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Funding -One of the most significant aspects to note about the funding sources for FPCs is that a large number of FPCs have no funding at all, and survive as all-volunteer organizations. Eight percent of state level FPCs, 14% of county level FPCs and 28% of local level FPCs have no funding. The largest funding source for state level FPCs is government. For county level FPCs, the largest funding source is individual donations (i.e. funding from interested individuals), and for local level FPCs, the top funding source is grants from private foundations. The number of FPCs at all levels -state, county and local -has been steadily growing over the last decade, with over 40 active councils nation-wide. Common First Steps Kenneth Dahlberg in his studies of Food Policy Councils says councils often spend the first three to four years getting to know their local food systems While this is clearly important, across the spectrum of interviewees, having a first success has helped new councils to build momentum, community buy-in and political legitimacy.' Or as Wayne Roberts puts it,"as you build credibility and support, you can move on to the high-falutin areas of policy."6 A common first step of new councils has been to conduct a food systems assessment. Often Food Policy Councils themselves are born out of this process. Similarly, pushing for a city, state or community food charter has both birthed councils and been a founding activity. Other councils worked towards getting electronic benefits transfer machines (food stamps) into farmers markets, expanding the number of city or local farmers markets, changing the regulations for school food purchasing and piloting farm to school programs. Building New Councils There is no one secret to success for Food Policy Councils. There are however some common needs. In order to change food policy, FPCs need to be taken seriously by the govermnental bodies and other institutions they hope to influence. FPCs need govermment staff or officials to buy into their existence and mandate. This can take several forms - a city council could pass a resolution recognizing and supporting the FPC; officials or influential people could be seated on the council; or government could provide funding, meeting places or other support. Attempting to influence government policy without these relationships is likely to be quite difficult. FPCs embedded in government may have an easier time getting access to (at least part-time) paid staff, and other resources like meeting space.' However, food policy councils that exist independent of government may have more leeway to be critical of existing policy, while FPCs that are embedded in government may need to be more cautious in their approaches to criticizing existing policys When a council is just getting started, it can be helpful to pursue some sort of'quick wiri' project. Rebecca Schiff points out in Food Policy Councils: An Examination of Organizational Structure, Process and Contribution to Alternative Food Movements that"meaningful tasks that can be (and are) accomplished within a relatively short time frame help to build credibility for an organization along with member motivation and pride:'9 It can be useful to strike a balance between initiating programs and specific policies that build momentum and credibility, and addressing the structural issues at play in a given food system. Too great a focus on structural issues threatens to mire councils in unproductive national and even international debates, while too narrow a focus on specific program outcomes may limit the council's larger policy impact. Food Policy Cou~a~ls'.(} essons Learned ~~ rht~~gt number 3