The Global Foodbanking Network

What The Global Foodbanking Network does

The Global Foodbanking Network (GFN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Chicago that serves as the coordinating body for a network of locally led food banks operating across more than 50 countries on six continents. GFN's core function is to advance and unite food banks through strategic grants, technical assistance, product sourcing support, training, and certification. Member food banks serve 40.5 million people with 2 billion meals annually, supported by 70,606 community service organizations. GFN has cumulatively disbursed $55.2 million in grants to food banks since its founding and trained 580+ food bankers through its annual conference.

GFN's programmatic offerings include the Food Bank Accelerator and New Food Bank Development programs (for scaling and starting food banks), the Agricultural Recovery Hub launched in 2025 in Nairobi (focused on farm-level surplus recovery), Knowledge Networks for peer collaboration, and the GFN Global Summit (the successor to the Food Bank Leadership Institute, rotating across host cities including Sydney in 2024 and Toronto in 2026). The organization develops and deploys several proprietary technology and research assets: the FRAME Methodology (co-developed with the Carbon Trust and built on Microsoft Sustainability Manager) for quantifying methane emissions prevented through food recovery; the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas (a partnership with Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic documenting food donation laws worldwide); and the FoodShare digital platform deployed at member food banks like FoodForward South Africa.

As a nonprofit, GFN is funded through philanthropic donations, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships. Major corporate partners include Starbucks, General Mills, Walmart, Corteva, Lineage, Mars, Delivery Hero, Ameriprise Financial, and Enterprise Mobility, alongside foundation funders such as the Rockefeller Foundation ($2.8M in 2023) and the Global Methane Hub. The organization holds a 4-Star Charity Navigator rating, Platinum Transparency Seal from GuideStar/Candid, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance accreditation.

Name

The Global Foodbanking Network

Legal name

The Global FoodBanking Network

Website

https://foodbanking.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Global Foodbanking Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that unites and advances a network of locally led food banks across 50+ countries, providing technical assistance, grants, training, and research to alleviate hunger and reduce food waste.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Banking Network Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance (BPADAEAG), Nutrition Governance, Policy & Coordination (SUN, National Plans) (BPADAJAL), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Food banking network
• Hunger relief services
• Food waste reduction
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Food security programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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. Philanthropic Donations and Grants: GFN operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations, grants, and charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund its operations and provide grants to member food banks.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Strategic partnerships with companies like Starbucks, General Mills, Walmart, and others who contribute funding, food products, and resources to support the global food banking network.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Global Foodbanking Network (GFN) operates as a global network coordinator that unites and advances locally led food banks across more than 50 countries. It provides member food banks with technical assistance, strategic grants, product sourcing support, training, certification, research, and convening opportunities to alleviate hunger and reduce food loss and waste.

Product overview

The Global Foodbanking Network is a nonprofit organization operating as a unified network that advances and unites food banks to nourish the world's hungry. The organization's core offering is the global food bank network itself, which operates across more than 50 countries. Supporting the network are several key programs: the Food Bank Accelerator Program (launched 2019) and New Food Bank Development Program (launched 2021) for supporting food bank growth; the Agricultural Recovery Hub (launched 2025) for recovering fresh produce from farms; Knowledge Networks for peer-to-peer collaboration; and the GFN Global Summit (evolved from the Food Bank Leadership Institute) for annual convening. The network also offers the GFN Certified Food Banking Organization certification program for food safety and governance standards. Research offerings include the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas (in partnership with Harvard Law School), the FRAME Methodology for measuring methane emissions, and Food Banks: The Building Blocks of Civil Society research. Campaigns include Food For Change and More Than Food. The organization also provides product sourcing specialists, technical assistance, and strategic grants to member food banks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Food Banking Network Membership Core network organization that unites and advances independent, locally led food banks across more than 50 countries to alleviate hunger and reduce food loss and waste through capacity building, grants, and shared best practices.
• Food Bank Accelerator Program Intensive capacity-building program for newly established and growing food banks that provides technical support, mentoring, and partnership opportunities to help them serve more people more efficiently.
• New Food Bank Development Program Program supporting visionary local leaders in establishing new food banks to improve food access in underserved communities, especially in emerging and developing markets.
• Agricultural Recovery Hub Virtual center that provides training, resources, and funding to help food banks recover fresh produce from farms and packhouses, with a focus on emerging and developing markets.
• Knowledge Networks Peer-to-peer collaboration networks facilitated by GFN experts, enabling food bank practitioners to share best practices on logistics, product sourcing, data management, and school feeding programs.
• GFN Global Summit Annual conference (evolved from the Food Bank Leadership Institute) that convenes food bank leaders, experts, and partners from around the world for training, knowledge sharing, and partnership building on food security and climate change.
• GFN Certified Food Banking Organization Certification program through which food banks undergo an audit process ensuring food safety, product traceability, good governance, financial accountability, and compliance with international standards and ethical standards.
• Global Food Donation Policy Atlas Research and policy tool developed with Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic that chronicles barriers to food donation worldwide and provides country-specific policy recommendations and legal guides for strengthening food recovery efforts.
• FRAME Methodology (Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions) Methodology developed with the Carbon Trust to quantify and track methane emissions prevented through food recovery by food banks in real time, built on Microsoft Sustainability Manager and funded by the Global Methane Hub.
• FoodShare Platform Digital platform that connects large food retailers directly with community agencies for efficient food distribution, enabling virtual food banking models.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40.5 million people served with 2 billion meals in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Delivery HeromajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2025Delivery Hero committed to facilitate the donation of 111 million meals in partnership with GFN, UN World Food Programme, and other charity partners on World Food Day 2025. Builds on company's 2024 achievement of aiding approximately 15 million meals donated with digital donation features enabling customers to contribute to food insecurity programs.
• UN World Food ProgrammemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2025Partner in Delivery Hero's commitment to facilitate 111 million meals. GFN collaborates with WFP on hunger relief initiatives.
• Champions 12.3 CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of executives from governments, businesses, international nonprofits, research institutions, farmer organizations, and civil society dedicated to accelerating progress toward SDG Target 12.3 to halve global per capita food waste by 2030.
• Food is Never Waste CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN coalition composed of national governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and research institutions creating a platform for global collaboration and research to reduce food loss and waste. GFN contributes food bank research and food donation best practices.
• WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization dedicated to creating a world in which resources are sourced and used sustainably. GFN and food banks work with WRAP to build multilateral voluntary agreements, starting with agreements in Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa.
• Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy ClinicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas that examines state of worldwide food donation laws and policies and provides country-specific recommendations. GFN and Harvard Law School provide technical assistance to food banks advocating for stronger donation policies.
• Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides third-party, temperature-controlled supply chain services for over 1,100 food industry companies in 85 countries. GCCA offers complimentary membership to food recovery organizations and partners with GFN to strengthen relationships between food storage companies and member food banks.
• School Meals CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative of governments, nonprofits, and partners collaborating to improve or restore national, sustainable school meal programs. Goal is for every child to have opportunity to receive a healthy, nutritious meal in school by 2030.
• World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of 180 wholesale and retail markets in 42+ countries leading efforts to ensure food security and healthy diets. WUWM works to encourage more donations of fresh produce to food banks.
• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner helping GFN meet needs of people facing food insecurity in North America. GFN partners with Feeding America alongside Food Banks Canada.
• European Food Banks Federation (FEBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal collaboration began in 2014 to address hunger through food banking in Europe. FEBA and GFN work together to address hunger through food banking in respective geographies.
• Food Banks CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner along with Feeding America to meet needs of people facing food insecurity. Food Banks Canada is hosting the GFN Global Summit 2026 in Toronto.
• Sin DesperdiciocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform of partners committed to eliminating food waste in Latin America and the Caribbean through innovation, improved public policies, and research. Members include corporations, research institutions, multilateral organizations, and NGOs.
• Carbon TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with GFN to develop the FRAME Methodology for quantifying methane emissions prevented through food recovery. First methodology for methane using Microsoft Sustainability Manager tool.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvided Microsoft Sustainability Manager tool for the FRAME Methodology. GFN and Microsoft collaborate to track various sustainability metrics including food recovered, energy consumption, and fuel usage.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/foodbanking
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiRqHEvJbRiGjG7bK7Z4Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/foodbanking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-global-foodbanking-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/globalfoodbanking

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Global Foodbanking Network