Loaves & Fishes Community Services

What Loaves & Fishes Community Services does

Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, that operates the largest food pantry network in Illinois. It serves food-insecure individuals and families across DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties through a hub-and-spoke distribution architecture, anchored by a centralized Aurora distribution hub and supplemented by spoke locations including a Bolingbrook distribution site. As of 2024, the organization distributes more than 8 million pounds of food annually and serves over 10,000 people each week, up from 8,000-9,000 weekly, with a volunteer base of 1,700+ contributing 97,000+ hours.

The organization's core product is a no-cost food assistance program delivered through multiple channels: a client-choice Naperville Market, curbside pre-pack pickup, online ordering via lffood.org, home delivery for seniors and disabled residents, and a spoke network of partner-hosted distribution sites. Underlying technology consists of standard nonprofit operational tooling—DonorPerfect for donation management, Better Impact for volunteer scheduling, Constant Contact for email, and Engiven for cryptocurrency donations—with the lffood.org online market platform as the proprietary client-facing ordering interface. Beyond food, the organization offers a CARES suite of wraparound services including emergency financial assistance, mental health counseling, legal aid, job support, financial coaching, health screenings, VITA free tax preparation, public benefit enrollment (SNAP, LIHEAP, Medicaid), and a Car Donation Program that has placed over 1,500 vehicles with working families.

The business model is contribution-based: all client services are provided at no cost, with revenue drawn from individual donations (including cryptocurrency and planned giving), corporate partnerships and sponsorships, foundation grants, and government allocations. Major committed funding includes a $5 million five-year investment from Endeavor Health (December 2025), a $2.5 million DuPage County allocation (March 2026), and a publicly launched $15 million Nourish Together capital campaign (April 2026) supporting the Hub 2.0 facility expansion, Spoke Network 2.0 geographic intensification, and CARES 2.0 program expansion. The organization is led by CEO Mike Havala and operates under a 26-person paid staff supplemented by its large volunteer base.

Name

Loaves & Fishes Community Services

Legal name

Loaves & Fishes Community Services

Website

https://loaves-fishes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Illinois' largest food pantry, serving over 10,000 people weekly across four Chicago-area counties via a hub-and-spoke distribution model complemented by wraparound social services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Assistance and Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Food pantry services
• Emergency food assistance
• Community support programs
• Nonprofit social services
• Food distribution network

Headquarters

HQ city

Naperville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, including monthly giving programs, cryptocurrency donations, and legacy gifts through planned giving
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate donations, sponsorships for events like Night to End Hunger and Chef Showdown, employee matching gifts, and in-kind food donations from businesses
3. Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations such as $5 million from Endeavor Health over five years, and $2.5 million from DuPage County
4. Government Funding: Funding from government sources including DuPage County allocations and Illinois Department of Human Services programs
5. Nourish Together Campaign: $15 million capital campaign for Hub 2.0 expansion and program enhancement, including Ronald L. McDaniel Foundation matching gift up to $500,000

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a nonprofit food pantry that provides no-cost weekly grocery assistance to income-eligible households across DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties in Illinois. It distributes food through a client-choice grocery market, curbside pickup, online ordering, home delivery, and a spoke network of partner locations, while bundling comprehensive CARES support services (emergency financial assistance, car donation, mental health, tax preparation, job and legal support) to address root causes of instability.

Product overview

Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a nonprofit food pantry organization (501(c)(3)) operating a hub-and-spoke distribution model for food assistance across four counties in the Chicago area. The organization offers a unified food assistance program as its core product, supplemented by comprehensive CARES support services. The Hub 2.0 serves as the centralized distribution center in Aurora, while the Spoke Network 2.0 extends food access through neighborhood partner locations. Additional offerings include the Online Market (lffood.org), Virtual Food Drive platform, VITA free tax preparation, Car Donation Program, and Home Delivery services. The $15 million Nourish Together campaign represents a major expansion initiative targeting infrastructure improvements and service capacity increases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nourish Together: A bold campaign to expand food access, strengthen partnerships, and build capacity to meet rising need across the region.
• Hub 2.0
• CARES 2.0

Products and services

• Food Assistance / Grocery Market Weekly grocery assistance program serving income-eligible households in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties. Clients can shop at the Naperville Market, use curbside pre-pack pickup, order from the Online Market (lffood.org), or receive home delivery. Designed to preserve client dignity through a Client Choice shopping experience.
• CARES Programs Comprehensive wraparound support services addressing root causes of instability, including emergency financial assistance for rent and utilities, mental health counseling, English classes, financial health coaching, health screenings, job support, legal support, public benefit enrollment (SNAP, LIHEAP, Medicaid), car program, VITA tax preparation, and the Moving Up self-sufficiency program. Available to clients facing temporary financial crises or long-term stability needs.
• Virtual Food Drive Online platform enabling donors to purchase high-demand healthy food products at discounted prices for clients. Provides year-round giving with dollar-for-dollar purchasing power through cooperative buying with food partners.
• Hub 2.0 Distribution Facility Centralized food distribution hub in Aurora, IL providing shared storage, co-buying with partner pantries, and expanded dock/logistics capacity. The hub-and-spoke model enables efficient regional scaling and a 40% reduction in cost-to-serve since Hub 1.0 launched in 2021.
• Spoke Network 2.0 Decentralized food distribution locations that bring fresh, nutritious food closer to families through neighborhood partner organizations, reflecting how residents actually live and access services.
• VITA Tax Preparation IRS-approved Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program providing free state and federal tax return preparation for households earning $70,000 or less annually.
• Home Delivery Program Delivery service bringing food assistance directly to homebound seniors and disabled residents in government-subsidized housing who cannot visit distribution locations.
• Car Donation Program Program accepting donated vehicles (any condition) and repairing them for donation to working families in need, or selling vehicles to fund repairs of other donated cars. Has provided 1,500+ cars to families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in cost to serve since Hub 1.0 launch
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Northern Illinois Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey food procurement and distribution partner. Loaves & Fishes receives food through the network and shares resources with other pantries in the region.
• Duly Health and CaresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing charitable support. Collaborates on addressing food insecurity as social determinant of health.
• Midwestern University Chicago College of PharmacysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free health screenings including blood pressure and blood glucose testing at food distribution sites in Naperville and Bolingbrook.
• SamaraCare CounselingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides professional counseling services for individuals experiencing emotional challenges through Loaves & Fishes CARES programs.
• DuPage Legal AidsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free legal consultations for a variety of legal issues via virtual assistance monthly through Loaves & Fishes.
• H.O.M.E. DuPagesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Financial Fitness budget and credit workshops required for Car Program participants.
• Christians Against Poverty (CAP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers free Financial Wellness Check-ups for clients including budgeting and debt advice.
• The GardenWorks ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to build community gardens near Loaves & Fishes facility providing fresh, healthy produce for clients.
• National Association of Letter CarrierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Stamp Out Hunger food drive partnership - nation's largest single-day food drive bringing significant food donations.
• Grocery Partners NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive network including Aldi, Costco, Jewel-Osco, Marianos, Meijer, Target, Trader Joe's, Walmart, Whole Foods, and others providing food donations and product discounts.
• Rotary InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal service organization supporting Loaves & Fishes through volunteer engagement and charitable contributions.
• The Compass ChurchsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFaith partner hosting weekly food distribution at Bolingbrook campus location, 151 E. Briarcliff Road.
• My Chef CateringsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for Chef Showdown culinary competition event.
• AmeriKoasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for Night to End Hunger gala.
• Krusinski ConstructionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for Night to End Hunger gala.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Northern Illinois Food Bank: Regional food bank serving Northern Illinois including DuPage County. Directly comparable as both a food procurement/distribution partner and competitor for grocery-donor attention and county-level funding; Loaves & Fishes shares resources and donors with Northern Illinois Food Bank.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Chicago-area food bank serving Cook County with the same hub-and-spoke distribution model and pantry-network approach. Operates at significantly larger scale in an adjacent geography, competing for similar grocery and corporate donor relationships.
• Midwest Food Bank: Regional food bank operating across Illinois and the Midwest with a similar hub-and-spoke model and faith-based origins. Directly comparable in mission, distribution architecture, and reliance on volunteer labor and grocery-donor partnerships.

Emerging players

• Move For Hunger: National nonprofit that partners with food banks and pantries to mobilize food donations through logistics networks. Comparable as a complementary capacity-builder in food-rescue logistics, relevant given Loaves & Fishes' grocery-donor focus.
• Hunger Free America: National nonprofit focused on anti-hunger advocacy, federal nutrition program enrollment, and direct service. Comparable in combining food access with SNAP/public-benefit enrollment support, mirroring Loaves & Fishes' CARES Public Benefit Assistance offering.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army: International nonprofit delivering emergency food assistance, rent/utility assistance, and social services in the Chicago metro. Comparable in bundling food with emergency financial assistance and social support across a regional service footprint.
• Catholic Charities USA: National nonprofit network providing multi-service social assistance including food, housing, and emergency relief. Comparable in delivering integrated CARES-style services (food + financial + counseling) within faith-rooted operations.
• Feeding America: National umbrella network of 200+ food banks including Northern Illinois Food Bank. Comparable as the broader ecosystem Loaves & Fishes operates within; relevant for donor benchmarking, federal funding advocacy, and cooperative procurement.

Others

• Habitat for Humanity: Adjacent nonprofit providing housing-related assistance to low-income families. Comparable as a peer nonprofit operating in the same donor and volunteer ecosystem in the Chicago suburbs; relevant for benchmarking large-scale capital campaigns and faith/corporate partnerships.

Regional players

• Food Bank for New York City: Large regional food bank serving the New York City metro with hub-and-spoke pantry distribution and CARES-style support services. Comparable operational model in a non-overlapping geography; useful peer for fundraising and program-design benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Loavesfishesaccess
• Instagraminstagram.com/loavesandfishes

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 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 Loaves & Fishes Community Services