The Food Trust

What The Food Trust does

The Food Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1992-1993 in Philadelphia by Duane Perry, operating under a 2022-2027 strategic plan centered on programs, partnerships, and policy. Its mission is to make delicious, nutritious food available to all through a holistic, community-centered model that weaves together access, affordability, education, and advocacy. The organization operates a year-round network of farmers markets serving more than 300,000 shoppers annually with about 85 farmers and producers; runs the Food Bucks nutrition incentive program (with Food Bucks Rx and Heart Bucks variants) expanded across Pennsylvania and New Jersey; administers the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (PA FFFI) in partnership with Reinvestment Fund, Community First Fund, USDA HFFI, and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, disbursing grants of $20,000-$100,000+ to healthy food retailers; delivers nutrition education through Cooking Matters curricula, the Healthy Corner Store Initiative, Farm to School / Farm to ECE programming, and community-based series serving children, families, and seniors.

The organization's digital infrastructure consists of three core platforms — the Online Learning Hub (videos, lessons, Recipe Explorer), the Nutrition Navigator (a community resource mapping tool originally launched by the Bainum Family Foundation in 2017 and re-launched by The Food Trust in 2023), and the Healthy Food Access Portal — plus the Cooking Matters sub-brand site and the Pennsylvania Farm to School Network. Donation processing, email signup, and peer-to-peer fundraising run on Salsa Labs. Revenue is generated exclusively through donations, grants, corporate sponsorships (including Pennsylvania EITC tax-credit-eligible corporate giving up to $750,000/year per donor), annual fundraisers (Fresh Picked), and Cultivator Club ($1,000+/year individual giving society); all programs and services are provided free to community participants. The organization serves low-income and food-insecure households, seniors, children and families, immigrant and refugee communities, and corporate partners, with a corporate and foundation partner roster including William Penn Foundation, William Penn Foundation, Claneil Foundation, FAO Schwarz Family Foundation, Highmark Health, Truist, CSX, Comcast NBCUniversal, Elevance Health, and many others, and a headquarters at One Penn Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Name

The Food Trust

Legal name

The Food Trust

Website

https://thefoodtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Food Trust is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992-1993 that operates year-round farmers markets serving 300,000+ shoppers, nutrition incentives (Food Bucks), the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, and community nutrition and farm-to-school programs for low-income, senior, and family populations across PA and NJ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nutrition Security & Food Access Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Special Food Services (7223)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Community-Owned / Nonprofit Grocery Stores (CRAHALAB)

Keywords

• Food access programs
• Farmers market operations
• Nutrition incentive programs
• Community nutrition education
• Healthy food financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: One-time and recurring monthly online donations via Salsa Labs giving form; accepts all major credit cards and PayPal; checks by mail; stock donations (call VP of Development); ACH/bank transfers; donor-advised fund contributions (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, BNY Mellon). Tax ID 23-2678383.
2. Cultivator Club giving society: Recognition society for individuals making tax-deductible contributions of $1,000+ per fiscal year (October 1 – September 30); provides exclusive communications and event invitations.
3. Corporate sponsorships and cause marketing: Corporate partnerships for farmers market sponsorships, EITC contributions via PA Department of Community and Economic Development (two-year commitment earns 90% tax credit, one-year 75%, up to $750,000/year), cause marketing partnerships (% of sales or per-product contributions).
4. Peer-to-peer and community fundraising: Hosted fundraisers via Facebook fundraiser integrations, DIY events, peer-to-peer fundraising pages on TFT website; supports individual-led fundraisers (marathons, weddings, classes).
5. Annual fundraising events (Fresh Picked): Annual Fresh Picked fundraiser (3rd annual in 2025, raised $110,000+ with 200+ attendees); features live/silent auctions, Cultivator sponsors (e.g., Truist, CSX), in-kind catering and beverage partners.
6. Planned/legacy gifts and United Way designations: Estate planned gifts; United Way payroll deduction gifts via donor choice code 09195; corporate matching gift programs (employee donations doubled/tripled via employer match).
7. Foundation and government grants: Grants from foundations (William Penn Foundation for Cooking Matters; Claneil Foundation for senior programs; FAO Schwarz Family Foundation for fellowship) and federal/state programs (USDA HFFI, PA FFFI).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Food Trust is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a year-round network of farmers markets serving 300,000+ seasonal shoppers with about 85 farmers and producers, alongside nutrition incentive programs (Food Bucks, Food Bucks Rx, Heart Bucks), the Healthy Corner Stores Initiative, the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (PA FFFI), community nutrition education (Cooking Matters), Farm to School programming, and policy advocacy. Programs are delivered free to community participants and funded by donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and government programs.

Product overview

The Food Trust delivers its offerings through a platform-plus-modules architecture that combines on-the-ground community programming with a portfolio of named digital sub-products. The on-the-ground programs include Farmers Markets, Food Bucks (with Food Bucks Rx and Heart Bucks variants), the Healthy Corner Stores Initiative, the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI / PA FFFI), Community Nutrition (which runs Cooking Matters, Inside Out, Heart Smarts, and pop-up farm stands), Farm to School (including the PA Farm to School Network and Farm to ECE), and Advocacy. These programs are supported by a set of digital platforms: the Online Learning Hub at learning.thefoodtrust.org (which includes a Recipe Explorer), the Nutrition Navigator at map.thefoodtrust.org (a healthy-food resource mapping tool originally launched in 2017 by the Bainum Family Foundation and re-launched by The Food Trust in 2023), the Healthy Food Access Portal at healthyfoodaccess.org, the Cooking Matters sub-brand at cookingmatters.org, and the Pennsylvania Farm to School Network at pafarmtoschool.org. The organization also operates recurring engagement products such as the annual Fresh Picked fundraiser at BLDG39 and the Cultivator Club annual giving society. Strategic plan 2022–27 centers on programs, partnerships, and policy to weave together access, affordability, education, and advocacy for nutrition security.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Food Bucks: SNAP-based nutrition incentive program that lets shoppers earn and redeem coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables, with variants including Food Bucks Rx and Heart Bucks.
• Cultivator Club

Products and services

• Farmers Markets Year-round network of farmers markets across Philadelphia (including Clark Park and Headhouse, among the city's largest), serving more than 300,000 seasonal customers annually and partnering with about 85 farmers and producers. Markets accept EBT/Access, WIC/senior checks, and Food Bucks, and function as community gathering hubs offering cooking demonstrations and nutrition education.
• Food Bucks (including Food Bucks Rx and Heart Bucks) SNAP-based nutrition incentive programs that enable shoppers using SNAP benefits to bring home more fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets and at retail sites across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Variants include Food Bucks Rx (a produce-prescription model) and Heart Bucks (a heart-health-focused incentive).
• Healthy Corner Stores Initiative Program partnering with neighborhood corner store owners to expand access to fresh produce, deliver in-store nutrition education, and offer nutrition incentives in under-served urban food environments (e.g., Riverfront Supermarket in Camden, NJ).
• Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI / PA FFFI) Financing and grant program administered in Pennsylvania as the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (PA FFFI) in partnership with Reinvestment Fund, Community First Fund, USDA HFFI, and Philadelphia Department of Commerce. Supports development and equipping of grocery stores, farmers markets, and food retailers in food-insecure communities. Grants have ranged from $20,000 to $100,000 per recipient.
• Community Nutrition

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised more than $110,000 at the 3rd annual Fresh Picked fundraiser (May 15, 2025) with 200+ attendees
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

49 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Green Mountain EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCurrent or past corporate partner of The Food Trust, featured with logo on the Corporate Giving page. As a sustainability-focused energy provider, the partnership aligns with TFT's mission around community health and sustainability.
• Comcast NBCUniversalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCurrent or past corporate partner of The Food Trust, with logo featured on the Corporate Giving page. Major corporate partner supporting farmers market sponsorships and other programming.
• Duane MorriscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided pro bono legal services to The Food Trust for over three years (and counting) as of Fresh Picked 2024; firm honored the late Richard Jaffe Esq. for his leadership and stewardship of the mission.
• Elevance HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCurrent or past corporate partner of The Food Trust, with logo on Corporate Giving page. Healthcare/insurance company aligned with TFT's community health mission.
• TruistflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCultivator sponsor of Fresh Picked 2025 (the highest annual fundraiser sponsor tier). Truist was a current/past corporate partner per Corporate Giving page as well.
• CSXflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCultivator sponsor of Fresh Picked 2025.
• Save-A-LotcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCurrent or past corporate partner of The Food Trust, with logo on Corporate Giving page. Discount grocery chain aligned with food access mission.
• ChipotlecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner of The Food Trust, listed under corporate giving.
• Whole Foods MarketcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner of The Food Trust, listed under corporate giving.
• SweetgreenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• Health Partners PlansminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• Philadelphia FlyersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• XfinityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• The Fresh GrocerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Local grocery chain.
• State Farm InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• Philly Pediatric DentalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCurrent/past corporate partner with logo on Corporate Giving page. Local pediatric dental practice.
• Campus ApartmentsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Philadelphia student housing operator.
• Visit PhillyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• Penns Woods WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Local beverage partner.
• Yards Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Philadelphia craft brewery.
• Precision Benefits GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Food Trust's employee benefits partner.
• Lankenau Medical CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Part of Main Line Health.
• Philadelphia DistillingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Local craft distiller.
• CaviarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Food delivery service.
• Just Ice TeaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Local beverage brand.
• Inspire EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Clean energy supplier.
• Divinity LAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• Green Valley OrganicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Organic food brand.
• Melanie's MedleysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• The Ludlow East MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Philadelphia market/hospitality venue.
• Post BrothersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Philadelphia real estate/developer.
• The Results CompaniesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• Turn5minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving.
• The YardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional corporate partner listed under Corporate Giving. Philadelphia coworking operator.
• Highmark HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeynote speaker at Fresh Picked 2025 — Nebeyou Abebe, SVP of Social Determinants of Health at Highmark Health. Both Highmark and The Food Trust harness the power of fresh, healthy food to transform lives and strengthen communities.
• Hayday FarmscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosts pop-up farm stands at Firehouse Active Adult Senior Center and contributed desserts to Fresh Picked 2025's Taste of the Farmers Market dessert spread. Multi-event programming partner.
• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic DevelopmentflagshipOthersAdministers the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program through which The Food Trust receives corporate support. Two-year commitments earn 90% tax credit, one-year 75%, up to $750,000 per taxable year. Funds The Food Trust's Children and Youth Nutrition Initiative.
• Salsa Labs (SalsaLabs)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides the donation processing platform powering online giving (thefoodtrust.salsalabs.org/donate), newsletter signup, and peer-to-peer fundraising pages.
• Mi Salud Wellness CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner led by Keila Canete, MPH; collaborated with The Food Trust to launch bilingual nutrition education for pregnant and postpartum individuals; honoree of inaugural Community Champion Award at Fresh Picked 2025.
• Firehouse Active Adult CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior center partner that hosted three successful pop-up farmers markets with The Food Trust and Hayday Farms; Activities Director Tyra Elam honored with inaugural Community Champion Award at Fresh Picked 2025.
• Health Federation of Philadelphia – Early Head StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted The Food Trust's 6-week Cooking & Nutrition Series in June 2026. Eight families participated weekly, with staff members Jules Koehl and Kelly Yerger leading sessions.
• BLDG39minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent venue host for Fresh Picked 2024 and Fresh Picked 2025 fundraisers at Arsenal location.
• Olive & Shae (catering)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering partner for Fresh Picked 2025, created a 'garden table' of fresh vegetable bites, pickles, cheese, breads and spreads.
• Cellar Beast WinehouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage partner providing wine at Fresh Picked 2025 fundraiser.
• Top Dog CocktailsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage partner providing cocktails at Fresh Picked 2025 fundraiser.
• Penn BeerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage partner providing beer selection at Fresh Picked 2025 fundraiser (and Fresh Picked 2024).
• Philly Food Rescue (Share Foods)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram of Share Foods referenced in The Food Trust's blog; volunteers divert food from waste streams to people who need it. Co-organized a food drive with Pokémon GO Community Ambassadors in November 2025.
• William Roper Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of The Food Trust's Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) network in Salem County, New Jersey. Featured in Partner Spotlight series.
• Pennsylvania Horticultural SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through Nicetown and Tioga Love Where You Live Program; co-hosting Corner Food Market awning reveal & community day event (June 17, 2026).

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fair Food Network: National nonprofit that pioneered Double Up Food Bucks, a SNAP doubling incentive at farmers markets and grocery stores — a near-direct programmatic equivalent to The Food Trust's Food Bucks / Food Bucks Rx portfolio.
• Reinvestment Fund: CDFI that co-administers PA FFFI alongside The Food Trust, providing loans and financing to healthy food retailers in underserved communities — a direct co-equal partner in the financing program.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit operating SNAP nutrition incentive programs (Double Value Coupon Program / Wholesome Wave's 'Double Up Food Bucks') that directly mirror The Food Trust's Food Bucks model, serving low-income shoppers at farmers markets and grocery retailers.
• National Farm to School Network: National information and advocacy network that TFT's PA Farm to School Network feeds into; both organizations build farm-to-school programming at K-12 and ECE sites, making them direct peers in farm to institution work.
• Community First Fund: Pennsylvania CDFI that co-finances PA FFFI grocery projects (e.g., Super Natural Produce III) alongside TFT, providing similar financing and technical assistance to immigrant-owned and cultural grocery operators.

Regional players

• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society: Philadelphia-based nonprofit that partners with The Food Trust on community food access (Nicetown/Tioga Love Where You Live Program) and operates parallel greening, urban agriculture, and farmers-market-adjacent programming in the same region.

Broad incumbents

• WhyHunger: National nonprofit connecting food-insecure communities to food resources via a national hotline and Find Food tool — a peer in healthy food access navigation that overlaps conceptually with TFT's Nutrition Navigator mapping tool.
• Hunger Free America: National anti-hunger advocacy and direct-service nonprofit focused on federal nutrition programs and food access — a peer in the food insecurity and SNAP-advocacy space, though with a more national and less community-anchored model.
• Share Our Strength (No Kid Hungry): Large national anti-hunger nonprofit that operates Cooking Matters (the very curricula The Food Trust implements), making it both an upstream content partner and a peer in nutrition education and food access programming.

Others

• Bainum Family Foundation: Foundation that originally developed the Nutrition Navigator mapping tool TFT inherited and re-launched in 2023; both organizations fund nutrition security and food access work, with TFT as the on-the-ground operational successor for the Navigator asset.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thefoodtrust
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TheFoodTrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/thefoodtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-food-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefoodtrust

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

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 Food Trust