The Greater Boston Food Bank

What The Greater Boston Food Bank does

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger-relief organization founded in 1974 and headquartered at a 117,000-square-foot LEED-certified Yawkey Distribution Center in Boston's Newmarket area. It distributes food through a network of 600+ partner agencies — including food pantries, soup kitchens, meal programs, and senior centers — across 190 cities and towns in Eastern Massachusetts, supplemented by direct-service programs such as Mobile Markets, Community Health Markets, and School-based Pantries. In its most recent fiscal year GBFB distributed approximately 111 million pounds of healthy food, equivalent to 92+ million meals, serving roughly 600,000 people per month.

GBFB's technology stack centers on a cloud-based Warehouse Management System (the first deployed by any U.S. food bank), an online agency ordering portal, donor and volunteer portals hosted on Classy/Salesforce infrastructure, the Vivery Need Food Portal, the Click 'N Cook digital recipe platform, and a Salesforce Experience Cloud-based agency community. Its service perimeter has expanded into clinical nutrition and food-as-health through the Takeda Center for Community Health & Nutrition, which integrates registered dietitians, a medical doctor, SNAP enrollment assistance (serving up to 1,000 families/year), and an annual statewide food insecurity research collaboration with Mass General Brigham.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable mechanisms: monetary donations (one-time and recurring Sustainers Circle subscriptions), in-kind food donations from food-industry partners, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants (notably a $4M Takeda grant and a $1M Delta Air Lines Foundation gift), event fundraising, and the recently launched Catherine D'Amato Fund. There is no product pricing — every $3 donated is reported to provide two nutritious meals, and 92% of donated funds flow directly to hunger-relief efforts. GBFB is governed by an independent Board of Directors, is a member of Feeding America, and is currently undergoing a CEO transition as Catherine D'Amato retires in 2026 after 30 years leading the organization.

Name

The Greater Boston Food Bank

Legal name

The Greater Boston Food Bank

Website

https://gbfb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Greater Boston Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that distributes food through 600+ partner agencies across 190 cities and towns in Eastern Massachusetts from its LEED-certified Yawkey Distribution Center, delivering roughly 92 million meals annually and serving 600,000 people each month.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hunger Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), Nutrition & Population Health Integration (MCH Nutrition, Micronutrients) (BPADAIAF)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Hunger relief programs
• Food distribution network
• Community nutrition services
• Charitable food assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: GBFB operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that solicits and receives charitable financial as well as in-kind food donations from corporations, foundations, and individuals. 92% of donated funds go directly toward hunger-relief efforts.
2. Food Industry Donations: Partnerships with food industry donors including supermarkets, wholesalers, and manufacturers who donate excess food inventory. SERVPRO donated $25,000 as a Sustaining Sponsor.
3. SNAP Application Assistance: SNAP outreach and enrollment assistance helping up to 1,000 families access food assistance annually through application support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) acquires donated and purchased food from food industry partners, wholesalers, and retailers, then sorts, stores, and distributes it through a network of 600+ partner agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens, meal programs, senior centers) and through direct service programs including Mobile Markets, School-based Pantries, and Community Health Markets across 190 cities and towns in Eastern Massachusetts. It also operates the Takeda Center for Community Health & Nutrition, which delivers SNAP enrollment assistance, dietitian services, and food-as-health research, distributing approximately 111 million pounds of healthy food (92+ million meals) annually to 600,000 people each month.

Product overview

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is a food banking organization, not a software product company. Its core offering is a food distribution network serving Eastern Massachusetts through three main channels: (1) a network of 600+ agency partners (food pantries, soup kitchens, meal programs) who order food through GBFB's warehouse and distribution system; (2) direct service programs including Mobile Markets, School-based Pantries, and SNAP enrollment assistance; and (3) the Takeda Center for Community Health & Nutrition which advances food-as-health strategies. GBFB also offers digital resources including the Click 'N Cook recipe platform and an Agency Partner Locator tool. The Catherine D'Amato Fund supports innovation in technology and research. The organization operates from a 117,000-square-foot LEED-certified Yawkey Distribution Center and distributes over 107 million pounds of food annually across 190 cities and towns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Partner Agency Food Distribution Core wholesale-style food distribution service for partner agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens, meal programs, senior centers) that order food through GBFB's online ordering system and pick up at the Yawkey Distribution Center or cross-dock locations across Eastern Massachusetts.
• Community Health Mobile Markets Mobile direct-distribution program delivering fresh produce to communities, children, veterans, and seniors at increased risk of food insecurity, operated under the Takeda Center for Community Health & Nutrition.
• SNAP Outreach and Enrollment Assistance program providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application support, helping eligible Massachusetts residents access federal food assistance benefits.
• Takeda Center for Community Health & Nutrition Center of excellence advancing food-as-health initiatives including Community Health Mobile Markets, SNAP enrollment assistance, registered dietitian services, and statewide food access research conducted with Mass General Brigham.
• Click 'N Cook Free digital recipe resource providing recipes and culinary guidance to help individuals and families prepare nutritious meals using commonly available food bank ingredients.
• School-based Pantry Program School-based food pantry program placing pantries in schools to provide food access for children and families from low-income households, addressing childhood hunger and food insecurity affecting school performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 111 million pounds of healthy food distributed annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mass General BrighamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership for annual statewide food insecurity study measuring hunger in Massachusetts. GBFB conducts research with Mass General Brigham researchers to survey thousands of residents about food insecurity experiences.
• Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Cross-sector collaboration between leaders including GBFB and Stop & Shop, dedicated to reducing the health consequences of hunger through an equity lens. Founded in 2018 as a national organization.
• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBFB is a member of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization. This membership provides access to national resources, best practices, and the broader food bank network.
• Stop & ShopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of the Hunger to Health Collaboratory. Corporate partner with representation on GBFB's Board of Directors (Roger Wheeler, President; Ken Rinaldi, President of Shaw's and Star Market).
• SpoonfulsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood rescue collaboration based on a referral system. Spoonfuls delivers excess rescued perishable food to GBFB's member agencies when GBFB receives eligible food donations for rescue.
• Boston Public MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connects Boston Public Market vendors with local member agencies to distribute fresh produce at end of day. Over 20,000 pounds of produce distributed, keeping food out of organic waste stream.
• Let's Talk About FoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership increases opportunities to educate and inspire people about hunger and health through events and conversations about food topics.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner represented on GBFB's Food Industry Committee. Various corporate engagement including volunteer programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Major regional food bank serving Los Angeles County, distributing hundreds of millions of pounds of food annually through partner agencies. Directly comparable in scale, Feeding America membership, distribution model, and focus on nutrition/health integration in a major U.S. metro.
• Houston Food Bank: One of the largest food banks in the U.S., distributing 150M+ pounds of food annually across southeast Texas. Comparable as a Feeding America member operating at similar scale, with partner agency network, nutrition programs, and disaster response capabilities.
• Midwest Food Bank: Regional food bank operating across multiple Midwest states with distribution exceeding 60M pounds annually. Comparable in operating model, Feeding America affiliation, and focus on efficient distribution through partner agencies and disaster relief.
• Food Bank for New York City: One of the largest food banks in the U.S., serving New York City and surrounding boroughs. Directly comparable as a regional food bank distributing massive volumes of food through partner agencies, serving a major metropolitan area, and operating as a Feeding America member with similar programs (SNAP outreach, nutrition policy, mobile markets).
• Second Harvest Heartland (Minnesota): Major regional food bank serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin, distributing 100M+ pounds annually. Comparable in scale and Feeding America membership, with similar programs (Mobile Markets, SNAP outreach, nutrition policy) and strong corporate donor partnerships.
• Capital Area Food Bank (Washington DC): Regional food bank serving the Washington DC metro area, distributing ~50M+ pounds annually. Comparable as a Feeding America member serving a major metro with similar programs including nutrition education, SNAP outreach, and partner agency network.
• Gleaners Community Food Bank (Detroit/Southeast Michigan): Regional food bank serving southeastern Michigan, distributing ~100M pounds annually through partner agencies. Comparable in scale and Feeding America membership, with similar focus on nutrition, mobile distribution, and serving a major metropolitan area.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: The nation's largest hunger-relief organization and the parent network of which GBFB is a member. Comparable as the umbrella organization providing national resources, food sourcing, and best practices to regional food banks including GBFB. Sets standards and operates national programs that member food banks deliver locally.

Others

• Stop & Shop (Ahold Delhaize): Major grocery retailer in Eastern Massachusetts and founding partner of GBFB's Hunger to Health Collaboratory. Comparable as a key corporate donor and food industry partner, supplying surplus food and funding, with board representation in GBFB.
• Spoonfuls (Massachusetts): Massachusetts-based food rescue organization that partners with GBFB to deliver excess perishable food to member agencies. Comparable as an adjacent hunger-relief organization operating in the same geography with food rescue and redistribution activities, complementing GBFB's distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gr8bosfoodbank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheFoodBankBoston
• Facebookfacebook.com/gr8bosfoodbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-greater-boston-food-bank
• Instagraminstagram.com/Gr8BosFoodBank
• Pinterestpinterest.com/gr8bosfoodbank

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Greater Boston Food Bank