Open Arms of Minnesota
Open Arms of Minnesota is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals at no cost to critically ill individuals and their caregivers across the Twin Cities, serving approximately 3,687 clients with 914,669 meals annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Open Arms of Minnesota does
Open Arms of Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 in Minneapolis that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals at no cost to critically ill individuals and their families across the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The organization operates two production facilities — a 21,000-square-foot Minneapolis Kitchen & Campus (opened 2010) and a St. Paul Kitchen & Campus (opened January 3, 2023) — alongside five urban farm sites (Open Farms) that produce organic vegetables and herbs for client meals. The core Medically Tailored Meals Program serves clients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, cancer, MS, ALS, ESRD, COPD, and CHF; menus are designed by registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, and the organization holds Food Is Medicine Coalition (FIMC) Accreditation earned in 2024. Supporting programs include the Culturally Familiar Meals Program (Hmong and East African menus), Nutrition Services, a Waiver Program for Medicaid waiver recipients, a Private Pay Program, Summer Meals, a Metro Meals on Wheels partnership, and an Open Farms CSA.
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure: approximately 3,278 individual donors and the Bread and Butter Club recurring membership generate charitable contributions; the Moveable Feast gala (~$500K annually, $6M+ lifetime over 22 years), Plate It Forward dinners ($125/person), Table For Ten private dining ($2,500/group), the Great Minnesota Bake Sale, catering, and merchandise drive earned revenue; foundation and corporate grants provide institutional support; and fee-for-service contracts with healthcare partners including UCare, Hennepin Healthcare, DaVita, Children's Minnesota, and a Medicare Advantage Plan deliver contract meal revenue. Distribution runs through volunteer home delivery across the Twin Cities, client pickup at both kitchens, satellite pickup at partner sites (Park Nicollet, North Memorial, Gilda's Club, etc.), and UPS shipping for eligible HIV+ clients outside the metro.
In FY24-25 Open Arms produced 914,669 meals, served 3,687 clients/caregivers/dependents, and mobilized 6,392 volunteers contributing 74,589 hours (~35.5 FTE-equivalent). The go-to-market motion is dual: direct community referrals via in-services at clinics and community organizations, plus channel partnerships with regional health plans and specialty providers. The technology stack is operationally focused — VolunteerHub for shift scheduling, qgiv for donations, and Double the Donation for employer matching — with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Leadership is led by CEO Leah Hébert Welles (since 2013), with recent C-suite additions including Chief Relationships Officer Heather Guerin (February 2026) and a full team of CXOs and Directors across programs, finance, operations, HR, development, and communications. The organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026.
Open Arms of Minnesota firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open Arms of Minnesota
- Legal name
- Open Arms of Minnesota
- Website
- https://openarmsmn.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Open Arms of Minnesota is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals at no cost to critically ill individuals and their caregivers across the Twin Cities, serving approximately 3,687 clients with 914,669 meals annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Open Arms of Minnesota industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Medically Tailored Meal Services
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (62421), Special Food Services (7223)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets) (EDAEAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Meal Preparation & Nutrition Support (Non-Medical) (HSABAAAC), Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)
Keywords
Where Open Arms of Minnesota is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Open Arms of Minnesota business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual donors contribute through one-time and recurring donations at various levels. The Bread and Butter Club is a membership program for recurring donors.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from institutional partners including foundation grants and corporate partnerships for program support.
- Catering and Event Revenue: Catering services for events and rentals of facility space generate revenue while supporting the mission.
- Contract Meal Services: Fee-for-service contracts with healthcare partners, insurers, and organizations to provide medically tailored meals to their clients/patients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Client meals provided at no cost to qualifying individuals |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual donor giving levels |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Table For Ten private dining experience |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Plate It Forward pop-up dinner events |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Open Arms of Minnesota product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Open Arms of Minnesota prepares and delivers medically tailored meals at no cost to critically ill individuals and their families living in the Twin Cities metro area. Registered dietitians and in-house chefs design menus customized to specific medical conditions (HIV/AIDS, cancer, MS, ALS, ESRD, CHF, COPD), with fresh organic produce sourced from its own urban farm network. The organization supplements free client meals with fee-for-service contract meals for healthcare partners, catering, and donor-supported fundraising events.
Product overview
Open Arms of Minnesota is a nonprofit meal delivery organization offering a portfolio of programs centered on medically tailored meals for critically ill individuals. The core offering is the Medically Tailored Meals Program, which includes three service tiers: the Core Program (for HIV/AIDS and other qualifying illnesses), the Waiver Program (for county waiver recipients), and the Private Pay Program. Supporting programs include the Culturally Familiar Meals Program (Hmong and East African menus), the Nutrition Services Program with registered dietitians, the Open Farms urban agriculture program operating five farm sites, the Summer Meals Program for youth, and the Metro Meals On Wheels partnership. The organization also operates catering services, an online merchandise shop, and runs signature fundraising events including Moveable Feast (annual gala), Plate It Forward dinners, Table For Ten experiences, and the Great Minnesota Bake Sale campaign. In 2026, the organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary with special events and the '40 North Stars' recognition campaign. All meal services are 100% free of charge to clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Open Farms: Urban garden program launched in 2011 that produces organic vegetables and herbs used in client meals, CSA program, and special events. Operates multiple farm sites in the Twin Cities including Abundance Farm, Hope Farm, Afton Farm, Compassion Farm, and Joy Farm.
- Moveable Feast
Products and services
- Medically Tailored Meals Program (Core Program) Flagship program delivering free medically tailored meals weekly to clients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, cancer, MS, ALS, ESRD, CHF, or COPD who meet additional eligibility factors. Meals are delivered via volunteer drivers, available for client pickup at two kitchen campuses, or shipped via UPS.
- Waiver Program Provides 7 medically tailored meals per week to individuals without a Core Program diagnosis but who hold qualifying Minnesota county waivers, billed to the waiver program.
- Private Pay Program Allows any individual to purchase medically tailored meals directly, with no eligibility or diagnosis requirements beyond willingness to pay. Offers multiple meal quantity options with pickup or delivery.
- Culturally Familiar Meals Program Provides medically tailored menus adapted to Hmong and East African cultural food traditions, ensuring clients receive familiar, culturally appropriate nutrition throughout their illness.
- Nutrition Services Program Registered dietitians and dietetic technicians deliver free, individualized nutrition education, counseling, and menu modification support directly to Open Arms clients.
- Open Farms Program Operates five urban farm sites (Abundance Farm, Hope Farm, Afton Farm, Compassion Farm, Joy Farm) producing organic vegetables and herbs using permaculture methods for use in client meals.
- Open Farms Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Allows supporters to purchase shares of fresh seasonal produce grown at Open Farms locations, with revenue supporting the nonprofit mission.
- Summer Meals Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 81.2% of clients at risk of malnutrition decreased their risk while receiving meals
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Open Arms of Minnesota
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Open Arms of Minnesota technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature2 records
Open Arms of Minnesota partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators16 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Open Arms of Minnesota competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MANNA: Philadelphia-based nonprofit delivering medically tailored meals to individuals across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware battling serious illnesses. FIMC-accredited and a leading publisher of MTM health-outcomes research that competes for the same payer-funded pilots.
- Project Open Hand: Oakland/SF Bay Area nonprofit providing medically tailored meals and groceries to seniors and people with critical illnesses. FIMC-accredited and one of the most operationally similar peers to Open Arms across mission, scope, and volunteer-driven model.
- Ceres Community Project: Sonoma County-based nonprofit delivering medically tailored meals to critically ill clients, often integrating youth volunteers in meal preparation. FIMC-accredited and a similar small-scale, community-embedded MTM operator.
- God's Love We Deliver: New York City-based nonprofit founded in 1985 that prepares and home-delivers medically tailored meals to people living with serious illness. Co-founder and FIMC-accredited MTM provider with a comparable operating model and client population.
- Project Angel Food: Los Angeles nonprofit founded in 1989 delivering medically tailored meals to critically ill clients. FIMC-accredited, similar volunteer-supported delivery model, and identical target population (HIV/AIDS, cancer, other critical illness).
- Moveable Feast Baltimore: Baltimore-based nonprofit preparing and delivering medically tailored meals to individuals with critical and chronic illnesses across Maryland's Eastern Shore and beyond. FIMC member with an analogous client population and home-delivery model.
- FoodChain: Lexington, Kentucky nonprofit operating a commercial-grade shared kitchen that prepares medically tailored meals for food-insecure clients. FIMC member working in a similar civic food space with comparable scale and funding model.
Regional players
- Second Harvest Heartland: Minnesota's largest food bank, distributing surplus food to a network of partners across the state. Geographic peer and Board member Mary Beth Iverson has prior ties; CEO Leah Hébert Welles serves on its Make Hunger History Advisory Council, signaling overlapping mission.
Broad incumbents
- Meals on Wheels America: National membership organization supporting community-based senior nutrition programs across 5,000+ local providers. Open Arms is a member and operates a Metro Meals on Wheels partnership; Meals on Wheels is a broader incumbent in home-delivered meal services.
- Sodexo Healthcare (Patient Nutrition): Global commercial provider of hospital, senior living, and clinical nutrition services with MTM and therapeutic diet offerings. Represents the scaled commercial competitor chasing the same healthcare payer contracts Open Arms is pursuing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Open Arms of Minnesota social profiles
Digital presenceOpen Arms of Minnesota compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Open Arms of Minnesota financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open Arms of Minnesota leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Open Arms of Minnesota funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Open Arms of Minnesota M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Open Arms of Minnesota
What does Open Arms of Minnesota do?
Open Arms of Minnesota prepares and delivers medically tailored meals at no cost to critically ill individuals and their families living in the Twin Cities metro area. Registered dietitians and in-house chefs design menus customized to specific medical conditions (HIV/AIDS, cancer, MS, ALS, ESRD, CHF, COPD), with fresh organic produce sourced from its own urban farm network. The organization supplements free client meals with fee-for-service contract meals for healthcare partners, catering, and donor-supported fundraising events.
Is Open Arms of Minnesota a public or private company?
Open Arms of Minnesota is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Open Arms of Minnesota founded?
Open Arms of Minnesota was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Open Arms of Minnesota based?
Open Arms of Minnesota is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Open Arms of Minnesota make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations and Charitable Giving is the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants, catering and Event Revenue and contract Meal Services.
Who are Open Arms of Minnesota's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MANNA, Project Open Hand, Ceres Community Project, God's Love We Deliver, Project Angel Food, Moveable Feast Baltimore and FoodChain. Second Harvest Heartland is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Meals on Wheels America and Sodexo Healthcare (Patient Nutrition).
Does Open Arms of Minnesota have an API?
No public API is recorded for Open Arms of Minnesota.
What industry is Open Arms of Minnesota in?
Open Arms of Minnesota's product category is Medically Tailored Meal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAEAD, Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets), with a secondary code of HSABAAAC, Meal Preparation & Nutrition Support (Non-Medical). Its NAICS code is 62421 and its SIC code is 2000.