Central Texas Food Bank

What Central Texas Food Bank does

Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger-relief organization headquartered in Austin, Texas, operating across 21 Central Texas counties (Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, Bell, McLennan, and others). Founded in 1981 and employing 101-250 staff, CTFB distributes food through a hybrid model combining direct-service programs (Mobile Food Pantries, the Fresh Harvest Market, Fresh Harvest Farm, a 4,200-square-foot commercial kitchen, and home delivery via Amazon) and a network of approximately 260 Partner Agencies — nonprofit pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and school programs that collectively deliver over 600 community programs. Specialized services target three primary populations: children (Kids Cafe, Summer Meals, BackPack, Feeding Futures School Pantries, NSLP), older adults (CSFP and HOPE monthly food boxes), and workforce-development participants (Culinary Arts and Warehouse Logistics training). CTFB also administers SNAP application assistance, nutrition education (C.H.O.I.C.E.S. with registered dietitians), and policy advocacy through the F.R.E.S.H. Agenda.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across individual donations, corporate partnerships (cause marketing, sponsorships, matching gifts, in-kind contributions), in-kind food donations from retailers and manufacturers (which the organization states account for nearly 50% of distributed food), federal and state government programs (TEFAP, CSFP, SFSP, NSLP), and small handling fees (up to 19 cents per pound) paid by some Partner Agencies. The underlying technology stack is composed of standard nonprofit-sector platforms — Agency Express for partner ordering, Oasis Insight for client intake and reporting, MealConnect for food rescue coordination, VolunteerHub for volunteer scheduling, JustGiving for virtual food drives, and Hotjar/Google Analytics for web analytics — without evidence of proprietary AI or machine-learning systems. CTFB states that 96% of donations go directly to programs and operates with Charity Navigator's highest rating.

In May 2026 CTFB merged with Shepherd's Heart to expand its Central Texas footprint. The organization currently references distributing nearly 54 million meals annually to over 612,000 food-insecure neighbors, including 176,000+ children and 101,000+ older adults, though reported totals vary modestly across sources (54M vs. 65M meals, 612K vs. 610K individuals, 250 vs. 260 partner agencies), suggesting some inconsistency in period definition or recent re-counting.

Name

Central Texas Food Bank

Legal name

Central Texas Food Bank

Website

https://centraltexasfoodbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Central Texas Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) hunger-relief nonprofit headquartered in Austin, Texas, distributing nearly 54 million meals annually to over 612,000 food-insecure individuals across 21 Central Texas counties through mobile pantries, schools, senior programs, and a network of approximately 260 Partner Agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Assistance Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Food Service Contractors (72231)

SIC

Retail-Food Stores (5400), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), Meal Program Compliance & Administration (NSLP/SBP, Reimbursements) (EDAEAEAC), Institutional Foodservice Distribution (Education, Healthcare, Government) (CRAOABAM)

Keywords

• Hunger relief services
• Food assistance programs
• Nutrition education
• SNAP application assistance
• Mobile food distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time gifts, monthly sustaining gifts through Sustainers Circle, tribute gifts in honor or memory of loved ones, cryptocurrency donations, and stock/bond donations. Donors can give via credit card, ACH transfer, Venmo, PayPal, mail, or Donor-Advised Funds.
2. Corporate Giving: Corporate partners support through cause marketing campaigns (percentage of sales donations), event sponsorships, matching employee gifts/volunteer time, workplace giving campaigns, food industry donations, and in-kind donations (equipment, vehicles, supplies).
3. Food Donations from Retailers/Manufacturers: Nearly 50% of distributed food comes from generous donations of retailers, wholesalers, farmers, and the food industry. The organization collects millions of pounds of wholesome food that would otherwise be discarded.
4. Government Programs: Operates federal programs including TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) assistance, CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and National School Lunch Program. Receives government funding and food commodities.
5. Partner Agency Fees: Partner Agencies pay a handling fee (up to 19 cents per pound) for some food items. Fees are waived for fresh produce to promote healthy eating. No charge for food itself.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Central Texas Food Bank is a nonprofit hunger-relief organization that collects and distributes food through a network of approximately 260 Partner Agencies, mobile food pantries, and direct-service programs serving 21 Central Texas counties. It provides free food assistance to food-insecure individuals and families, targeted programs for children (Kids Cafe, Summer Meals, School Pantries, BackPack, NSLP) and seniors (CSFP, HOPE), nutrition education, SNAP and benefits application assistance, food rescue from retailers and manufacturers, and culinary/warehouse workforce training programs.

Product overview

The Central Texas Food Bank operates as a comprehensive hunger-relief nonprofit providing food assistance and support services across 21 Central Texas counties. The organization offers a unified platform of programs organized around food access, nutrition education, and workforce development. Core offerings include the Find Food Now search tool for locating food resources, a network of approximately 260 Partner Agencies operating pantries and meal programs, Mobile Food Pantry distributions, and direct food assistance programs. Specialized services target key populations including children (Kids Cafe, Summer Meals, Feeding Futures School Pantries, BackPack, NSLP), older adults (CSFP, HOPE), and workforce training (Culinary Arts, Warehouse Logistics). Additional programs include Fresh Harvest Farm, Fresh Food for Families, Fresh Harvest Market, Nutrition Education (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.), and advocacy initiatives. The organization also engages donors through Virtual Food Drives, Shop to Give partnerships, and Corporate Giving programs. Nearly 54 million meals were provided last year, supporting over 610,000 food-insecure individuals annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Find Food Now Interactive ZIP code-based search tool for locating mobile food pantry distributions, partner agency pantries, and food access sites across Central Texas, with real-time location details, hours, and program availability.
• Mobile Food Pantry Mobile food distribution service bringing food directly to communities across 21 counties, providing basic staples, fruits and vegetables, and frozen foods where local food assistance services cannot meet demand.
• SNAP Application Assistance Free application assistance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, including help with Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, Healthy Texas Women, and Medicare Savings Program applications via phone, in-person, or virtual appointments.
• Kids Cafe After-school meal program in partnership with existing after-school programs providing nutritious meals to low-income children at 22 sites across Central Texas, including homework assistance and physical activities.
• Feeding Futures School Pantry Program School-based food pantry program providing readily accessible shelf-stable, protein-rich foods and fresh produce to low-income students and families at participating schools across multiple ISDs.
• Summer Food Service Program Federal program providing nutritious lunches and snacks to children from low-income families during summer breaks when school meals are unavailable.
• BackPack Program Weekend meal program providing bags of healthy, nutritious, non-perishable meals to children in low-income families to take home, with each BackPack containing approximately four meals.
• National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Federal program providing nutritious, low-cost or free lunches to Texas children in schools and residential childcare institutions.
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Monthly food box program for seniors age 60+ containing 25–30 pounds of staples including cereals, juices, proteins, milk, grains, cheese, and canned fruits and vegetables.
• Healthy Options Program for the Elderly (HOPE) Monthly grocery program for seniors age 55+ providing 15–20 pounds of shelf-stable foods including canned meat, milk, beans, pasta, and pasta sauce with fewer eligibility requirements than CSFP.
• Culinary Training Program 11-week hands-on culinary training program preparing individuals for food service industry careers with ServSafe food safety certification, meal preparation skills, and job placement assistance.
• Warehouse Training Program 6-week full-time training program providing logistics and warehouse management skills including inventory management, forklift operation, workplace safety certification, and WMS introduction.
• Fresh Food for Families Monthly distributions of free fruits, vegetables, and fresh foods to low-income families supplementing existing grocery budgets at 18 partner sites.
• Fresh Harvest Market

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 54 million meals provided to the community last year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational food bank network supporting tens of millions of people through 250+ food banks, 60,000+ agency partners. Central Texas Food Bank is a member network. Programs include Kids Cafe, BackPack, and access to national food rescue and distribution resources.
• Feeding TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network of food banks leading unified effort to end hunger in Texas. Ensures access to adequate, nutritious food for all Texans, improves health and financial stability of communities, and engages stakeholders in advocating for hunger solutions.
• Texas Hunger Initiative (Baylor University)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonpartisan, nonprofit capacity building project through Baylor University's School of Social Work that develops and implements strategies to alleviate hunger through policy, education, community organizing, research, and community development.
• AmeriCorps VISTAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriCorps members bring passion and perseverance to organizations helping eradicate poverty. Members serve as catalysts for change, living and working alongside community members to meet challenges and advance local solutions.
• Austin Public Health and AmazoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for home delivery program where participants receive monthly boxes of shelf-stable groceries delivered directly to their homes via contactless Amazon delivery.
• Junior League of AustinsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing potential of women, and improving the community through trained volunteers. Supports the Food Bank's mission through volunteer service.
• Shepherd's HeartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Central Texas Food Bank announced merger with Shepherd's Heart in May 2026, bringing programs under its network to increase food access across Central Texas.
• Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide free phone and in-person consultations in English and Spanish for SNAP and other social services applications, including pre-screening, application submissions, and additional help.
• MealConnect (Feeding America)supportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform that connects donors with surplus food to local Feeding America member food banks and partners. Enables food rescue and delivery to nearby pantries.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• El Pasoans Fighting Hunger: West Texas Feeding America food bank distributing millions of pounds of food annually through partner agencies and direct programs. Comparable in mission, federal program administration, and partner-network distribution model.
• San Antonio Food Bank: Regional Texas food bank serving a multi-county area via partner agencies, mobile distributions, and direct nutrition programs. Directly comparable in mission, scale tier, and program mix (Kids Cafe equivalents, SNAP outreach, senior programs) to CTFB.
• Capital Area Food Bank: Washington D.C.-area Feeding America food bank serving the D.C. metro through partner agencies, direct distribution, and nutrition programs. Notably, CTFB's YouTube channel still references 'Capital Area Food Bank,' suggesting historical branding ties; directly comparable in operating model.
• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: One of the largest U.S. food banks, serving LA County through mobile pantries, partner agencies, and direct programs. Comparable in scale, federal program administration (CSFP, TEFAP), and large partner-agency network.
• Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley: Feeding America-affiliated food bank serving South Texas through partner pantries and direct distribution. Comparable to CTFB in operating model and Feeding Texas membership, though serving a lower-income and more rural service area.
• Food Bank for New York City: Large urban-focused Feeding America food bank providing food and benefits assistance through pantries, partner agencies, and direct programs. Comparable in service-area scale (millions of meals annually), partner-agency distribution, and program mix including nutrition education and SNAP outreach.
• Houston Food Bank: Largest food bank in Texas and one of the largest in the U.S., serving a multi-county region through similar partner-agency and direct distribution models. Most directly comparable to CTFB in scale, governance structure, and Feeding America affiliation within the same state.
• North Texas Food Bank: Feeding America-affiliated food bank serving the Dallas-Fort Worth region through partner agencies, mobile pantries, and direct programs. Closely comparable in operating model, federal program administration (TEFAP/CSFP), and partner-network structure to CTFB.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding Texas: Statewide association of Texas food banks that CTFB is a member of; provides unified advocacy, policy work, and capacity building across the Texas hunger-relief network. Comparable as an industry-coordinating incumbent rather than a direct competitor.
• Feeding America: National network of 200+ food banks including CTFB; operates MealConnect and provides shared infrastructure, food sourcing, and advocacy. Functions as the parent network/incumbent that sets standards and allocates national food donations to CTFB.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ctxfoodbank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/capitalareafoodbank
• Facebookfacebook.com/CentralTexasFoodBank
• Instagraminstagram.com/CTXfoodbank
• Pinterestpinterest.com/ctxfoodbank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Central Texas Food Bank