Campaign, Oko Farms, and Beyond Bold & Brave. Alumni gain real-world web development and project management experience through client projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% less water usage compared to traditional farming through closed-loop systems
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vertical Gardens Ltd. / Vertical Gardens KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVertical Gardens Kenya collaborated with Change Food for Good on the Pole Pole hydroponic farm build in Nairobi, Kenya (2023). CFFG matched Intro to AgTech alumni to design and develop a website for Vertical Gardens, a farm design company in Nairobi.
• Soulful SynergycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSoulful Synergy provides carpentry and construction skills training for Intro to AgTech participants. The partnership includes collaborative farm builds at El Coqui Community Garden including DIY bench building and aeroponic channel construction.
• The Knowledge HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Knowledge House is a free tech workforce program serving low-income New Yorkers. CFFG Founder Samia Lemfadli is an alumna. The organizations collaborated on aquaponic farm builds at The Knowledge House's Bronx headquarters and share staff resources including Derrick Stroman who serves as CFFG's Lead Career Volunteer while working at TKH.
• Brooklyn Supported AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrooklyn Supported Agriculture is a black-led, worker-owned cooperative helping local farms in NYC. CFFG matched Intro to AgTech alumni Jose Rodriguez to redesign their website with new consumer features and a refreshed look.
• High School for Media & CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSMC partners with CFFG for AgTech 101 programming including farm system installations, drone training, and DNA extraction modules. Multiple farm systems have been built for the school.
• Kips Bay Boys & Girls ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization serving youth in the Bronx area.
• National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational workforce development coalition supporting youth employment initiatives.
• NYCETCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC Employment and Training Coalition membership providing networking and advocacy for workforce development programs in NYC.
• NYITminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York Institute of Technology - students from NYIT serve as AgTech interns at CFFG.
• Sunrise Movement NYCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate action organization partnered with CFFG.
• Vertical Farms LTDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm design company listed as community partner.
• What Now WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development organization listed as community partner.
• Women of Color Sustainability CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective supporting women of color in sustainability initiatives.
• El Coqui Community GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for CFFG's central farm including DWC hydroponic system and greenhouse. Multiple cohorts of Intro to AgTech participants have trained and built farm systems at this location.
• Oko FarmscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBrooklyn-based aquaponic farm. CFFG helped build a 26-ft greenhouse for Oko Farm's new site and matched alumni for digital marketing internship.
• Drive Change NYCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCulinary workforce training organization. CFFG hosted hydroponics workshop for their participants.
• Mary Mitchell Family CenterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFood Justice Club partner. CFFG conducted workshop series and developed hydroponic farm system for their food relief efforts.
• Arete EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for AgTech 101 programming delivered virtually during pandemic with 40 mini farm kits distributed.
• Synergi Urban GardenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAquaponic farm project collaboration with NFT system construction.
• America on Trial - FixThe13th CampaignminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial justice campaign. CFFG alumni built website for the Fix the 13th Campaign aimed at spreading awareness about the 13th Amendment.
• Beyond Bold & BraveminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBlack-women run collective. CFFG alumni conducted rebrand including logo, branding guide, and website design.
• Kwa Njenga Primary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool in Nairobi, Kenya hosting the Pole Pole hydroponic farm project. Farm will support nutrition of 2,400 students and employ Jane Muthoni as head grower.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing free technology workforce training to underserved adults, including in NYC. Comparable target population and free-training model but operates at much larger scale across multiple tech verticals; founder Samia Lemfadli trained at Per Scholas.
• GrowNYC: Large NYC nonprofit operating farmers markets, school gardens, and environmental education programs. Operates in the same urban agriculture and food-access space as CFFG but at significantly greater scale and with established citywide brand recognition; board member Kai Lin Zhang volunteers with GrowNYC.
• JobsFirstNYC: NYC-based intermediary focused on advancing youth and young adult workforce development systems. Operates at the policy and systems level rather than direct training, but addresses the same young-adult employment pipeline; founder Samia Lemfadli is connected to JobsFirstNYC.

Direct peers

• Brooklyn Supported Agriculture: Black-led, worker-owned cooperative helping local NYC farms with distribution. Comparable urban-agriculture mission focused on food access and equity in NYC; CFFG alumni redesigned the cooperative's website.
• The Knowledge House: Bronx-based free tech workforce development program serving low-income New Yorkers. Closely comparable mission, target population, and geographic footprint; CFFG's founder is a TKH alumna and the two organizations share staff and co-host aquaponic farm builds.
• Oko Farms: Brooklyn-based aquaponic farm and food education organization. Directly comparable urban aquaponics methodology, NYC footprint, and community-education orientation; CFFG has built greenhouse infrastructure for Oko and placed alumni in internships there.
• Drive Change NYC: NYC-based culinary workforce training program for court-involved youth. Directly comparable workforce-development-for-young-adults model with food-sector anchor; CFFG hosts hydroponics workshops for Drive Change participants.
• Soulful Synergy: NYC-based carpentry and construction skills training organization that partners with CFFG on farm builds at El Coqui. Comparable hands-on trades training model serving similar NYC populations.
• Arete Education: NYC education nonprofit partner of CFFG for AgTech 101 programming during the pandemic. Comparable school-based enrichment and workforce-adjacent programming for NYC youth.

Emerging players

• Vertical Gardens Kenya: Nairobi-based farm design company that collaborated with CFFG on the Pole Pole hydroponic farm build at Kwa Njenga Primary School. Comparable soilless-farming methodology applied to school nutrition programs in East Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/changefoodforgood
• Facebookfacebook.com/changefoodforgood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/change-food-for-good

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Change Food for Good