Nourish Leadership

Registered Name: Nourish Leadership
Business Number: 794405209RR0001
Nourish Leadership is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the role of food in healthcare, advocating for more sustainable, equitable, and preventative health systems. It is registered as a charity under the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Mission

Nourish Leadership aims to transform hospital food systems, recognizing the integral role of nutrition in health, healing, and sustainability. The organization emphasizes the importance of food as medicine, culture, and a means of connection.

Activities

• Improving Healthcare Food: Nourish works to improve food served in healthcare settings across Canada. It does so by collaborating with healthcare organizations, communities, and policymakers to enhance patient nutrition and well-being.
• Facilitating Conversations and Collaboration: The organization convenes workshops and events that bring together thought leaders to explore food-based solutions for health care challenges.
• Growing Awareness and Innovation: Nourish fosters a community of practice focused on testing and innovating food as medicine solutions. This approach includes highlighting the potential for policy shifts that support healthier food systems.
• Education Initiatives: Notably, Nourish developed the "Food is Our Medicine" program, which introduces healthcare leaders to the significance of Indigenous foodways and their relationship to healing and reconciliation. This initiative includes an online learning series that has engaged over 1,000 individuals from more than 400 organizations.

Impact

Nourish Leadership has made significant strides in its mission by reaching over 20 million meals through its Anchor Cohort, engaging multiple organizations in its policy and practice reform efforts, and committing numerous sites to the Coolfood Pledge. The organization also supports community leaders in promoting more sustainable and culturally appropriate food practices within healthcare settings.

Recognition

As a registered charity, Nourish Leadership is recognized by the CRA and operates under its guidelines. The organization works to provide fundraising tools and resources to support its charitable activities, ensuring donations are efficiently utilized to drive systemic change in healthcare nutrition.