Learn About Our Mission: Project Feeding Ground's Vision for a Sustainable Food System
- Nicole McDougall
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 2
Our Commitment to Food System Change
Project Feeding Ground (PFG) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming food systems in the Tampa Bay region. We focus on food system change through strategic partner collaboration and action-oriented outcomes that accelerate initiatives into measurable progress.
Our Mission and Purpose
Our mission is to establish healthy, secure, and community-led food systems. We support the expansion of organic, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture.
We prioritize sustainable food production, nutrition and wellness, community resilience, and local supply chains. Our goal is to build new systems through collective action and strategic alignment.
Project Feeding Ground provides support and services that our partners often cannot acquire on their own. By offering the right support at the right time, we accelerate ideas into progress that can be measured and maintained.
Our Vision
We envision communities equipped with the tools, resources, and partnerships needed to build and sustain regenerative food systems. These systems will advance health, economic opportunity, and individual resiliency.
1. Community Resilience
Project Feeding Ground facilitates a hub-like structure for community resilience through mutually reinforcing relationships between partners. We connect the community, local organizations, and funders to fill gaps where resources are needed most.
2. Nutrition and Wellness
Finding new ways to connect, educate, and share resources is a top priority. Through Project Feeding Ground’s Food-Forward Action Network, we aim to close the gap in accessing necessary resources that may otherwise be difficult to obtain.
3. Local Supply Chains
We believe that the best supply chain is a short one, or a farm-to-table dynamic where community members are knowledgeable and supportive of their food source. Our actions elevate this approach by building direct relationships and infrastructure within the local supply chain.
4. Sustainable Food Production
We envision a self-sustaining food system that prioritizes soil health, ecological returns, and community longevity. By providing resources and filling gaps, we enable partners to gain momentum despite challenges.
How We Operate
Accountability: We own our actions and learn from our mistakes.
Action-Oriented: No fluff. We know time is limited and resources are scarce.
Connectivity: Collective action yields mutual benefits.
Resource Sharing: Collaboration is key, and shared knowledge is power.
Sustainable Application: Guidance is only useful if progress is sustained.
Transparency: Honesty is always the best policy.
Our Directive
Project Feeding Ground is actualizing a system that enables connectivity across farmers, communities, and industries. We focus on collaborative action, sustainable solutions, resource sharing, and collective impact to be a catalyst for transformation.
In the words of Nicole McDougall, PFG Founder and President, "Food is not just sustenance—it’s THE tool for wellness, connection, and agency."
Accountability
Project Feeding Ground bridges gaps, allowing our partners to move forward faster and unlock opportunities that transform their communities.
We are accountable to our mission through the following support methods:
As-Needed Support: Providing flexible, on-demand assistance to address challenges or gaps.
Food-Focused Expertise: Connecting partners with specialized food systems expertise.
Grant Acquisition Support: Helping partners identify funding opportunities and prepare proposals.
Impact Relative ROI: We turn initiatives into tangible progress, illustrating the value of dollars invested.
Long-Term Advisory Services: Providing longitudinal guidance and strategic insight.
Project-Based Support: Offering hands-on assistance throughout a project.
Strategic Workshops: Facilitating tailored sessions to help partners clarify their goals.
Geography Focus
Our efforts are immersed in building connectivity and collaborative partnerships across Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Polk Counties.
We encourage partnerships across all areas to strengthen our collective impact.
Actionable Investment and Impact
Project Feeding Ground prioritizes a food-centered portfolio that drives collective impact, lowers risk, and increases revenue.
Investment goes further when resources are shared in one coordinated effort. Instead of backing isolated projects, funders support a seed portfolio that delivers measurable impact and shared risk among networks of leaders and organizations.
Food-Forward Action Network
In practice, we depend on your support to build a sustainable food system!
Make a charitable contribution
Join the exclusive network
Connect with peers and partners
Visualize returns and grow impact
Ways to Give
Campaign Match
Charitable Donation
Event Sponsorship
In-Kind Resources
Advisory Services
Skills-Based Support
We invite you to join us in this mission. Together, we can create a thriving food system that benefits everyone in our community. Let's make a difference!