H2HC Connections February 2026

A Note from the

Executive Director

Greetings!

We are moving forward in some exciting ways as we continue to build our national community of prize winners, innovators, and stakeholders.

In a new collaboration with Newman's Own Foundation, Humanitix, and The Henry P. Kendall Foundation, we are collectively funding the 2026 Food Justice for Kids Prizes and welcome your nominations and applications (see details below). The prizes will focus on change-making work in Indigenous food justice and school food and nutrition education for young people up age 18.

In another first this year, we will be convening our annual Fall Summit in Washington, D.C., at the KFF Barbara Jordan Conference Center on Thursday, October 29. I hope that you will sign up for forthcoming Summit updates, and I look forward to seeing you in D.C.

And finally, please consider joining our growing Directory of Innovation (details are below) and following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Wishing us all a happy transition to spring flowers.

Warmly,

Nicolene Hengen

Executive Director

Open Nomination and

Application Processes

Food Justice for Kids Prize

The Hunger to Health Collaboratory is excited to announce an open national call for nominations and applications for the 2026 Food Justice for Kids Prize, a collaboration with Newman’s Own Foundation, Humanitix, The Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and H2HC. Up to $1.4M in grant funding is available for up to 14 innovative organizations across the U.S. Nominations are due on April 21 and applications on April 28.

Nominate or apply

Kraft Prize

The Kraft Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Community Health recognizes transformative organizations, programs, or innovations that are making a measurable impact on health outcomes and have the potential to serve as scalable models for improving community health. Innovations can include work that addresses access and quality of care or social factors such as food insecurity, economic mobility, or housing stability. Applications are due April 30, 2026.

Apply

H2HC Directory of Innovation

H2HC is continuing to build its national Directory of Innovation to highlight and share innovative work addressing food and nutrition challenges around the U.S. To submit your work for possible inclusion, please send us a description of your work through the link below.

Submit your work

Community Resources

Building a Healthier Future: Designing for AI Health Equity

The NAACP, in partnership with Sanofi through the ACE Your Health Initiative, calls for an equity-first, human-centered approach to developing and deploying AI in healthcare. Their white paper, Building a Healthier Future: Designing for AI Health Equity, outlines a framework to ensure that AI use supports equity in the healthcare system.

Read the white paper

Civil Eats Food Policy Tracker

This resource, compiled by Lisa Held and Rebekah Alvey, tracks news related to policies that have significant implications for the U.S. food system. Got a tip? Email tracker@civileats.com.

Access the tracker

Aspen Institute Food is Medicine Community Action Plan

The Food is Medicine (FIM) Community Action Plan is an online tool for sharing community-centered FIM strategies across the U.S. The portal is built on feedback from leaders and implementers in healthcare, food systems, public policy, community organizations, technology, and philanthropy who have shared real-world solutions, case studies, and insights that advance FIM interventions.

Read the plan

In the News

Greater Boston Food Bank launches Takeda Center for Community Health and Nutrition | MassNonprofit News (February 18, 2026)

At least 1.75 million fewer people are receiving SNAP since Trump took office | Civil Eats (February 2, 2026)

New $10 Million fund to accelerate Food is Medicine adoption in the United States | The Rockefeller Foundation (January 15, 2026)

Can schools handle federal calls for fewer ultra processed foods? | Food Dive (January 6, 2026)

ABOUT H2HC

The Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) convenes cross-sector thought leaders to explore systemic solutions to food and nutrition challenges with a focus on health equity and the social drivers of health. Since 2018, H2HC has committed $2.2 million to support work that addresses food and nutrition challenges through community-driven solutions, policy innovation, and cross-sector partnerships.

MEMBERS

Visit our website