Capital Area Food Bank

Name

Capital Area Food Bank

Legal name

Capital Area Food Bank

Website

https://capitalareafoodbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hunger relief and food bank services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Hunger relief services
• Food bank distribution
• Community food assistance
• Nutrition education programs
• Food insecurity advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute money to support food sourcing and distribution operations. Donors can contribute via the website, virtual fundraising campaigns, and estate planning.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners provide food donations, financial support, and employee engagement programs. Partners include grocery stores, food wholesalers, and companies running food drives.
3. Government Nutrition Programs: Funding and food commodities from federal programs including SNAP, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), and USDA Summer Food Service Program.
4. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations such as The Washington Home's Healthy Food Access Collaboration providing $704,906 to expand food access.
5. Corporate Grants: Corporate grants from organizations like UnitedHealthcare's Empowering Health program providing funding for nutrition-related community programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Capital Area Food Bank is a regional hunger-relief nonprofit that sources and distributes food equivalent to more than 60 million meals annually across the Washington, DC metropolitan area (DC, Maryland, Virginia). It delivers food through a network of 400+ nonprofit partner organizations and through direct service programs including community marketplaces, senior Silver Markets, school-based Family Markets, summer and afterschool meal sites, and the Capital Area Food Pharmacy. In addition to food distribution, the organization addresses root causes of hunger through Food+ Partnership programs that pair food with health care, education, and workforce training, plus nutrition education, client advocacy, and public policy work.

Product overview

Capital Area Food Bank operates as the DC area's largest hunger relief organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of food assistance and support programs. The core offering consists of Direct Food Distribution through 400+ nonprofit partners, supplemented by direct distribution programs including Silver Market (senior farmers markets), Family Markets (school-based distributions), Community Marketplaces (Saturday distributions), Summer Meals, and Afterschool Meals. The organization addresses root causes of hunger through its Food+ Partnership programs (Food+Health, Food+Education, Food+Skill Development), Nutrition Education, and Farms & Gardening initiatives. Key programs also include the Capital Area Food Pharmacy for medically tailored food, Client Leadership Council for advocacy training, and annual campaigns including Food From the Bar DC and Hard Hats Against Hunger. The organization sources and distributes food for over 60 million meals annually through federal programs like TEFAP and SNAP partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Direct Food Distribution Programs Distributes food through a network of 400+ nonprofit partner organizations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, providing meals to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity at no cost.
• Community Marketplaces Farmers market-style food distributions held each Saturday where neighbors can get fresh fruits and vegetables at no cost directly in their communities.
• Silver Market Indoor farmers market-style food distribution tailored for income-eligible seniors, providing high-quality fresh produce with wraparound services including utility assistance and healthcare resources.
• Family Markets Farmers market-style food distributions at schools that deliver fresh produce, pantry staples, and frozen proteins directly to school communities on a monthly basis.
• Afterschool Meals Provides meals and snacks to children through the USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program at afterschool program sites across 41 locations in the region.
• Summer Meals Program Provides free meals for children during summer months through USDA's Summer Food Service Program at community locations including apartment buildings, recreation centers, and places of worship.
• Capital Area Food Pharmacy Food pharmacy program integrating nutritious food into healthcare settings at UM Capital, providing medically tailored groceries to patients with diet-related health conditions through prescriptions for fresh produce and shelf-stable items every two weeks.
• Nutrition Education Programs providing nutrition education and cooking demonstrations to help clients learn new ways to prepare healthy foods, offered at various distribution sites including Silver Markets.
• Farms & Gardening Programs connecting local farms and community gardens to provide fresh produce, helping people get the produce they need for good health while supporting local agriculture.
• Food+Health Program integrating food into healthcare to promote disease prevention and management, partnering with Children's National Hospital, Mary's Center, and George Washington University to provide food assistance at the point of care.
• Food+Education Program pairing food and support services for students to improve academic outcomes and long-term financial stability, partnering with Montgomery College and Northern Virginia community colleges through onsite pantries and food delivery options.
• Food+Skill Development Program using food as an enabler for workforce development program attendance, partnering with Year Up and providing onsite pantries to support student nutrition needs.
• Client Leadership Council 10-month advocacy training program for individuals experiencing food insecurity, empowering members to advocate for themselves and their communities on food policy issues.
• Advocacy & Public Policy Advocacy efforts focusing on strengthening SNAP, increasing school meal access, improving TEFAP efficacy, and promoting Food Is Medicine initiatives through engagement with policymakers at local, state, and federal levels.
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Federal nutrition program that moves food from farms to food banks to people facing hunger, distributing USDA commodity foods at no cost through the food bank's partner network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 million meals sourced and distributed annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Wegmans Food MarketscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2026Wegmans hosts annual Fill the Bus/Fill the Backpack scan campaign raising money for Feeding America food bank partners including CAFB. Customers can donate $3, $5, or any amount at checkout with 100% of proceeds going to local food banks. In 2024, Wegmans donated 36.6 million pounds of food and raised over $3.2 million.
• Capstone StrategicminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 November 2025Launched sixth annual 'Capstone Cares' food drive to support CAFB during federal government shutdown, benefiting residents impacted by the shutdown in the DMV region.
• University of Maryland Capital Region Health (UM Capital)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Innovative 'Food Is Medicine' collaboration establishing a food pharmacy at UM Capital Largo campus. Patients screening as food insecure receive prescriptions for medically tailored groceries (~40 lbs of fresh produce and shelf-stable items every two weeks) at no cost. The program has served over 200 families since opening.
• Feeding AmericaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAFB is a member of the Feeding America network, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. This affiliation provides access to national resources, best practices, and collective advocacy for food banks across the country.
• Children's National HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood+Health partnership integrating food assistance into healthcare to promote disease prevention and management. Part of broader efforts to improve health outcomes by enabling patients to access food and nutrition resources at point of care.
• Martha's TablecoreOthersLong-standing partner in Washington, DC providing food, clothing, medical care, and social services. For over 40 years has worked to support strong children, strong families, and strong communities.
• DC Central KitchencoreOthersNation's first and leading community kitchen developing and operating social ventures that break the cycle of hunger and poverty. Located at 425 2nd St NW, Washington, DC 20001.
• Bread for the CitycoreOthersPartner providing food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to reduce the burden of poverty and help DC residents develop power to determine the future of their own communities.
• Manna Food CentercoreOthersMontgomery County, Maryland partner working since 1983 to eliminate hunger through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Located at 12301 Old Columbia Pike, Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20904.
• Food for OtherscoreOthersNorthern Virginia safety net partner for those needing food during emergencies and for working poor who need to supplement inadequate food supplies. Located at 2938 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031.
• SOME (So Others Might Eat)coreOthersDC-based nonprofit partner receiving food support from CAFB to serve homeless and low-income individuals in the community.
• Harris TeetercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Capital Area Food Bank's summer meals campaign, supporting free meal distribution to children across DC, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
• Clear Channel OutdoorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting the summer meals campaign through outdoor advertising to increase awareness of free meal sites for children.
• The Washington InformerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner supporting the summer meals campaign to spread awareness about free meal sites for children in the DMV region.
• Orange Barrel MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner supporting the summer meals campaign advertising to help families locate free meal sites.
• Jubilee HousingcoreOthersAffordable housing provider operating afterschool programs where CAFB provides meal distribution. Last school year, their site served meals through USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program.
• Gallaudet UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the 2024 and 2026 Senior Hunger Conference, bringing together organizations addressing food insecurity among older adults in DC.
• Northern Virginia Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood+Education partnership providing food assistance alongside higher education opportunities to help improve academic outcomes and long-term financial stability.
• Montgomery CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood+Education partnership pairing food and support services for students to help improve academic outcomes through onsite pantry and food delivery options.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco-Marin Food Banks: Major California-based Feeding America affiliate operating large-scale food distribution, pantries, and CalFresh/SNAP outreach programs — comparable in scale, mission, and direct distribution mix.
• Houston Food Bank: Nationally recognized Feeding America affiliate with comparable scale, multi-channel distribution model including direct distribution, partner network, and food pharmacy/healthcare partnerships.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Major Feeding America affiliate serving the Chicago metro area with similar mix of partner distribution, direct programs (school markets, senior programs), and healthcare/education partnerships.
• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Large regional Feeding America affiliate with comparable operational scale, partner-network distribution, government program administration, and innovation programs targeting health and education.
• Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan: Mid-sized Feeding America affiliate with similar portfolio of partner-network distribution, school-based programs, senior food programs, and federal nutrition program administration.
• Food Bank for New York City: One of the largest Feeding America affiliates in the US, serving the NYC metro area with similar partner-network-driven distribution, federal nutrition program participation, and direct distribution programs.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella organization and Feeding America network parent. Comparable because CAFB is a member affiliate and adopts Feeding America's programmatic frameworks, advocacy priorities, and supply chain.

Emerging players

• DC Central Kitchen: Direct nonprofit partner of CAFB and one of the largest community kitchens in the US; overlaps with CAFB's mission of addressing hunger via workforce development and direct meal production in the DMV region.

Regional players

• Maryland Food Bank: Maryland's largest hunger-relief organization distributing food across the state. Highly comparable because it serves overlapping Maryland geographies and competes for similar DMV corporate donors and federal program funding.
• Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia: Regional Feeding America affiliate serving Virginia including areas overlapping with CAFB's Virginia service territory; competes for similar corporate partners and federal nutrition program resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAYzcvJNH9imavDTTEpJYUw
• Facebookfacebook.com/capitalareafoodbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capital-area-food-bank-of-dc
• Instagraminstagram.com/capitalareafoodbank
• Xx.com/foodbankmetrodc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors4 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 Capital Area Food Bank