Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties

What Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties does

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger-relief organization founded in 1972 — the first food bank in California and the second oldest in the United States — operating from a 38,000-square-foot headquarters and warehouse at 800 Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville, California. The organization sources more than 10.5 million pounds of food annually from farms, grocery stores, food manufacturers, distributors, and individuals (with a stated goal of 50% fresh produce), and distributes it through a network of more than 100 partner agencies (food pantries, schools, soup kitchens, group homes, youth centers) and 100+ direct distribution sites, reaching approximately 70,000 people each month across Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. Its service portfolio spans traditional food distribution, the Healthy Food Box medically supportive food program (in partnership with Central California Alliance for Health for Medi-Cal members with chronic conditions), CalFresh/SNAP application assistance, gleaning programs (Farm to Food Bank and Backyard Bounty), diaper distribution, infant formula distribution via the L.I.F.E. endowment, nutrition education through a Cooking Club, and signature fundraising events (Chefs' Dinner, Sip for Second Harvest, Holiday Food & Fund Drive).

The revenue model is donation-driven across five primary streams: individual monetary donations (marketed at 3 meals per $1 donated), corporate and foundation grants, in-kind food donations from agricultural and retail partners, event revenue, and ancillary facility rental income from the Driscoll's Meeting Room ($400 for 4 hours, $700 for a full day). Corporate sponsorship tiers (e.g., Golden Apple at $30,000) and faith-based mega-gifts (e.g., Twin Lakes Church $512,725 holiday drive contribution) supplement individual giving. The underlying technology stack is conventional nonprofit SaaS — Classy.org for donation processing, VolunteerHub for 2,000+ volunteer scheduling, Double the Donation for employer matching, FreeWill for planned giving, and Agency Express 3 for partner ordering — with last-mile delivery partnerships with DoorDash and Amazon extending reach to homebound residents. No proprietary platform or AI/ML systems are described. The organization is led by CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez (since April 2022) and operates as an independent nonprofit affiliated with Feeding America, governed by a Board of Trustees, with no parent company or outside ownership.

Name

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties

Legal name

Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County

Website

https://thefoodbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger-relief organization sourcing 10.5+ million pounds of food annually and reaching 70,000 people monthly across Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties through 100+ partner agencies and direct distribution sites, complemented by CalFresh outreach and the Healthy Food Box medical food program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hunger Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH)

Keywords

• Hunger relief services
• Food bank distribution
• CalFresh outreach
• Food assistance programs
• Community nutrition support

Headquarters

HQ city

Watsonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct monetary donations from individuals. Every $1 provides 3 healthy meals through the organization's extensive buying power and farm/retail partnerships.
2. Corporate & Foundation Grants: Sponsorship partnerships (Golden Apple Sponsorship at $30,000), foundation grants (PG&E Foundation $250,000 to CA food banks, $16,500 grant to Second Harvest), and corporate matching programs.
3. Food Donations: Receives food donations from farms, grocery stores, food manufacturers, distributors, and individuals. Sources over 10.5 million pounds annually. Agricultural donors may receive tax benefits.
4. Meeting Room Rental: Driscoll's Meeting Room available for rent at Second Harvest facility. Rates begin at $400 for 4 hours, $700 for full day. Includes kitchen facilities and AV equipment.
5. Event Revenue: Revenue from signature events including Chefs' Dinner, Holiday Food & Fund Drive, and Sip for Second Harvest. 90% of Chefs' Dinner proceeds go directly to Food for Children Initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Second Harvest Food Bank sources over 10.5 million pounds of food annually from farms, grocery stores, manufacturers, distributors, and individuals, then distributes it through 100+ partner agencies and 100+ direct program sites across Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. Core services include the Food Distribution Network, CalFresh (SNAP) application assistance, the Healthy Food Box program for Medi-Cal members with chronic conditions, a Diaper Program, a Gleaning Program, and nutrition education.

Product overview

Second Harvest Food Bank operates as a comprehensive hunger-relief organization providing multiple interconnected programs and services. The core offering is food distribution through a network of over 100 partner agencies serving approximately 70,000 people monthly, supplemented by direct programs including CalFresh enrollment assistance, the Healthy Food Box medical food program, and a diaper distribution initiative. Additional services include gleaning programs (Farm to Food Bank, Backyard Bounty), nutrition education through Cooking Club, the annual Holiday Food & Fund Drive, and event-based fundraising (Chefs' Dinner, Sip for Second Harvest). The organization also offers a Participant Advisory Committee for community voice, meeting room rentals, and extensive volunteer opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Distribution Network

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 meals provided per $1 donated
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Harvest is a Partner Food Bank of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. This affiliation provides access to national food bank network, shared resources, advocacy coordination, and Feeding America brand association.
• Safeway Nourishing Neighbors ProgrammajorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational Nourishing Neighbors program partners with Second Harvest for Nourish the American Dream initiative (July 2026), addressing childhood hunger during summer months when school meals are unavailable.
• Kaiser PermanentemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSanta Cruz Warriors Swishes for Dishes initiative. Kaiser partners with Santa Cruz Warriors and The Athletes' Corner to donate meals based on player performances. Donated 84,365 meals for 2025-26 season.
• Santa Cruz WarriorsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership on food insecurity initiative for 2025-26 season. Swishes for Dishes program donates meals based on player/shares performances during games.
• California Giant Berry FarmscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNamed Food Donor of the Year. 19th Annual Skirt Steak BBQ fundraiser raised nearly $50,000 for local nonprofits. Major agricultural donor supporting food bank mission.
• Central California Alliance for HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedi-Cal managed care plan. Healthy Food Box program serves their members with chronic conditions. Data sharing agreement enables program delivery. Partnership bridges healthcare and food assistance.
• Twin Lakes ChurchmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday Food & Fund Drive supporter. Record donation of $512,725 from congregation for food drive.
• Community Food Bank of San Benito CountyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for diaper distribution. Distributes diapers to residents in need in San Benito County.
• Salud Para La GentemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partnership. Nourish Hospital Food Pantry provides fresh food to patients in need. Partnership extends care beyond clinic into daily lives of families.
• Pajaro Valley School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Engagement and Wellness Center Co-op partnership for infant formula distribution. Lee-Lipton Infant Formula Endowment (L.I.F.E.) serves 4,600 infants monthly through 29 partner agencies.
• Golden State WarriorsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerChris Murphy, SVP Franchise Development and President of Santa Cruz Warriors, co-chairs Holiday Food & Fund Drive. Franchise partnership amplifies food bank visibility.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Food Bank for Monterey County: Neighbor county food bank also serving California's central coast agricultural region. Similar partner agency model, fresh produce sourcing from local farms, and comparable scale of food distribution for an adjacent rural/semi-rural county.
• San Francisco-Marin Food Banks: Feeding America Partner Food Bank serving the Bay Area with a comparable pantries, partner agencies, and CalFresh outreach model. Operates a larger urban footprint but mirrors the food distribution logistics and healthcare partnerships that define Second Harvest.
• Alameda County Community Food Bank: Major Feeding America partner food bank in Northern California with a similarly large partner agency network and direct distribution model, plus longstanding CalFresh and nutrition education programming. Comparable operating playbook with greater urban scale.
• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley: Feeding America Partner Food Bank serving Santa Clara and San Mateo counties - the same broader Bay Area region - with very high distribution volumes, an extensive partner agency network, and the same philanthropic/event-driven model. Closest peer in operating model and donor base.
• Redwood Empire Food Bank: Northern California Feeding America partner food bank serving Sonoma, Napa, Lake, and Mendocino counties. Comparable partner agency and direct distribution mix, agriculture-rich service territory, and similar scale of annual food distribution.
• Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services: Regional Feeding America partner food bank operating a partner agency + direct distribution model with the same CalFresh outreach emphasis and volunteer-driven operations as Second Harvest, but at roughly comparable annual distribution scale.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: One of the largest Feeding America food banks in the U.S., operating a comparably structured partner agency and direct distribution model across LA County. Functions as a broader-incumbent reference point on scale, events, and corporate fundraising for smaller California food banks.

Others

• Feeding America: National parent network of which Second Harvest is a Partner Food Bank; not a direct competitor but enables sourcing, branding, logistics technology access, and grant flows that materially shape Second Harvest's operating economics.
• California Association of Food Banks: State-level trade association representing California food banks including Second Harvest, providing coordinated CalFresh advocacy, federal funding navigation, and shared services that materially support Second Harvest's policy and funding position.

Regional players

• San Diego Food Bank: California Feeding America partner food bank with a comparably structured pantries, partner agencies, and CalFresh outreach model in a different regional market, useful as a benchmark on cost-per-meal and event fundraising performance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgZY9A_q5BgGReZb3Bbyc9A
• Facebookfacebook.com/secondharvestsantacruz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/second-harvest-food-bank-santa-cruz-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/secondharvestsantacruz
• Xx.com/shfbsantacruz

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties