National Produce Prescription Collaborative Secures Funding From Rockefeller Foundation and Builders Vision and Appoints New Coalition Director

WASHINGTON | October 15, 2025 ― The National Produce Prescription Collaborative (NPPC) today announced two major milestones that strengthen its role in advancing food as medicine nationally. Firstly, NPPC has secured three additional years of funding support from The Rockefeller Foundation and Builders Vision, providing critical resources to expand its work embedding produce prescriptions into healthcare as a reimbursable benefit. NPPC has also appointed Sam Hoeffler as Coalition Director, effective October 14, 2025. Sam brings deep experience leading public health and anti-poverty initiatives rooted in dignity, care, and connection.

Three-Year Philanthropic Commitment

NPPC has secured three additional years of funding support from The Rockefeller Foundation and Builders Vision, providing critical resources to expand its work embedding produce prescriptions into healthcare as a reimbursable benefit.

“The National Produce Prescription Collaborative is doing critical work to integrate the produce prescription model into standards of health–a proven way to help mitigate diet-related disease among Americans,” said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “We’re proud to support this community in this next stage of its efforts to advance Food is Medicine, a transformative solution that can lower health care costs, foster healthier communities, and save lives.”

“Integrating food into healthcare is an effective way to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of diet-related disease,” said Haven Leeming, Senior Program Officer of Food at Builders Vision. “We’re proud to continue supporting the National Produce Prescription Collaborative as it strengthens the national movement to make produce prescriptions a covered health benefit. With nearly 100 members, NPPC is building the partnerships and policy alignment needed to make Food is Medicine a lasting part of the healthcare system.”

Alongside financial support from sponsorships and each of NPPC’s 90+ member organizations, these contributions provide communications, consulting, education, training, travel, administration, and PR support for the National network of produce prescription (PRx) advocates.

Appointment of New Coalition Director

NPPC has also appointed Sam Hoeffler as Coalition Director, effective October 14, 2025. Sam brings deep experience leading public health and anti-poverty initiatives rooted in dignity, care, and connection. For five years, she co-led the largest produce prescription program in the country at Reinvestment Partners, while also advocating for the intervention at the state and federal levels. She has served on the NPPC Steering Committee and now steps into this leadership role to guide the Coalition into its next chapter.

“I am honored to step into this role and build on the extraordinary foundation NPPC has created,” said Sam Hoeffler. “Produce Prescriptions are a proven intervention to improve health and strengthen communities, and I am excited to work with our members to scale this impact.”

Continuity in Leadership:

Brent Ling, who has served as NPPC’s principal director since 2021, will continue in his role at Wholesome Wave, supervising the organization’s systems change portfolio that includes oversight of NPPC. Brent will continue to serve as a member of the NPPC Steering Committee in 2026.

“Sam is one of the most respected leaders in this field,” said Brent Ling. “Her leadership and experience, values and vision, will strengthen NPPC’s role as a national voice for Food Is Medicine. I am thrilled to support her leadership of this coalition going forward.”

About the National Produce Prescription Collaborative

The National Produce Prescription Collaborative (NPPC) is a coalition of more than 90 organizations working to integrate the powerful produce prescription model into standard clinical practice. By advancing policy, supporting program implementation, and amplifying evidence, NPPC helps ensure healthcare providers can prescribe healthy “food is medicine” services to prevent and treat diet-related disease.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.