Des Moines Area Religious Council

What Des Moines Area Religious Council does

Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC, dba DMARC United) is a 501(c)(3) interfaith nonprofit chartered in 1952 in Des Moines, Iowa, that operates the largest food pantry network in Iowa through a hybrid model bridging traditional food banks and individual pantries. The organization guarantees every partner pantry a core supply of food staples at no charge by running warehouse-based bulk purchasing that converts each donated dollar into 2-6x more food than retail purchasing. Distribution spans 14 partner pantry sites across the Des Moines metro (Des Moines, Ankeny, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines), the on-site DMARC-Ket Southside Food Pantry at 100 Army Post Road, a Mobile Food Pantry serving DART Central Station and congregate living sites, a no-cost home delivery program originated during COVID-19, and the Red Barrel grocery collection program at 25+ grocery store locations.

The core technology is a centralized intake database that tracks visits across the partner network, supports de-duplication, and feeds longitudinal policy advocacy on SNAP, SUN Bucks, and Iowa hunger data — though the surrounding tech stack is conventional nonprofit SaaS (Volgistics, Blackbaud, Canva, Iowa 211 referral). In 2025 the organization served 77,000+ unique individuals (an all-time record and roughly 1 in 4 Des Moines residents), distributed 5+ million pounds of food, and the food pantry network has now delivered 5.5 million services since launching in May 1976. The supported population skews toward children (1 in 3 of those assisted) and working-age or disabled adults (4 in 5 combined).

DMARC's revenue model is donation-driven: recurring monthly giving through the Apple a Day Giving Club, corporate sponsorships anchored by Hy-Vee as Spring Greens presenting sponsor, faith community cash and in-kind contributions from 100+ congregations, vehicle donations processed through CARS, government and foundation grants (United Way of Central Iowa, Polk County Board of Supervisors each at $75k+ in FY25), and minor facility rental income from a 102-seat community room and 51-seat training room. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: Spring Greens is the signature fundraiser, supplemented by the Iowa Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp (in partnership with Drake University's Comparison Project), food drives, volunteer orientations, and Red Barrel/Pantry Partner newsletters. Recent product and program launches include the Healthy Kids Iowa summer feeding pilot with Iowa HHS (2025), the Goodwill x DMARC summer hunger Red Barrel partnership (June 2026), and a 2026 leadership expansion adding a VP of Philanthropy role alongside a Major Gifts & Planned Giving Officer and Director of Strategic Communications.

Name

Des Moines Area Religious Council

Legal name

Des Moines Area Religious Council

Website

https://dmarcunited.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) operates Iowa's largest food pantry network, serving 77,000+ individuals annually through 14 partner pantries, a mobile unit, home delivery, and warehouse-based bulk purchasing supported by 100+ faith communities and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Cash donations from individuals supporting the food pantry network operations. The 'Apple a Day Giving Club' offers monthly recurring donation options.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate partners including Hy-Vee as Spring Greens presenting sponsor and other businesses contributing at various sponsorship levels.
3. Vehicle Donations: Vehicle donation program through partnership with CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) providing vehicle pick-up and processing.
4. Faith Community Contributions: Over 100 faith communities support DMARC with cash donations, food donations, and volunteer service.
5. Room Rentals: Rental of community rooms at 100 Army Post Road location. Nonprofit community partners receive waived fees for meetings under 4 hours; other organizations pay $75 for 0-4 hour rentals or $150 for 4+ hour rentals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DMARC operates a Food Pantry Network serving as a hybrid between a food bank and a traditional food pantry, guaranteeing partner pantries a core supply of food staples at no charge. The network includes 13+ partner food pantry sites across the Des Moines metro, the DMARC-Ket Southside Food Pantry at headquarters, a Mobile Food Pantry, and a no-cost Home Delivery Program for those unable to visit pantries in person.

Product overview

DMARC (Des Moines Area Religious Council) operates a comprehensive Food Pantry Network, neither entirely a food bank nor a traditional food pantry, but a hybrid model that bridges both. The core offering consists of 13 partner food pantry sites plus three direct-service locations (DMARC-Ket Southside Food Pantry, Mobile Food Pantry, and Food Delivery Program). The network guarantees every partner pantry a core supply of food staples free of charge, with centralized intake database and advocacy programs. Supporting programs include Room Rentals, Red Barrel Program, Iowa Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp, Storytellers Roundtable, LADOS grief support, Healthy Kids Iowa, SNAP Advocacy, LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Food Rescue, Spring Greens fundraiser, and Apple a Day monthly giving club. The organization celebrated 50 years of the Food Pantry Network in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DMARC-Ket Southside Food Pantry: The on-site food pantry located at 100 Army Post Road in Des Moines.
• Food Pantry Network
• Red Barrel Program
• LADOS (Life After Death of a Spouse)
• Apple a Day Giving Club

Products and services

• DMARC Food Pantry Network Flagship hybrid food pantry network of 13 partner sites (Des Moines, Ankeny, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines) providing food staples to partner pantries free of charge with a centralized intake database.
• DMARC-Ket Southside Food Pantry On-site food pantry at DMARC headquarters offering no-barrier, dignified shopping where guests select their own food items; open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm.
• Mobile Food Pantry On-the-go food pantry vehicle visiting sites that fixed locations cannot reach, including DART Central Station Downtown and Senior Care Facilities; serves those with transportation barriers via window service.
• Food Delivery Program No-cost home delivery service delivering pre-prepared food boxes to households unable to visit pantries in person, delivered on Thursdays.
• Red Barrel Program Food donation collection program with 25+ red barrels placed at grocery stores (Hy-Vee, Price Chopper, Fareway); collects over 100,000 food items annually.
• Healthy Kids Iowa Summer food assistance pilot providing expanded access (fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, proteins) at DMARC locations for households with children aged 4-18 at 185% or below Federal Poverty Level.
• Iowa Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp Five-day overnight camp in partnership with The Comparison Project at Drake University for youth ages 13-24 to explore various faith traditions through site visits, worship services, meals, and digital storytelling.
• Storytellers Roundtable Discussion series inviting community members affected by food insecurity to share experiences and learn to advocate effectively; empowers pantry visitors to challenge stigma around poverty.
• Life After Death of a Spouse (LADOS) Monthly peer support group for widowed men and women of all ages, meeting at Grace United Methodist Church, helping process grief and navigate life changes after spousal loss.
• SNAP Advocacy Policy and advocacy program addressing SNAP including legislative advocacy, SNAP map tracking, waiver implementation monitoring, and coalition building with Iowa Hunger Coalition and Iowa Food System Coalition.
• Room Rentals Community room (up to 102 people) and training room (up to 51 people) rentals at 100 Army Post Road with 65-inch TVs, WiFi, and PA system; fees waived for nonprofit community partners for meetings under 4 hours.
• Food Rescue Program Partnership with retailers, manufacturers, farmers, and distributors to rescue food from landfills; DMARC warehouse accepts large retail donations by truckload including bakery, produce, dairy, frozen, and shelf-stable items.
• LGBTQ+ Inclusion Program Initiative ensuring welcoming space for LGBTQ+ community at DMARC pantries; includes pledge with One Iowa, staff training, and non-discrimination policies.
• Interfaith Engagement Multi-faith collaboration uniting religious and non-religious communities to meet basic needs; includes interfaith leadership, relationship building across faith traditions, and advocacy coalitions with 100+ faith communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77,300+ unique individuals assisted in 2025, up from previous records
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Goodwill of Central IowacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Partnership to fight summer hunger through food donation collection at nine Goodwill locations. Special 'Red Barrel' collection sites hosted at Goodwill donation doors to collect nonperishable food items supporting DMARC Food Pantry Network.
• Hy-VeecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor of the Spring Greens annual fundraising event. Supports DMARC's food assistance operations through sponsorship and corporate giving.
• Wixted and Co.supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsored the Spring Greens event and produced a special 50th anniversary celebration video documentary showcasing DMARC's work.
• United Way of Central IowacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate supporter contributing $75k+ in FY25. Long-standing community partner supporting DMARC's mission.
• Polk County Board of SupervisorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate/supporter contributing $75k+ in FY25. Partners with DMARC on community food assistance initiatives.
• Prairie MeadowssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter at the Meet the Need sponsor level for Spring Greens 2026.
• Variety IowasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter at the Meet the Need sponsor level for Spring Greens 2026.
• Food Bank of IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in the Iowa food assistance ecosystem. Collaborates with DMARC on addressing food insecurity across the state.
• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner processing vehicle donations for DMARC. Makes vehicle donation process easy with free pick-up and handles paperwork.
• The Comparison Project at Drake UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for the Iowa Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp. Students stay on Drake campus during the five-day experience exploring various faith traditions.
• Iowa Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for the Healthy Kids Iowa pilot program providing expanded food access at DMARC locations during summer months.
• Iowa Hunger CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition working to end hunger in Iowa. DMARC participates in advocacy efforts and coalition building.
• Iowa Food System CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on Iowa's food system. DMARC participates in advocacy and collaborative efforts.
• IA SNAP AdvocatessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition advocating for SNAP program improvements and monitoring SNAP restriction waiver implementation in Iowa.
• Mid Iowa Health FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth foundation that selected DMARC staff member Luke Elzinga as a HealthConnect Fellow, supporting advocacy capacity building.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Harvesters Community Food Network: Kansas City's regional food bank operating a partner-agency distribution model across 27 counties. Same operating model of procuring in bulk and distributing free groceries to a network of partner pantries; serves a comparable mid-size metro footprint.
• Capital Area Food Bank: Washington DC-metro regional food bank with similarly structured partner pantry distribution, mobile market, and direct-service programs. Comparable in operating multiple distribution channels and addressing suburban and urban food insecurity.
• Second Harvest Heartland: Minnesota's largest hunger-relief organization distributing via a partner network across 59 counties. Comparable to DMARC in operating scale (~80M+ lbs annually), food rescue operations, and policy advocacy emphasis.
• Midwest Food Bank: Multi-state nonprofit food distribution network with warehouse-based bulk purchasing and partner-agency model. Comparable in volunteer-driven operations, faith-affiliated roots, and cost-efficient scale leverage.
• Gleaners Community Food Bank: Southeast Michigan's regional food bank serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and surrounding counties via a network of partner pantries. Closely matched on operating model: centralized intake, partner agency distribution, and mobile pantry programs.
• Food Bank for the Heartland: Regional food bank serving Nebraska and western Iowa, distributing millions of pounds of food annually through a partner agency network. Closely comparable to DMARC in mission, partner-network model, and wholesale food distribution approach.
• Food Bank of Iowa: Iowa's statewide food bank and a named strategic partner of DMARC. Operates a comparable regional food sourcing, distribution, and anti-hunger advocacy mission in the same geography, making it the most direct functional peer.

Broad incumbents

• Meals on Wheels America: National umbrella organization supporting the network of local Meals on Wheels programs that deliver food to homebound seniors. Shares DMARC's "food delivery for those who cannot access a pantry" capability and similar elderly + disabled target population.
• Feeding America: National umbrella organization coordinating 200+ member food banks including Food Bank of Iowa. DMARC is not formally listed as a Feeding America affiliate, but Feeding America is the principal network participant operating in the same hunger-relief category at national scale.

Emerging players

• Moveable Feast: Maryland-based nonprofit providing home-delivered medically-tailored meals to individuals living with serious illness. Directly comparable to DMARC's home delivery program as a mission-aligned organization serving homebound clients with prepared food boxes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dmarcunited
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCe2loUVRKgwr0OCCq_LQ7Lg
• Facebookfacebook.com/DesMoinesARC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/des-moines-area-religious-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/dmarcunited

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Des Moines Area Religious Council