Berry Good Food Foundation

What Berry Good Food Foundation does

Berry Good Food Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2015 and headquartered in San Diego, California, with operational reach into northern Baja, Mexico. Founded by Michelle Ciccarelli Lerach as an outgrowth of the Berry Good Night activist dinner series launched in 2010, the foundation operates an all-volunteer Board of Directors supplemented by two part-time staff roles (Foundation Coordinator and Programs & Development Manager). The organization delivers a portfolio of food-system programs: award-winning Future Thought Leaders panel discussions (15 panels since 2016, distributed through University of California Television with 15.6 million cumulative views), school garden grants up to $10,000 through the Seeds for the Future program (awarded $120K+ to 55 schools since 2018), the Seeds in Full Bloom senior gardens program (34 classes and 700 seniors served in 2024-25), the Berry Good Food Academy cooking classes, and the Small Farm Emergency Relief Fund launched in 2024 following Tijuana River Valley flooding. The foundation has earned 12 San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards (2017-2024) and a 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Name

Berry Good Food Foundation

Legal name

Berry Good Food Foundation

Website

https://berrygoodfood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Berry Good Food Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in San Diego that advances local food systems through school and senior garden grants, award-winning Future Thought Leaders panels, cooking classes, and small farm emergency relief across San Diego County and northern Baja.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food System Education Nonprofit

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Food education programs
• Community food systems
• School garden grants
• Nonprofit food advocacy
• Sustainable agriculture programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts one-time and recurring donations from individuals through its website using the Zeffy platform which covers credit card fees so 100% of donations go to the organization.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Individual and corporate sponsors can support the organization. Sponsors at $1,500+ receive website and marketing materials recognition for one year plus exclusive VIP mixer invitation.
3. Event Proceeds: The organization receives proceeds from events such as the SCOOP San Diego Ice Cream Festival which donated $51,000 in 2024. Also hosts its own signature events and fundraisers.
4. Grants: Receives grant funding from organizations such as NBC7/Telemundo20 ($40,000), World Design Capital 2024 ($10,000), and This Is About Humanity ($6,000 sponsorship).
5. E-commerce Shop: Sells products to support programs including Gift Irrigation to School Garden ($500), Gift Seeds to School Garden ($30), and Gift Soil to School Garden ($100).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Berry Good Food Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers food-system education and community programs across San Diego County and northern Baja California. Its offerings include expert panel discussions (Future Thought Leaders), K-12 school garden grants of up to $10,000, the Seeds in Full Bloom senior garden program, free community cooking classes, the Small Farm Emergency Relief Fund, and an award-winning podcast. Programs are funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and event proceeds.

Product overview

Berry Good Food Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization focused on food systems and community food education. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including the Future Thought Leaders Panels (award-winning multidisciplinary discussions), school garden grants through Seeds for the Future (up to $10,000), senior garden programming via Seeds in Full Bloom, cooking classes through Berry Good Food Academy, and the Small Farm Emergency Relief Fund. The organization also produces the 'Growing a Food Movement' podcast. These programs work together to advance food literacy, support local food systems, and provide emergency assistance to small farms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Future Thought Leaders Panels Award-winning multidisciplinary panel discussions bringing together experts, community members, and thought leaders to explore food systems, sustainability, climate, and agricultural topics across San Diego and Baja California; filmed and distributed via UCTV with cumulative viewership exceeding 15.6 million.
• Seeds for the Future School Garden Grant Program School garden grant program providing up to $10,000 in funding to K-12 schools and nonprofit organizations in San Diego County and northern Baja for establishing or expanding garden-based learning initiatives that promote healthy food education, including bilingual Seeds for the Future workbooks.
• Seeds in Full Bloom Senior Garden Program Senior garden program bringing horticultural activities, nutritional cooking classes, and community connection to older adults through on-site edible gardens at three partner senior residential centers in San Diego (Golden Age Apartments, Ivy Senior Apartments, Age Well Services).
• Berry Good Food Academy (Cooking Classes) Cooking class initiative offering hands-on culinary education for community members, including Annabel's Cooking Club at UCSD Craft Center for undergraduates and graduates and John Landes Community Cooking Classes in Oceanside led by local chefs; reimagined in 2024 with a restructured educational format.
• Small Farm Emergency Relief Fund Emergency relief initiative providing direct financial assistance to small farms in San Diego County and the Tijuana River Valley facing crisis situations such as the January-February 2024 floods; awarded $10,000 to 5 farms in its first cycle.
• Growing a Food Movement Podcast Podcast series moderated by BGF President Jessica Waite featuring discussions with dynamic community members about food system topics, sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and local food initiatives; won 2020 San Diego Press Club awards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55 school gardens funded, $120K+ awarded since 2018
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kind TravelercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Charity partnership where travelers can support Berry Good Food through Kind Traveler's platform. A portion of every guest's stay, adventure, or gathering goes directly towards supporting BGF's mission to create a stronger and healthier local food system.
• This Is About HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Organization dedicated to raising awareness about separated and reunified families at the border. In 2024, BGF worked with TIAH and International Community Foundation to build an edible garden at a women and children's shelter at the border. In 2025, TIAH joined as sponsor of BGF's 15th Future Thought Leaders panel with $6,000 donation.
• SCOOP San Diego Ice Cream FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Annual ice cream festival that selects a beneficiary charity to receive net proceeds. BGF was chosen as 2024 beneficiary and received $51,000. BGF coordinated activities at 'Berry Good Food Land' installation at the event.
• Feeding San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on food system initiatives. Vince Hall, CEO of Feeding San Diego, participated in 2018 Food Tank summit discussing food waste and recovery.
• UCSD Craft CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Annabel's Cooking Club at UCSD where undergraduate and graduate students learn affordable recipes with simple tools and limited time.
• Specialty ProducecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner providing produce for cooking classes and events. Advisory board member Roger Harrington represents Specialty Produce. Previously hosted 30+ in-person classes with local chefs and artisans 2017-2020.
• Kitchens for GoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cooking classes and events. Kitchens for Good trains cooks using ingredients often thrown out and partners with BGF for panel discussions.
• Whole Cities FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in food system initiatives supporting access to healthy food for all.
• San Diego Seed SwapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in seed saving and gardening education initiatives.
• Bayside Environmental Learning CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for environmental education and learning initiatives.
• Viejas Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community programming and food education initiatives.
• Ocean View Growing GroundsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for urban growing and food access initiatives.
• The Global ArcminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for global food system initiatives and community building.
• University of California Television (UCTV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCTV films and distributes BGF's Future Thought Leaders panel discussions through its networks. Combined viewership of 15.6 million and counting.
• Food TankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGF partnered with Food Tank to bring the world-renowned food and agriculture summit to San Diego in November 2018. Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank President, continues as panelist in BGF programming.
• Golden Age ApartmentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior garden program partner in San Diego for the Seeds in Full Bloom program.
• Ivy Senior ApartmentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior garden program partner in San Diego for the Seeds in Full Bloom program.
• Age Well ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior garden program partner in San Diego for the Seeds in Full Bloom program.
• CETYS UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaja university that hosted the 15th Future Thought Leaders panel 'Earth Works' as part of Provino's Annual Conferencias en Flor.
• ProvinominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized the Annual Conferencias en Flor event where BGF held its 15th Future Thought Leaders panel in Ensenada, Baja.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Food Tank: Global food systems nonprofit that co-hosted the 2018 San Diego summit with Berry Good Food. Both focus on sustainable food system education through panels, research, and events targeting food producers and consumers.
• Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF): California nonprofit advocating for sustainable agriculture and family-scale farms. Both operate in California, support small farmers, and advocate for regenerative food systems through education and policy work.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit that improves access to affordable, healthy local food through produce prescriptions and farmers' market incentives. Both work at the intersection of small farm viability and food access for vulnerable communities.
• Kitchen Table Advisors: California-based nonprofit that provides business advising and support to small-scale sustainable farmers. Both serve small farms facing economic and environmental challenges in the California/Baja region.
• Kitchens for Good: San Diego-based nonprofit that trains culinary students using rescued food and partners with BGF for panel discussions. Both combine culinary education, food waste reduction, and workforce development in the same region.
• Whole Cities Foundation: National nonprofit foundation supporting healthy food access, listed as a BGF community partner. Both channel philanthropic dollars into local food systems and community nutrition programs.

Regional players

• The Ecology Center: Southern California environmental nonprofit focused on regenerative food systems and education. Both target San Diego-area communities with sustainability education and food-system advocacy.
• Feeding San Diego: San Diego's leading food bank and hunger-relief nonprofit, also a listed BGF partner. Both address food insecurity in the same San Diego County geography, with overlapping networks of schools, community centers, and donors.
• San Diego Food Bank: Large regional food bank serving San Diego County, operating in the same geography as BGF. Both serve food-insecure populations and partner with schools and community organizations for food distribution.

Broad incumbents

• No Kid Hungry: National campaign to end childhood hunger connected to BGF through board member Kate McDevitt. Both focus on school-based food access and nutrition education, though No Kid Hungry operates at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/berrygoodfood
• Facebookfacebook.com/BerryGoodFoodFdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berry-good-food-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/berrygoodfoodfdn

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Berry Good Food Foundation