About
Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, working through a nationwide network of food banks, food pantries, and local meal programs to get food to people facing hunger. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID 36-3673599) whose story began in the late 1960s, when a mother visiting a local meal program suggested there should be a place where food could be stored for people to pick up rather than being thrown away — and with that, food banking was born.
Mission
"Our mission is to advance change in America by ensuring fair access to nutritious food for all in partnership with food banks, policymakers, supporters, and the communities we serve."
What they do
- Food distribution through a nationwide network of member food banks that supply local food pantries and meal programs, including mobile and drive-thru food pantries and programs for kids
- Food rescue, capturing food that would otherwise go to waste and redirecting it to communities
- Disaster response, getting food and resources to communities affected by emergencies
- Policy and advocacy to strengthen government programs like SNAP and address the root causes of hunger
- Research and data, including the Map the Meal Gap study, to inform decisions by policymakers and communities
Scale and impact
Feeding America's network includes more than 250 food banks, 20+ statewide food bank associations, and 10+ regional co-ops, working with over 60,000 agency partners, food pantries, and meal programs across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Together the network provides 5.9 billion meals annually. The organization reports that approximately 1 in 6 people in the U.S. turned to charitable food assistance for extra support in 2022, and it has set a bold aspiration for the nation: a food insecurity rate of 5% by 2030, with disparities by race and place cut in half.
Financials
According to its IRS Form 990 as reported by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending June 2025 Feeding America reported total revenue of $5,001,395,215, total expenses of $5,006,685,690, and net assets of $520,358,654. The IRS issued the organization's tax exemption ruling in January 1990.