Feed The World Foundation

What Feed The World Foundation does

Feed The World Foundation (legal name: The Institute for Self Reliant Agriculture) is a Washington State 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 and headquartered in Enumclaw, WA. The organization implements the Small Scale Agriculture Model (SSAM), a five-module methodology — Nutrition & Hygiene, Sequential Gardens, Field Crops, Small Livestock, and Economic Independence — delivered through in-country demonstration farms and direct hands-on mentoring of smallholder farm families in Ecuador, Peru, Kenya, and Malawi. The program is grounded in decades of smallholder agriculture research inherited from the Benson Institute at Brigham Young University, with a Logic Model evaluation framework measuring outcomes against FAO-UN dietary thresholds and food security months.

The organization operates as a donor-funded humanitarian enterprise with diversified revenue streams including individual donations, corporate gifts, foundation grants, faith community contributions, and limited commercial activity (youth and adult expedition fees; a Thriving Gardening System consumer product; a clothing and houseware donation pass-through). Field delivery is supported by in-country staff (agronomists, nutritionists, animal husbandry specialists) and coordinated with university partners (National University of Ibarra, Technical University of the North) and government relationships (Government of Piura, Peru).

The organization rebranded from The Institute for Self Reliant Agriculture to Feed The World in June 2014 and, in September 2015, announced a merger with CHOICE Humanitarian, with operations to redirect to choicehumanitarian.org on October 12, 2015. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees and no revenue is publicly disclosed.

Name

Feed The World Foundation

Legal name

The Institute for Self Reliant Agriculture

Website

https://feedtheworld.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Feed The World Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that implements the Small Scale Agriculture Model (SSAM), a five-module sustainable agriculture program for smallholder farm families in Ecuador, Peru, Kenya, and Malawi, funded by individual donations, corporate gifts, expeditions, and limited product sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Sustainable Agriculture Programs

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture & Food Security Development (BPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA), Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance (BPADAEAG), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition (BPADAJAG)

Keywords

• Sustainable agriculture training
• Smallholder farming programs
• Humanitarian nutrition education
• Rural poverty alleviation
• Nonprofit food security

Headquarters

HQ city

Enumclaw

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual/Family Donations: Primary revenue source relying on individual donations at various levels including cash gifts, gifts of stock/securities, planned giving, and real estate donations.
2. Corporate Gifts and Foundation Grants: Corporate partnerships and foundation support including in-kind gifts and sponsorship of specific projects or programs.
3. Expedition Fees: Revenue from youth and adult expeditions to program countries including registration fees and program costs.
4. Product Sales: Merchandise sales including gardening supplies, drip irrigation systems, garden trellises, and raised garden containers through the online shop.
5. Clothing and Houseware Program: Donated goods are sold to retail partners with 100% of proceeds passing through to designated causes and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Feed The World Foundation operates the Small Scale Agriculture Model (SSAM), a five-module humanitarian program covering nutrition and hygiene, sequential bio-intensive gardens, field crops, small livestock, and economic independence. The program is delivered through hands-on mentoring at demonstration farms and directly in family fields in Ecuador, Peru, Kenya, and Malawi, targeting smallholder farm families living in extreme poverty and training them to achieve self-reliant nutrition and income.

Product overview

Feed The World is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a single core program — the Small Scale Agriculture Model (SSAM) — a five-module humanitarian framework delivered through field mentoring, demonstration farms, and community training in Ecuador, Peru, Kenya, and Malawi. The SSAM consists of five pillars: Nutrition and Hygiene, Sequential Gardens, Field Crops, Small Livestock, and Economic Independence. Additional program offerings include Youth Expeditions (service-learning trips for ages 13–18 to Peru and Ecuador), Adult Expeditions (hands-on agricultural travel to Peru), a consumer-facing Thriving Gardening System (sold via an external partner store to support the mission), and a Clothing and Houseware Buying and Donation Center (a fundraising pass-through program). There is no software platform, application, or digital product. The organization rebranded from its founding name, The Institute for Self Reliant Agriculture, in 2014, and subsequently merged with CHOICE Humanitarian in 2015.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Scale Agriculture Model (SSAM) Five-module humanitarian program (Nutrition and Hygiene, Sequential Gardens, Field Crops, Small Livestock, Economic Independence) that mentors poor smallholder farm families at demonstration farms and in their own fields to achieve sustainable self-reliant nutrition and income. Delivered at no cost to participating families.
• Youth Expeditions Service-learning travel program for youth aged 13-18 to Peru and Ecuador involving hands-on work in village communities, sustainable garden development, and cultural immersion alongside Feed The World staff and families.
• Adult Expeditions Experiential travel program for adults to Peru offering hands-on participation in sustainable agriculture projects in developing communities alongside local families and Feed The World staff.
• Thriving Gardening System Home gardening system (consumer hardware) sold through the online store to enable families to grow organic food in limited space; proceeds support Feed The World's international programs.
• Clothing and Houseware Buying and Donation Center Fundraising initiative accepting donated clothing and housewares, which are sold through a retail partner with 100% of proceeds passing through to Feed The World's global programs or designated causes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87.5% program retention rate across all countries
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.

• CHOICE HumanitariancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2015Feed The World SRA officially merged with CHOICE Humanitarian in September 2015. Both organizations share philosophy that participants must help themselves and that mentoring with proper tools works better than handouts. Combined efforts expanded program reach to Nepal, Bolivia, Mexico, and Guatemala while continuing in Kenya, Peru, and Ecuador. Model combines Feed The World's family agriculture approach with CHOICE's community building leadership model.
• GlobalGivingmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2014Feed The World became a permanent member of GlobalGiving after successful June 2014 fundraiser. Uses GlobalGiving's online fundraising platform, donor networks, and due diligence-reviewed project listing to raise funds and expand donor reach.
• Koins for KenyamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership to build demonstration farms at two elementary schools in Kenya, providing vegetables and eggs for school lunches while serving as training grounds for neighboring villages. Also collaborating on Peku Dam water project.
• Thriving Nations / Thrive LifemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Thriving Nations, the charitable arm of Thrive Life (food storage company), supports Feed The World's programs. Co-founders Jason and Lindsay Budge and Steven and Amy Palmer visited project sites in Kenya. Donated funds for Peku Dam project and expansion of water infrastructure.
• Benson Institute (Ezra Taft Benson Agriculture & Food Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Feed The World was established to continue the 'rural' efforts started by the Benson Institute at Brigham Young University. The Benson Institute had decades of research and experience with smallholder farm families which provided the foundation for Feed The World's existing programs.
• National University of IbarrasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership in Ecuador enabling university support through laboratories, student interns, and land for demonstration farms for research on agricultural methods.
• Technical University of the North (Ecuador)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership providing agricultural engineering graduates and technical expertise for program implementation.
• AquaCultures without FrontierssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Kenya water project providing expertise and support for Peku Dam development.
• Sew Much HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProviding 10 hand-crank sewing machines to villagers in Kenya as part of comprehensive community development.
• Government of Piura (Peru)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking relationship with government officials in Piura, Peru to expand reach to more families through collaborative projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Relief Services: Large international NGO with extensive agriculture, livelihoods, and nutrition programming across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Overlaps with FTW's agricultural-development mission but at vastly greater institutional scale.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian organization with significant agriculture and food security programming in fragile contexts. Comparable beneficiary focus and multi-country footprint.
• World Vision: One of the largest international humanitarian organizations, running agricultural development, food security, and nutrition programs across dozens of developing countries. Overlaps with FTW mission but operates at much greater scale and scope.
• CARE International: Major international humanitarian NGO running food security, nutrition, and smallholder agriculture programs globally. Comparable mission but with broader programmatic portfolio and institutional funding base.

Direct peers

• Heifer International: Global nonprofit focused on ending hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture and livestock gifts to smallholder families. Closely aligned with FTW's 'pay-it-forward' livestock and training model, though at vastly larger scale.
• TechnoServe: International development nonprofit that works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. Comparable smallholder-focused agriculture and economic empowerment programming in Latin America and Africa.
• Food for the Poor: Christian nonprofit providing food, agricultural support, and livelihood programs to families in Latin America and the Caribbean. Directly comparable smallholder agriculture and nutrition mission.
• CHOICE Humanitarian: Feed The World's 2015 merger partner and now parent operating entity. Both organizations share the philosophy that participants must help themselves, combining FTW's family agriculture model with CHOICE's community-building leadership model across 8+ countries.
• Self-Help International: Small nonprofit dedicated to alleviating hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship in Nicaragua, Ghana, and other developing countries. Similar model size and methodology to FTW.

Others

• Nourish the Children (Nu Skin): Nu Skin's charitable initiative (board member Brent Goddard is Managing Director) that has distributed 180M+ VitaMeal meals to malnourished children globally. Thematically adjacent to FTW's nutrition mission but operates via food product distribution rather than smallholder training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/_feedtheworld
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/InstituteSRA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FeedTheWorldSRA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-institute-for-self-reliant-agriculture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Feed The World Foundation