Drive Change
Drive Change is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that runs a three-month paid culinary Fellowship for justice-involved youth aged 18-25, placing graduates into a 40+ NYC employer network while operating a social-enterprise catering arm and a food-distribution program serving 5,050 Brooklyn families annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Drive Change does
Drive Change is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that operates an integrated workforce development platform for justice-involved young adults aged 18-25 in New York City. Its core product is a three-month paid culinary Fellowship delivering Food Handlers certification, leadership development, mental health support, and direct job placement into a 40+ employer partner network known as Hospitality for Social Justice (HSJ), anchored by Union Square Cafe. Adjacent programs include Culinary Access & Relief Events (CARE), a no-documentation weekly food distribution serving 5,050 Brooklyn families annually, and Drive Change Foods, a social enterprise food truck and catering operation launched in 2025 to hire program alumni and generate earned revenue. Annual reach includes approximately 60 fellows with a 74% program completion rate.
The organization is funded primarily through philanthropic contributions — including a disclosed $4,250,000 grant from the CD&R Foundation in 2023 — supplemented by catering revenue from Drive Change Foods, individual and corporate donations (with corporate matching available through the qgiv platform), and peer-to-peer fundraising via the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon charity partnership. The platform is supported by a 12-person full-time staff plus a board chaired by Elizabeth Meltz and led by Executive Director/CEO Kalilah Moon and COO Meredith Dean. Technology stack is conventional for a nonprofit: a WordPress website, newsletter platform, Instagram, qgiv donation processing, and quote-based catering booking — with no AI/ML, software product, or proprietary technology disclosed.
Drive Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Drive Change
- Legal name
- Drive Change
- Website
- https://drivechangenyc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Drive Change is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that runs a three-month paid culinary Fellowship for justice-involved youth aged 18-25, placing graduates into a 40+ NYC employer network while operating a social-enterprise catering arm and a food-distribution program serving 5,050 Brooklyn families annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Drive Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Workforce Development Nonprofit
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (624210), Caterers (72232)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mobile / On-Site Catering (Food Trucks for Events, Pop-Ups) (THAFAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Drive Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Drive Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Catering and Food Truck Operations: Drive Change Foods operates a food truck and catering service, providing exceptional culinary experiences at events while employing graduates and generating revenue to offset operating costs.
- Donations and Philanthropic Support: Nonprofit organization relying on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund operations, fellowship stipends, and program expansion.
- Fellowship Program: Three-month paid training program where fellows earn up to $5,750 upon completion. Funded through donations and partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time completion payment | Fellowship Program - Paid Training |
| Quote-based/ custom | Event-based | Catering and Food Truck Events |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Drive Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Drive Change is a nonprofit organization that provides paid culinary and hospitality workforce training to justice-involved young people aged 18-25 in New York City through its three-month Fellowship Program. It complements training with a no-documentation food distribution program (CARE) for food-insecure Brooklyn families, an employer partnership network (Hospitality for Social Justice) connecting graduates to externships and hospitality jobs, and a social enterprise food truck and catering business (Drive Change Foods) that employs program alumni.
Product overview
Drive Change operates as a nonprofit offering a suite of interconnected workforce development programs centered on culinary and hospitality training for justice-involved youth in New York City. The core offerings include: the Fellowship Program (a three-month paid culinary training program), Hospitality for Social Justice (an employer partnership network), Culinary Access & Relief Events (a community food distribution initiative), and Drive Change Foods (a social enterprise food truck and catering business). These programs work together to provide training, employment pathways, and economic mobility for young New Yorkers impacted by the legal system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hospitality for Social Justice (HSJ): A network of NYC industry leaders committed to investing in the professional development and well-being of employees who have been impacted by the legal system, creating career pathways in hospitality.
- CARE (Culinary Access & Relief Events)
Products and services
- Fellowship Program A three-month paid culinary training and skill-building program for justice-involved young people aged 18-25, providing culinary arts training, leadership development, mental health support, financial literacy, and pathways to employment in the food and hospitality industry. Fellows can earn up to $5,750 upon completion.
- Culinary Access & Relief Events (CARE) A food distribution program providing free, culturally respectful, nutritious groceries and hot meals to Brooklyn families experiencing food insecurity while creating youth leadership opportunities for Drive Change fellows. Serves 300+ families weekly and 5,050 families annually with no documentation required.
- Hospitality for Social Justice (HSJ) Network A network of 40+ NYC food and hospitality industry leaders committed to investing in the professional development and well-being of employees impacted by the legal system. Partners host 4-week paid externships for Drive Change fellows and hire graduates into permanent roles under a shared Ethics of Care framework.
- Drive Change Foods A mission-driven food truck and catering company that creates exceptional culinary experiences for private events, corporate functions, and nonprofit gatherings while providing meaningful employment and professional development for Drive Change Fellows and alumni. Catering bookings require one month lead time.
Quantifiable outcome
- 74% graduation rate from 3-month intensive culinary training program
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Drive Change
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Drive Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Drive Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Union Square CafeflagshipFlagship employer partner committed to hiring and mentoring Drive Change graduates. Has hosted 11 fellows since 2023 and hosts/sponsors the annual All In event raising over $100,000 for Drive Change, Emma's Torch, and Food Education Fund.
- Caffè PannacoreFounded by Hallie Meyer in 2019. Employed fellow Brandon who has grown to become a manager at their two NYC locations. Demonstrates commitment to employee growth and development.
- Melba'scoreFounded by Melba Wilson 20 years ago. Has hosted 7 Drive Change fellows since 2024, developing skills at both restaurant and catering service. Committed to community support beyond signature dishes.
- The Meat HookcoreEthically sourced, locally-owned Brooklyn butcher shop since 2009. Has hosted 5 Drive Change fellows, providing alternative career pathway in butchery, sustainable sourcing, and farming practices.
- BKLYN BlendcoreBrooklyn-based hospitality partner that hired fellow Nakayla straight out of externship, demonstrating direct pathway from training to employment.
- PorchlightcoreHospitality employer partner. Henry completed training and secured employment by end of four-week Fellowship trail, remaining in prep cook role a year later.
- The Sylvia CentercoreFood education and hospitality partner. Hired Zaire before his four-week trail period ended. Zaire supported team while being hands-on with students, demonstrating engagement and leadership.
- Shake ShackcoreNational fast-casual chain. Fellow K.I. started in entry-level minimum-wage position and rose to trainer role, now helping onboard new hires and junior staff.
- The VictoriacoreHospitality partner where Dejeurnetta ('Deja') trailed. Although no open roles existed, team expressed strong interest in hiring her; Executive Chef attended her graduation with special hospitality award.
- PalenqueminorColombian restaurant in NYC where graduate Fred Sarabia worked before joining Drive Change Foods team full-time, learning authentic recipes and high-volume service.
- 2 Girls and a CookshopminorEmployer partner in Hospitality for Social Justice network
- Constellation Culinary/Cornell TechminorEmployer partner in Hospitality for Social Justice network
- MiznonminorEmployer partner in Hospitality for Social Justice network
- Lakou CafeminorEmployer partner in Hospitality for Social Justice network
- NowonminorEmployer partner in Hospitality for Social Justice network
- 2026 TCS New York City MarathonflagshipDrive Change is a Charity Partner for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. Runners commit to raise $4,000+ and receive guaranteed entry, raising awareness and funds for the organization.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Drive Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Fortune Society: NYC-based nonprofit providing reentry services including workforce development for formerly incarcerated individuals. Operates a workforce development culinary program (food service social enterprise) and serves overlapping justice-involved populations in the same NYC market.
- The Door: NYC nonprofit serving young people ages 12-21 with comprehensive services including career development and workforce training. Directly comparable as the prior employer of Drive Change's CEO Kalilah Moon, and serves a related youth-development population in NYC.
- Emma's Torch: NYC-based nonprofit providing paid culinary training and job placement for refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking. Directly comparable to Drive Change's Fellowship program — both use culinary arts as a workforce development pathway for marginalized populations in NYC, and Emma's Torch is explicitly co-named with Drive Change in the annual All In fundraiser.
- Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing immediate employment and skills training for people returning home from incarceration. Directly comparable mission serving the same justice-involved population, though operating at much larger scale and focused on broader industries beyond culinary.
- Hot Bread Kitchen: NYC-based nonprofit providing culinary workforce training for immigrants, women, and people of color, with a social enterprise baking business. Directly comparable in combining paid training with food-based social enterprise revenue generation in the same NYC market.
- Food Education Fund: NYC nonprofit focused on food education and workforce development for youth, explicitly named alongside Drive Change in the annual All In fundraiser. Operates in the same NYC nonprofit food-workforce ecosystem and targets overlapping youth populations.
Emerging players
- Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing no-cost technology workforce training for adults from underrepresented communities, including those with prior justice involvement. Comparable in its tuition-free, employer-connected workforce development model, though focused on tech rather than culinary industries.
Broad incumbents
- Year Up: Large national nonprofit providing workforce development for opportunity youth ages 18-24 through paid training and corporate internships. Comparable in combining paid training with employer partnerships and serving a similar age demographic, though broader in scope than culinary specialization.
- Greyston Bakery: Yonkers-based social enterprise bakery famous for its 'Open Hiring' model that employs anyone who walks in, including those with criminal records. Provides a larger-scale reference point for the food-based social enterprise employment model Drive Change Foods aspires to scale.
- DC Central Kitchen: Larger and longer-established (since 1989) nonprofit using culinary job training as a workforce development tool, primarily serving returning citizens in Washington DC. Operates social enterprise catering and provides a comparable model at greater scale, demonstrating the trajectory Drive Change could follow.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Drive Change social profiles
Digital presenceDrive Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Drive Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Drive Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Drive Change M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Drive Change
What does Drive Change do?
Drive Change is a nonprofit organization that provides paid culinary and hospitality workforce training to justice-involved young people aged 18-25 in New York City through its three-month Fellowship Program. It complements training with a no-documentation food distribution program (CARE) for food-insecure Brooklyn families, an employer partnership network (Hospitality for Social Justice) connecting graduates to externships and hospitality jobs, and a social enterprise food truck and catering business (Drive Change Foods) that employs program alumni.
Is Drive Change a public or private company?
Drive Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Drive Change founded?
Drive Change was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Drive Change based?
Drive Change is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Drive Change make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Catering and Food Truck Operations are the primary driver. The others are donations and Philanthropic Support and fellowship Program.
Who are Drive Change's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Fortune Society, The Door, Emma's Torch, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), Hot Bread Kitchen and Food Education Fund. Per Scholas is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Year Up, Greyston Bakery and DC Central Kitchen.
Does Drive Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Drive Change.
What industry is Drive Change in?
Drive Change's product category is Youth Workforce Development Nonprofit. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAD, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative), with a secondary code of THAFAIAJ, Mobile / On-Site Catering (Food Trucks for Events, Pop-Ups). Its NAICS code is 624210 and its SIC code is 8300.