The Food Waste Funder Circle
A Curated Network for Food Waste Funders
Food waste is one of the most solvable climate and food security challenges of our time, and the right capital, deployed strategically, can make all of the difference. ReFED's Food Waste Funder Circle is a free global network serving investors and philanthropic funders at every stage of their food waste funding journey—from curiosity to exploration to capital deployment.
As a Funder Circle member, you’ll unlock a suite of resources designed to help move capital where it matters most. Benefits include curated educational programming, intimate networking events, deal flow reports, and vetted pitch showcases. The Funder Circle keeps you informed and engaged throughout the funding process, and our collaborative nature helps members navigate the food waste landscape with greater confidence and a richer perspective on where capital can have the greatest impact.
Whether you're an individual investor, part of a larger organization, or a member of a government funding entity, the Funder Circle connects you with the people, data, and opportunities you need to fund smarter and faster in the food waste space.
Why Fund Solutions to Food Waste?
Food waste sits at the intersection of many of today's most pressing challenges—climate change, economic strain, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, public health challenges, and more—and the interconnected benefits of funding food waste solutions make it one of the most compelling and versatile investment opportunities available.
Private capital is increasingly flowing toward scalable food waste solutions, with AI-powered supply chain technologies gaining traction and exit activity beginning to emerge. Federal and philanthropic funding continue to play a critical role in supporting solutions providers that advance research and infrastructure. Solutions to food waste span a wide range of sectors, which means funders with nearly any focus area can find meaningful opportunities here.
Our Members
The Food Waste Funder Circle is home to more than 200 global funders—including individuals, family offices, venture funds, private foundations, corporate foundations, venture capital firms, and others—united by their desire to scale solutions to reduce food waste by deploying philanthropic capital, impact investment, and market-rate investment. Here's a selection of members who have chosen to be publicly recognized.
Network-at-a-Glance
The Food Waste Funder Circle is a global network designed for investors (individuals and fund representatives), philanthropic funders, and their advisors exploring or interested in using their capital to solve food waste challenges. It's the only funder network focused exclusively on opportunities within the food waste space.
$128M+
of Capital Deployed into Food Waste Solutions Since 2021
200+
Individual Members
$231B+
Member Assets Under Management
"Food waste is a systems challenge, and no single individual or initiative can solve it alone. ReFED has created a trusted space for philanthropy to exchange ideas, identify opportunities for collaboration, and align our investments to drive greater collective impact. I’ve found the Funder Circle to be invaluable in helping us better understand the landscape, avoid duplicative efforts, and identify where our collective resources can create the greatest impact.”
"Working with a group that understands the space and can provide informed perspectives on the opportunity for any given company is a tremendous value-add for investors. The Food Waste Funder Circle community supports investors who want to be value-add beyond making a financial commitment, but also want to understand the business and help teams achieve the milestones they are raising funding rounds to fulfill."
"The Food Waste Funder Circle is a comprehensive network of highly motivated and purpose-driven stakeholders who are genuinely passionate about addressing this important issue. Every conversation and every interaction is energizing, educational, and inspiring!"
"Throughout my career, I have been a member of numerous investment groups and networks but have rarely seen one as well-organized as the Food Waste Funder Circle. Creating something great comes down to the small details, and no attention has been spared at the Funder Circle."
"Builders is excited about access to ReFED’s amazing research, connections with companies, and solution providers in the space, and the opportunity to be part of a network of investors building the food waste ecosystem."
"I’ve already seen connections come out of the network and am excited to continue to share resources, research, and opportunities with others in the community. The fact that so many different types of investors are interested in the Food Waste Funder Circle shows that there is a burgeoning market opportunity, as well as a passionate group of financiers looking to help these businesses scale and integrate into our daily lives."
"Participating in the Funder Circle allows our organization to build a better understanding of what practitioners and funders are focused on in the sector. We are able to build relationships with peer funders and gain insights from ReFED staff, which help surface relevant research and highlight potential investments that align with our foundation's specific strategy."
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Member Benefits
As a Funder Circle member, you'll have everything you need to engage with the food waste funding landscape. Membership is free, and benefits span three core areas:
Education
Stay ahead of innovation and funding opportunities in the food waste sector through curated webinars and exclusive events featuring experts and fellow funders.
Get informed about sector trends and insights via regular newsletters.
Meet 1:1 with the ReFED team for customized support.
Collaboration
Connect with like-minded funders to exchange insights, uncover opportunities, and share success stories and lessons learned.
Join topic-specific working groups to collaborate in strategy development and share funding ideas.
Funding & Investment
Gain direct access to innovative companies and organizations operating in the food waste space through pitch events and 1:1 connections.
Access robust funding opportunities with regularly compiled deal flow and opportunity reports.
Looking for More Resources to Support Your Work?
The Funder Circle is just one of the ways ReFED supports funders working in the food waste space. Visit our Funder Resources page for a full overview of the tools, data, and resources available to help you find and evaluate funding opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
ReFED’s Food Waste Funder Circle is a global network designed for investors (individuals and fund representatives), philanthropic funders, and their advisors exploring or interested in using their capital to solve food waste challenges.
The Food Waste Funder Circle is free to join.
The Food Waste Funder Circle is home to more than 200 global funders—including individuals, family offices, venture funds, private foundations, corporate foundations, venture capital firms, and others—united by their desire to scale solutions to reduce food waste. These funders deploy philanthropic capital, impact investment, and market-rate investment.
The Funder Circle is the only funder network focused exclusively on opportunities within the food waste space. You’ll be joining an established peer group already engaged in food waste solutions and helping shape what’s possible next as the community expands.
There is no formal participation requirement. The Food Waste Funder Circle is designed to support both funders who are just beginning to explore food waste solutions and those with established portfolios in the space.
Members engage in the ways that are most valuable to them, whether that’s attending occasional events, joining peer discussions via our working groups, exploring funding opportunities, or actively deploying capital. We find that members who dedicate a few hours a month to the community gain the most value from the network. That said, we only ask that members contribute in the spirit of mutual exchange.
No. Membership in the Food Waste Funder Circle does not require a minimum commitment period. We encourage members to participate in ways that align with their priorities, whether for a specific project or over the long term. Many funders find lasting value in the relationships, knowledge sharing, and opportunities available through the community.
Members who are interested in contributing beyond standard participation are encouraged to connect with the ReFED team at [email protected]. Joining one of our working groups, facilitating educational programming, or serving as a Champion are just some of the ways to get more involved.
When registering for the Food Waste Funder Circle, members can choose whether to be publicly listed. We recognize that funders have different preferences and considerations around visibility, and participation in the network does not require a public affiliation. Whether you prefer to engage publicly or behind the scenes, you’ll have access to the same community, resources, and opportunities.
Absolutely—if you have an individual or organization in mind who should join the Food Waste Funder Circle, please share this information with them.
Click here to fill out the short application form.
Have more questions about the Food Waste Funder Circle? Email our team at [email protected].
Ready to join? Fill out the application form at this link.