The Maxwell/Hanrahan Awards in Food is a one-time, unrestricted award to individuals and is intended to provide people with recognition and monetary assistance in support of their significant impact in one or more dimensions of food: Craft, Cultural Knowledge and Tradition; Environmental Sustainability; and/or Nutrition, Education and Access.

In 2025, the Foundation aims to give up to five, $100,000 awards to mid-career individuals working in the United States with meaningful, real-world and hands-on experience in food, who are under-recognized, and who are at a moment when this award would be catalytic to their trajectory. They demonstrate exceptional creativity and innovation, and the potential to substantially advance the field and the broader ecosystem.

These individuals may be known in our communities as educators and teachers, artisans and creators, protectors of resources and leaders in organizing communities. They may grow, farm or harvest food sustainably; process and distribute food; educate about healthy food and good nutrition; highlight and celebrate cultural foodways and traditions; help people thrive through delight of food; preserve the diversity of plants and animals that we rely upon; or apply their scientific research to improve our food systems’ production practices and regenerative qualities.  

While we value integrated work, we aim to articulate nominees with one primary/significant impact area. For nominees whose work is predominantly local in nature, we aim to elevate awardees whose innovative work could be transformational at a larger scale, with funding and/or attention.

The selection criteria for 2025 are: 

• Food System Impact: The nominee has demonstrated impact in one or more dimensions of food–Nutrition, Education and Access; Environmental Sustainability; and/or Craft, Cultural Knowledge and Tradition. 
• Creativity/Innovation: The nominee demonstrates exceptional creativity, and the potential to substantially advance the field and the broader food ecosystem. Their work changes the way people think about an issue, and/or opens up a whole new area.
• Timing The nominee is under the radar and/or under-resourced; their recognition and funding has been limited to date, despite demonstrated impact. The nominee is at a critical point in their career when the award would be catalytic.

In addition, the Foundation has a preference for individuals who have demonstrated passion, dedication, collaboration with their community, character and integrity. We have a preference for individuals whose work reflects lived experience, and who are members of the community they are impacting–particularly under-resourced communities. The Foundation has a commitment to diversity in all its forms in the nomination and selection process. 

We are unlikely to provide awards to individuals whose work is primarily policy advocacy; whose work does not involve a hands-on, on-the-ground component; whose work, if primarily local, does not include the potential for broader impact given funding and attention; whose work has already received significant financial investment or where significant resources are available; or whose work is in industrial-scale agriculture or fisheries. 

Your Time is Valued – and the Process is Simple!

We appreciate the time you’re taking to recognize an outstanding nominee, and we’ve designed the process to be as straightforward as possible. We anticipate the nomination process will take less than an hour and the renomination process will take 15-20 minutes. Here’s what you’ll need:                    

• Their Resume or CV (preferably from within the past two years—strongly encouraged but not required) 
• Names and emails of 2–3 references
• You’ll be asked to share insights on how the nominee meets the 3 criteria—your perspective is what matters most!
• There’s no time limit—nomination forms auto-save, so you can start now and return anytime before the deadline.

See additional information about the program in the FAQ. We have also included an Individual Awards Ethics Statement. 

If you have any questions while completing this nomination form, please contact parwana@maxwell-hanrahan.org