What Swipe Out Hunger does

Swipe Out Hunger is a national nonprofit founded in 2010 at UCLA that operates a network of 900+ college and university campuses across North America to address student food insecurity. The organization powers three core programs: the Swipe Drive, which enables students with surplus meal plan swipes to donate them to food-insecure peers; a Campus Food Pantry Network of more than 800 partner pantries (expanded materially by the October 2021 acquisition of the College and University Food Bank Alliance); and Swipe Grants, which distribute $3,000-$7,000 awards to campus food security programs, totaling over $1 million in cumulative disbursements and $335,500 in the 2025-2026 academic year.

The underlying technology stack is built on third-party integrations rather than proprietary software. CBORD's GET Student mobile app and Transact provide the campus card system hooks that allow meal swipes to be pooled and redistributed without manual transfer logistics; Quadient supplies automated locker hardware, including refrigerated units, that enable 24/7 food access on campuses. The organization does not run a standalone product - its technology footprint is the orchestration of partner systems at the campus level, augmented by internal data products such as the annual National Campus Survey Dashboard and convenings like the 2026 Fueling Solutions conference in New Orleans.

The business model is a multi-channel nonprofit funding structure with no fees charged to students or campuses. Revenue comes from foundation grants (ECMC, Kresge, Michelson 20MM), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (TIAA, Sodexo, Aramark, Chobani, The GIANT Company, Campus Specialties/MicroFridge), individual donations through a monthly giving program, and government funding unlocked by Hunger Free Campus legislation now passed in 11 states. Go-to-market is community-led: student leaders on each campus operate the programs with support from Swipe Out Hunger's Programs & Partnerships and Student Impact teams, and policy advocacy is run jointly by an Advocacy team and the new Swipe Advocacy Chapters.

Name

Swipe Out Hunger

Legal name

Swipe Out Hunger

Website

https://swipehunger.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Swipe Out Hunger is a national nonprofit operating a 900+ campus network across North America that enables meal-swipe donation programs, campus food pantries, and grants to combat college student food insecurity among more than 807,000 students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

College Food Security Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL)

Keywords

• College food security
• Campus food pantries
• Meal donation programs
• Student hunger advocacy
• Anti-hunger nonprofits

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Swipe Out Hunger receives grant funding from foundations (ECMC Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Michelson 20MM) and corporate partners (Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, The GIANT Company) to fund campus food security programs, Swipe Grants, and organizational operations.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners like TIAA, Chobani, and Aramark provide direct funding, volunteer events, and programmatic support. TIAA contributed $56,000 for food security programs with first-generation student populations. These partnerships include both financial contributions and employee engagement activities.
3. Individual Donations: Monthly giving program and one-time donations from individual supporters to support campus programs and operations.
4. Government Advocacy and State Funding: Swipe Out Hunger advocates for Hunger Free Campus legislation at state levels, which creates public funding streams for campus food security programs (e.g., Virginia's $500,000 allocation).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Swipe Out Hunger is a national nonprofit that addresses college student food insecurity through The Swipe Drive meal donation program (allowing students to donate unused meal swipes to peers), a network of 900+ campus food pantries, Swipe Grants funding campus food security programs, and Hunger Free Campus policy advocacy at the state level. Programs and grants are provided to colleges and students at no charge, funded through foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.

Product overview

Swipe Out Hunger is a national nonprofit powering the movement to end college student hunger. Its core offerings consist of The Swipe Drive meal donation program (enabling students to donate unused meal plan swipes to peers in need) and a Campus Food Pantry Network of 900+ partner campuses. The organization supports its campus network through Swipe Grants (funding for pantry programs totaling over $1 million awarded to date), the Student Leadership and Advisory Council (SLAAC) for student voice and professional development, an annual National Campus Survey Dashboard providing data on the basic needs landscape, an annual National Convening on Ending College Hunger, and Hunger Free Campus advocacy for state-level policy. In October 2021, Swipe Out Hunger acquired the College and University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA), expanding its campus pantry network by over 800 additional members. Technology integrations with CBORD's GET Student app, Transact, and Quadient's automated locker systems enable the technical delivery of meal donation and food access services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Swipe Drive Swipe Out Hunger's flagship program enabling college students to donate their unused meal plan swipes to peers facing food insecurity on campus. Donations are pooled and distributed to students in need, supported by integration with the CBORD GET Student mobile app for seamless in-app donation at partner campuses.
• Campus Food Pantry Network A network of 900+ campus partners operating food pantries and basic needs programs on college campuses across North America. Pantries provide food and basic needs resources to students experiencing food insecurity, with support, grants, consulting, and best practices shared across the network.
• Swipe Grants A grant program providing funding to campus food security programs. Awards typically range from $3,000 to $7,000 per campus, with funds used to stock, upgrade, staff, and expand campus food pantry programs. The program has distributed more than $1 million in total grants to date, including $335,500 during the 2025-2026 academic year.
• National Campus Survey Dashboard An annual comprehensive survey of college food security programs across Swipe Out Hunger's campus network, providing data and insights on national food security programs, pantries, impact metrics, programs offered, and funding. Results can be filtered by State, School Type, and Minority-Serving Institution designation.
• National Convening on Ending College Hunger An annual national conference bringing together campus leaders, partners, and funders to share strategies and solutions for ending college hunger. The event features sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities for the basic needs community.
• Hunger Free Campus Advocacy Policy and advocacy initiatives supporting legislation at the state level to establish Hunger Free Campus Acts, which provide funding and infrastructure for colleges to address student food insecurity. Swipe Out Hunger has helped pass legislation in 11 states and provides advocacy toolkits to support grassroots campaigns.
• Swipe Advocacy Chapters A student organization initiative that partners with student groups in states with active advocacy campaigns to support and amplify student-led advocacy for food access and basic needs through advocacy training, planning, lobby days, legislator visits, awareness events, and coalition meetings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72% of students eat more regularly after receiving donated swipes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QuadientcoreTechnology or Integration · 20 November 2025Quadient, a global automation platform, partnered with Swipe Out Hunger to expand access to nutritious food for college students experiencing food insecurity through automated locker technology. Quadient provides discounts on locker solutions and donates refrigerated locker units to campuses to help students access food securely and conveniently, especially during times when campus dining services are limited.
• TOP (The Organic Project)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2021TOP partnered with Swipe Out Hunger in a Thanksgiving campaign where campus pantries that completed surveys were entered to win cases of organic tampons and pads for their food pantries.
• ChobanicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2021Chobani partnered with Swipe Out Hunger to fund food security efforts at 23 schools in New York and Idaho (Chobani's home states). The partnership included ongoing consulting and coaching for campuses, and collaboration with VICE News to host a virtual summit on college hunger.
• CampusWorksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2021CampusWorks, a strategic higher education consulting firm, partnered with Swipe Out Hunger to launch a community fundraising campaign providing hot dining hall meals to students in need. The Holiday Food Drive raised $15,379 with dollar-for-dollar matching from the Board.
• SodexocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2019Sodexo launched an industry-leading pilot program establishing 'Meal Swipe Banks' at 13 universities, providing two free meals for every full-time meal plan sold (25,000+ free meals annually). Sodexo is the eighteenth largest employer in the world and partnered to grow the program nationally.
• CBORDcoreTechnology or Integration · 24 October 2019CBORD partnered as the technology partner enabling students to donate unused meals from their meal plan to peers experiencing food insecurity through the GET CBORD Student mobile app. This eliminated logistical challenges of transferring meal swipes and enabled easier launch of meal donation programs across campuses.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Food Recovery Network: Student-led nonprofit that recovers surplus food from college dining halls and donates it to people in need. Directly comparable as a college-focused food security organization leveraging student volunteers on campuses across the U.S.
• No Kid Hungry: National campaign by Share Our Strength focused on ending childhood hunger, with a strong school-meals and advocacy component. Operates a similar model of public-private partnership and policy advocacy for hunger-free legislation, overlapping with Swipe Out Hunger's college focus.
• The Campus Kitchens Project: Student-led organization that recovers surplus food from campus dining and prepares meals for community members facing hunger. Operates on similar college campuses with a comparable student-driven service model.
• WhyHunger: National nonprofit focused on ending hunger through grantmaking, advocacy, and supporting grassroots food justice organizations. Comparable as a hunger-focused advocacy and resource organization with similar coalition-building approach.
• Hunger Free America: National hunger advocacy and direct service nonprofit operating food pantries and benefit access programs. Comparable as an advocacy-and-direct-service hybrid focused on ending hunger through policy and programs.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: Largest U.S. hunger-relief nonprofit with a network of 200+ food banks. Comparable as a food assistance organization, but operates broadly across all populations rather than specializing in college students like Swipe Out Hunger.

Regional players

• Food for Thought (Food Bank): Food bank network focused on food insecurity relief. Operates a similar food pantry and distribution model, though typically serving broader populations rather than exclusively college students.

Emerging players

• Single Stop USA: National nonprofit connecting low-income college students to public benefits and support services. Directly comparable as an organization addressing student basic needs with a presence on community college and university campuses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/swipehunger
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@swipeouthunger
• Facebookfacebook.com/swipeouthunger
• Instagraminstagram.com/swipeouthunger
• TikToktiktok.com/@swipeouthunger

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 Swipe Out Hunger