Food Policy Pathways

What Food Policy Pathways does

Food Policy Pathways is a non-partisan, non-profit organization founded in 2025 by Rachel Atcheson, the former Deputy Director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Food Policy. The organization addresses a stated talent shortage in the U.S. food policy workforce by operating three interconnected programs: a Mentorship Program for Candidates that provides career planning, professional branding, mentorship matching, interview preparation, and access to a curated database of food policy roles; a Mentorship Program for Mentors that recruits experienced food, agriculture, nutrition, and rural policy professionals to volunteer as advisors; and a Partner Program that links educational institutions, government employers, and non-profits to strengthen the food policy talent pipeline.

The underlying delivery infrastructure is intentionally lightweight. The website is hosted on Squarespace, and the organization uses Airtable to collect and manage mentor and mentee data submitted through program application forms. There is no proprietary technology platform, no mobile application, no API, and no disclosed use of AI or machine learning. All services to accepted candidates are provided free of charge.

The business model is that of a small mission-driven non-profit. Revenue is not disclosed in available sources, and no funding rounds, grants, institutional investors, or corporate sponsors are named. The organization operates from a New York City address with 1–10 employees and a three-person leadership team (Founder/Executive Director Rachel Atcheson, COO Hayley Davis, and Director of Policy and Impact Felicia Crivello). Its go-to-market relies on website content, intake forms, email newsletters, referral networks, and direct outreach to partner organizations — entirely domestic, U.S.-focused.

Name

Food Policy Pathways

Legal name

Food Policy Pathways

Website

https://foodpolicypathways.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Food Policy Pathways is a U.S. non-profit founded in 2025 that runs free mentorship, mentor engagement, and partner programs to build a talent pipeline for government food policy roles, serving aspiring policy professionals, experienced mentors, and partner institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career Mentorship Services

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrition Policy, Dietary Guidelines & Fortification Programs (HLAJAEAC), Agriculture & Food Security Development (BPAGABAB)

Keywords

• Food policy mentorship
• Career development services
• Professional mentorship programs
• Public sector career support
• Policy workforce development

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Food Policy Pathways runs a free mentorship and career development program that connects aspiring food policy professionals with experienced mentors, professional branding support, curated job databases, and introductions to employer networks. It also operates a parallel program recruiting experienced food, agriculture, nutrition, and rural policy professionals as mentors, and a partner program linking educational institutions, government employers, and non-profits to vetted candidates.

Product overview

Food Policy Pathways is a non-partisan, non-profit mentorship organization offering three interconnected programs: a Mentorship Program for Candidates that provides career development, professional branding, and job placement support for aspiring food policy professionals; a Mentorship Program for Mentors that enables experienced policy professionals to guide the next generation; and a Partner Program that connects educational institutions, government employers, and non-profits to strengthen the food policy talent pipeline. All programs are free of charge and focused exclusively on supporting candidates pursuing roles within U.S. government institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mentorship Program for Candidates A full-service, free career development and talent matching program that connects aspiring food policy professionals (recent graduates, early-career, mid-career candidates, and current policy professionals) with mentorship, professional branding support, and access to a curated food policy job database and professional networks to help them secure roles in U.S. government food policy.
• Mentorship Program for Mentors A free program enabling experienced food, agriculture, nutrition, and rural policy professionals to share expertise with emerging policy leaders, providing guidance on career strategies, professional contacts, and role evaluation while building meaningful mentor-mentee relationships.
• Partner Program A collaborative network connecting educational institutions, government employers, and non-profits to strengthen the pipeline of food policy talent, facilitating career pathways for students and providing employers access to vetted candidates for public sector food policy roles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped mentee secure dream job at United Nations within six months
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Food Tank: Global food policy and sustainable agriculture nonprofit that builds awareness, networks, and convenes stakeholders across the food system. Comparable as a food policy thought leadership and talent-connecting organization, though it leans more on media and events than direct mentorship.
• Food Policy Action: Food policy advocacy organization that holds legislators accountable on food and farm issues and engages professionals in the policy process. Comparable as a food policy-focused organization, though it operates more on electoral accountability than direct talent development.
• Resolve (formerly AGree): Policy nonprofit focused on food, agriculture, and rural development that convenes stakeholders and cultivates leadership to drive systemic change. Strongly comparable mission around building the human capital needed to advance US food and agriculture policy.
• Food Systems Leadership Network: Community of practice supporting food systems leaders, particularly from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Healthy Eating Research and related programs. Comparable as a peer network developing leaders in the US food system.
• Congressional Hunger Center: Nonprofit that runs fellowship and leadership programs (e.g., the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship and Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship) to build a pipeline of professionals tackling hunger and food insecurity in government and policy roles. Highly comparable mission, audience, and pipeline model.
• Farm Foundation: Nonprofit that cultivates next-generation agricultural leaders and convenes stakeholders across food and agriculture policy. Directly comparable mission around building leadership capacity in US food and agriculture policy.

Broad incumbents

• New America: Think tank that runs multiple policy fellowship and talent development programs across issue areas including food, economic, and education policy. Comparable as a policy talent pipeline builder, though operating across many sectors beyond food.
• Center for a Livable Future (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School): Academic center that trains food systems leaders, conducts policy research, and engages in advocacy across food policy, public health, and equity. Comparable in food policy focus but operates at much greater scale and as part of a major research university.

Emerging players

• New Politics: Nonprofit that recruits and develops leaders into public service, including through fellowships for veterans and other candidates running for office or serving in government. Comparable leadership-pipeline model for government service, but with a broader civic/political scope rather than food policy specialization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/food-policy-pathways

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Food Policy Pathways