Our Work: Influence Support Build
Advancing Our Mission Progress Under Our Three Strategic Goals
At the Urban School Food Alliance, everything we do is guided by three interconnected strategic goals: Influence, Support, and Build . These goals reflect our belief that real, sustainable change in school nutrition requires strong public voice, excellent member collaboration, and a resilient organization capable of long-term impact. → Influence — We position The Alliance as the leading public voice for the unique school meal needs of urban districts. We build broader understanding and education about the value of school nutrition and showcase the innovative practices that deliver healthy, appealing meals to urban students every day. → Support — We enhance member benefits and engagement by serving as a convener and facilitator of best-practice sharing and continuous learning among our 19 districts. → Build — We strengthen organizational capacity by creating meaningful opportunities for board, staff, and member engagement while securing the sustainable funding needed to achieve our ambitious goals.
Together, these three pillars allow us to leverage our collective power far beyond what any single district could accomplish alone. In 2026, with 19 member districts serving 3.8 million students across 6,889 schools and delivering 657 million meals annually (backed by $1.35 billion in combined purchasing power), we continued to drive measurable progress on all fronts. Our work improves meals for millions of urban students—many of whom qualify for free or reduced-price meals—while creating ripple effects that benefit school districts of every size nationwide. When we raise standards together (for example, through our Boost the Roost No Antibiotic Ever chicken pilot), we shift supply chains, lower costs over time, increase access to healthier options, and demonstrate scalable solutions for the entire country. The following pages highlight key successes, ongoing initiatives, and future opportunities under each goal. By investing in The Alliance, funders become essential partners in this collective effort—helping us amplify urban voices, equip district leaders, and build a stronger foundation for healthier school meals everywhere.
2012
2017
2019
2021
USFA Founded Founding Districts: → New York (NY) → Chicago (IL)
4 New Districts
1 New District → Palm Beach County (FL)
3 New Districts → Austin (TX) → San Diego (CA) → Seattle (WA)
→ Baltimore City (MD) → Boston (MA) → Broward County (FL) → Philadelphia (PA)
→ Los Angeles (CA) → Miami (FL) → Dallas (TX) → Orlando (FL)
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Collective Power for Healthier School Meals: Case for Support
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