Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin

What Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin does

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger relief organization founded in 1982 by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee and headquartered at 1700 W. Fond du Lac Avenue in Milwaukee, with a second food bank campus in Appleton. It is the largest hunger relief organization in Wisconsin and an independently operated member of the national Feeding America network, distributing food through a network of nearly 600 partner pantries, meal programs, and shelters across 35 counties in Eastern Wisconsin. In the fiscal year July 2024-June 2025, the organization distributed 40,571,289 pounds of food to 459,730 people facing food insecurity (1-in-8 residents and 1-in-6 children in its service area), supported by 101-250 employees and 44,870 volunteer hours.

Its core operations span a diversified portfolio of programs: Clock Tower Farms (a first-of-its-kind hydroponic facility launched May 2026 with Rockwell Automation and Fork Farms, designed to produce 200,000 pounds of leafy greens annually using Rockwell's Plant PAx automation); Dairyland Delivery (Wisconsin-produced dairy to rural pantries); FarmLink (farm-to-pantry produce); NourishRx (food-as-medicine); Mindful Meals (online ordering with culturally relevant foods); Mobile Food Pantry distributions; the Smart Locker Program at Fox Valley Technical College (temperature-controlled lockers with OrderAhead online ordering); and signature annual campaigns including Healthy Kids Healthy Summer, PB&J Challenge, Stock the Shelves, Grateful Plate Gala, and Feed the Body Feed the Soul.

The business model is entirely philanthropic: revenue is generated through individual charitable donations (processed via Fundraise Up), corporate philanthropy and foundation grants (including a $750,000 Walmart/Feeding America capacity grant, a $150,000 Hatco/NAFEM donation, and a $25,000 Fox Cares Foundation grant), cause-marketing collaborations, workplace giving campaigns, and in-kind food donations. No commercial products or services are sold. Donations, volunteer labor, and corporate partnerships collectively fund food procurement, programmatic operations, and capital initiatives such as the Clock Tower Farms hydroponic facility. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Barclay Ferguson, with celebrity board member Bobby Portis Jr. of the Milwaukee Bucks, and transitioned to new President and CEO Monique (Ellsworth) Kelley effective June 1, 2026, following Patti Habeck's tenure during which annual distribution doubled to over 40 million pounds.

Name

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin

Legal name

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin

Website

https://feedingamericawi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger relief organization, the largest in Wisconsin, distributing over 40 million pounds of food annually through nearly 600 partner agencies across 35 counties in Eastern Wisconsin, serving food-insecure individuals, families, children, and seniors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hunger relief and food bank services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Food Service Contractors (72231), Mobile Food Services (72233)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Service & Dining Operations Management (Managed Cafeterias) (EDAEALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meal Program Compliance & Administration (NSLP/SBP, Reimbursements) (EDAEAEAC), Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets) (EDAEAEAD), Vending, Kiosk & À La Carte Food Programs (On-Campus Retail) (EDAEAEAI), Nutrition, Dietary Management & Allergen/Accommodation Services (EDALADAJ)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Hunger relief programs
• Community food distribution
• Food assistance programs
• Nutrition service network

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations (Individual): Individual donors contribute monetary donations to support the organization. Donations provide meals/food to neighbors facing hunger.
2. Corporate Philanthropy and Grants: Corporate partners, foundations, and government grants provide funding and food donations. Examples include $750,000 Walmart/Feeding America grant, $25,000 Fox Cares Foundation grant, and $150,000 Hatco/NAFEM donation.
3. Corporate Collaborations: Corporate partnerships involve fundraising initiatives, employee engagement campaigns, and cause marketing programs where companies design collaborations reflecting their brand values to support hunger relief.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin operates two food bank campuses (Milwaukee and Appleton) that procure food in bulk, sort and package it, and deliver to a network of nearly 600 partner pantries, meal programs, and shelters across 35 counties in Eastern Wisconsin. Beyond bulk distribution, it runs specialized programs such as Mobile Food Pantry distributions, Clock Tower Farms hydroponic farming, FarmLink farm-to-pantry produce delivery, Dairyland Delivery, NourishRx food-as-medicine, Mindful Meals online culturally relevant food ordering, a Smart Locker Program at college campuses, and a Tribal Elder Food Box program.

Product overview

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin operates as a comprehensive hunger relief organization offering a diverse portfolio of food distribution programs and services across 35 counties in Eastern Wisconsin. The organization runs multiple food distribution channels including direct pantry network distribution (nearly 600 partners), Mobile Food Pantry distributions, and innovative programs like Clock Tower Farms (hydroponic farming), FarmLink (farm-to-pantry produce), Dairyland Delivery (dairy distribution), and NourishRx (food as medicine). The organization also provides technology-enabled access through Mindful Meals online ordering and Smart Lockers at college campuses. Beyond direct food distribution, the organization conducts annual fundraising campaigns (Healthy Kids Healthy Summer, PB&J Challenge, Stock the Shelves, Combat Hunger), signature events (Grateful Plate Gala), and community partnerships. Services are supported by corporate collaborations, volunteer programs, and government program assistance including FoodShare resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clock Tower Farms: A first-of-its-kind hydroponic farming facility created in partnership with Rockwell Automation and Fork Farms, located at Rockwell's Milwaukee headquarters. Designed to grow 200,000 pounds of leafy greens annually.

Products and services

• Mobile Food Pantry Mobile distribution service that brings healthy food directly to high-need areas through drive-thru style distributions, providing boxes of non-perishable items, meat, and fresh produce to food-insecure households in Eastern Wisconsin.
• Clock Tower Farms First-of-its-kind hydroponic farming facility at Rockwell Automation's Milwaukee headquarters, housing 72 Fork Farms Flex Acre hydroponic systems controlled by Rockwell's Plant PAx automation. Designed to grow 200,000 pounds of leafy greens annually while saving 5.9 million gallons of water and conserving 5.5 acres of conventional crop land.
• FarmLink Program delivering fresh produce directly from local farm fields to pantry partners, reducing transportation time and ensuring long-lasting freshness while supporting local farmers across Eastern Wisconsin.
• Dairyland Delivery Program that brings fresh, Wisconsin-produced dairy products directly to food pantry partners across Eastern Wisconsin, addressing the challenge pantries face with expensive, perishable dairy items requiring cold storage.
• NourishRx Food-as-medicine program that provides nutrient-dense food to support long-term health, dignity, and choice for neighbors facing hunger.
• Mindful Meals Online ordering program providing culturally relevant foods to families, sourced from local retailers, with planned expansion to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.
• Smart Locker Program Program providing 24/7 discreet access to nutritious meals through temperature-controlled smart lockers located on college campuses, using an online (OrderAhead) ordering platform. Initially launched at Fox Valley Technical College.
• Tribal Elder Food Box Specialized food box program designed to address the specific nutritional and cultural needs of tribal elders in the service area.
• Pantry Locator Online tool enabling users to find food pantries, meal programs, or shelters nearest to their location within the 35-county service area, with ZIP/address search and configurable radius and category filters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,571,289 pounds of food distributed (July 2024–June 2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Rockwell AutomationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Rockwell Automation partnered with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Fork Farms to create Clock Tower Farms, a first-of-its-kind hydroponic farming facility at Rockwell's Milwaukee headquarters. Rockwell provides the space and Plant PAx automation technology, enabling the facility to grow 200,000 pounds of leafy greens annually for the hunger relief network.
• Fork FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Fork Farms provides 72 Flex Acre hydroponic systems for Clock Tower Farms, enabling nutrient-infused recirculated water farming technology. The company developed localized power, dehumidification, and water/nutrient management technology for the controlled environment growing facility.
• Oshkosh CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025Oshkosh Corporation hosts the annual Feed the Body, Feed the Soul event, a 12-hour volunteer packaging event. Since 2017, the event has packaged over 1 million pounds of rice for distribution to food pantries statewide.
• Fondy Food PantrysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 September 2025Dairyland Delivery program partner receiving Wisconsin-produced milk, butter, and yogurt from vendors Pine River Dairy, Kemps, and Klondike Cheese Company.
• Sheboygan County Food BanksecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 September 2025Dairyland Delivery program partner receiving regular dairy deliveries through the program expansion.
• FOCUS (Feeding Our Communities with United Services) Food PantrysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 September 2025Dairyland Delivery program partner receiving regular dairy deliveries through the program expansion.
• Bobby Portis Jr. / Milwaukee BuckscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 August 2025Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. serves as PB&J Challenge ambassador and Board Member. His Bobby Portis Foundation has provided nearly 185,000 meals to families in Greater Milwaukee. Appointed to Board of Directors in August 2025.
• Woodward Community MediasecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 May 2025Woodward Community Media co-hosts the annual Combat Hunger event benefiting Wisconsin Veterans Village, providing on-air promotion across six radio stations and event organization support.
• Pick 'n SavesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 May 2025Pick 'n Save hosts the Combat Hunger food drive event at their Appleton location, serving as the collection site and providing gift cards for donation.
• The Monthlies ProjectsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2025The Monthlies Project distributes period products to students in Northeast Wisconsin. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin serves as logistics partner, managing procurement, storage, and distribution of products. Has distributed 1,000,000+ period products.
• Three Harbors Council Boy Scouts of AmericasecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 February 2025Annual Scouting for Food partnership collects nonperishable food donations from neighborhoods in Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Racine counties. Scouts collected over 50,000 pounds of food in 2024.
• Kiwanis Club of MilwaukeeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 February 2025Co-partner in the annual Scouting for Food food drive alongside Three Harbors Council Boy Scouts.
• Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2025Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin partnered with FVTC to launch a smart locker program, providing discreet 24/7 food access for students via temperature-controlled lockers and an OrderAhead online platform.
• MeijercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMeijer partnered with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin for the Healthy Kids, Healthy Summer campaign, providing a $20,000 matching gift to double donations for summer meals for children facing hunger.
• Feeding America (National Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeeding America Eastern Wisconsin is an independently operated member of the national Feeding America network of food banks. Benefits include national scale, shared resources, Map the Meal Gap research, and corporate partnership programs like the Walmart FANO grant.
• Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) BoardsecondaryOthersFormer President and CEO Patti Habeck was appointed to the DATCP Board by Governor Evers in July 2025, connecting the organization to Wisconsin agricultural policy and farmers.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America (National Network): National umbrella organization of 200+ food banks including Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Provides shared resources, corporate partnerships (Walmart, etc.), Map the Meal Gap research, and brand recognition; comparable as the broader network of which the subject is an independently operated member.

Direct peers

• Feeding America West Michigan: Feeding America network food bank serving 40+ counties across West Michigan with a Mobile Food Pantry distribution model very similar to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Strong operational and geographic comparability.
• Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan: Regional Feeding America network food bank distributing tens of millions of pounds annually through partner pantries, mobile distributions, and nutrition programs across five Detroit-area counties. Closely comparable in distribution model and partner network structure.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Feeding America-affiliated regional food bank serving Cook County with comparable distribution scale, partner pantry network, and food-as-medicine and mobile pantry programs. Highly comparable as a mid-to-large urban-anchored regional food bank.
• Second Harvest of the Big Bend: Regional Feeding America network food bank serving 16 counties in northern Florida and distributing 20M+ pounds annually under outgoing Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin CEO Monique Kelley. Highly comparable in operating model, scale, and mission.
• Roadrunner Food Bank: New Mexico's largest Feeding America network food bank serving all 33 counties of the state through partner pantries and mobile distributions. Comparable statewide reach and rural distribution emphasis.
• Maryland Food Bank: Feeding America-affiliated regional food bank distributing food across Maryland through partner pantries and nutrition programs. Comparable scale, partner-network model, and mission-aligned program mix (kids' meals, food-as-medicine).
• St. Louis Area Foodbank: Feeding America-affiliated regional food bank serving 26 counties in Missouri and Illinois with 500+ partner agencies. Comparable in scale, partner-network model, and dual-campus operations.
• Capital Area Food Bank: Feeding America-affiliated regional food bank serving the Washington DC metro area with a similar mix of partner pantries, mobile distributions, nutrition education, and food-as-medicine programs. Comparable urban-anchored, multi-county distribution model.
• Food Bank of the Rockies: Regional Feeding America network food bank serving northern Colorado and Wyoming with partner pantries, mobile pantries, and nutrition programs. Comparable multi-state, multi-county regional operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FeedAmericaWI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGniHhZ7WdJYE8yRttyOIKQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/FeedingAmericaEasternWisconsin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1689125
• Instagraminstagram.com/feedamericawi

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin