CitySeed
We believe a just food system is foundational to a thriving community.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
CitySeed Farmers' Markets
CitySeed’s year-round network of Farmers Markets brings local food directly to New Haven neighborhoods. Since launching in 2004, CitySeed’s network of Farmers Markets have changed the landscape of local food access in New Haven. For nearly 20 years, CitySeed has supported local Connecticut farmers through a network of Farmers Markets, which directly connect more than 60 local farmers and producers to 55,000 customers year-round. Our nationally recognized farmers markets bring local food to those who need it most, while supporting farmers who sell what they grow. We work to reach all income levels through our Farmers Markets by redeeming and doubling the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) coupons. We also redeem Women, Infants and Children (WIC) FMNP coupons across our markets. This year we are excited to announce launching a new farmers market in June at the Q House in partnership with LEAP.
Food Business Incubation
CitySeed Incubates food business incubation services remove barriers to food entrepreneurship and link new businesses to local farmers. At CitySeed, we view food as a tool for economic development. CitySeed Incubate’s services remove barriers to food entrepreneurship and link new businesses to local farmers. Currently in its fifth year of programming, CitySeed Incubates works with early-stage food entrepreneurs in New Haven to access necessary resources to develop and launch their food business. Through our CitySeed Incubates programs, we aim to level the playing field for local food entrepreneurs in order to ensure equal access for individuals who want to build a vibrant business. Many of the communities that we work with include new refugees and immigrants (25%), women (68%), people of color (83%) and low income populations (72%).
Sanctuary Kitchen
Sanctuary Kitchen’s objective is to promote and celebrate the culinary
traditions, cultures, and stories of refugees and immigrants resettled in Connecticut,
while providing them with economically viable culinary opportunities
that have personal income potential. Sanctuary Kitchen works with refugee and immigrant chefs to lead cooking classes, supper clubs, and special events. Sanctuary Kitchen also provides authentic, multicultural catering that supports professional culinary development and cultural integration of refugees and immigrants in the Greater New Haven Area.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
New Haven has a rich, diverse and growing food system. CitySeed has been pivotal in this growth, launching the city’s first farmers market in 2004, growing to run a network of markets that support Connecticut farmers and vendors year-round, launching entrepreneurship services for New Haven’s growing food start-up scene, and supporting immigrant and refugee chefs resettled to New Haven with professional development and employment in a growing social enterprise. All of this helps build economic opportunity, resilience to challenging circumstances, and community development.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
With nearly 20 years of experience supporting local Connecticut farmers, five years of working with food entrepreneurs and immigrant and refugee chefs, and now witnessing the devastating impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the local food system, CitySeed is intimately aware of the food and agricultural issues facing our communities. Our core programs are designed to support the entire food system - from field to shelf - and demonstrate our vision to support a sustainable model of local economy, urban community, regional agriculture, environmental stewardship, and well-being through food.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
CitySeed
Board of directorsas of 03/31/2022
Emma Kravet
Yale School of Nursing
Term: 2016 - 2024
Christine Kim
Self-Employed
Term: 2019 - 2024
Chris Heitmann
Formerly with Westville Village Renaissance Alliance, Urban Planner
David Shufrin
General Counsel Career TEAM, Shufrin Law Group LLC
Nicole Najam
Employment Counsel, Hubbell, Inc.
Lisa Bassani
Yale School of the Environment
Adam Millman
Yale Hospitality
Veena Kapadia
Flore Foundation, Independent Consultant
Oneyka Obiocha
Executive Director, CTNext
Alexandra Daum
CT Department of Economic and Community Development, New Haven Zoning Board
Henry Elliman
Yale School of Management
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 03/18/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.