United Food Bank

What United Food Bank does

United Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in July 1983 (originally as United Food Distribution Center, Inc.) and headquartered in Mesa, Arizona. It collects, warehouses, and distributes food across a 19,608-square-mile service area covering Arizona's East Valley and Eastern Arizona — including Maricopa, Gila, Pinal, and parts of Apache and Navajo counties — through a network of 125+ partner agencies (food pantries, mobile markets, meal sites, shelters), direct distributions at venues such as the Mesa Convention Center, a semi-truck-based mobile distribution program serving rural and tribal communities, and a Neighbor's Pantry choice-based model. In 2025 it distributed 29.2 million pounds of food, diverted 15.09 million pounds from landfills via its Grocery Rescue program, and recorded 130,000+ monthly visits from neighbors in need.

Its product and program portfolio is segmented by beneficiary type: Senior (Commodity Senior Food Program), Children/Students (Kids Pack, Kids Snack, School Markets), and general community (Neighbor's Pantry, Mobile Distributions, Holiday Food Distributions). Underlying technology is operational rather than AI-driven: Link2Feed, a statewide reporting and data-tracking network mandated by the Arizona Department of Economic Security, is used to record TEFAP and CSFP distributions within 24 hours of each event.

United Food Bank's revenue model is donations- and grants-driven. Cash and in-kind revenue streams include individual donations (one-time, monthly "Join the Table," stock, legacy/planned giving), corporate sponsorships (event, fleet, cause marketing, matching gifts), federal food programs (TEFAP and CSFP — USDA-purchased commodities), and Grocery Rescue in-kind donations from grocery retailers (over 50% of food received). The organization does not charge recipients; rather, donations are converted to meals at a stated rate of three meals per dollar. It is a member of the Feeding America national network and the Arizona Foodbank Network, holds a four-star Charity Navigator rating, and is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Christina Dicksen (Experience Scottsdale) with Jason Reed as President and CEO since February 2023.

Name

United Food Bank

Legal name

United Food Bank

Website

https://unitedfoodbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food bank in Mesa, Arizona distributing 29.2 million pounds of food annually across 19,608 square miles through 125+ partner agencies and mobile distributions, serving 130,000+ neighbors monthly facing food insecurity in the East Valley and Eastern Arizona.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank / Hunger Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Hunger relief
• Food distribution
• Community food assistance
• Nonprofit food programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monetary donations from individuals, including one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations through the 'Join the Table' program, stock donations, and legacy/planned giving. Every $1 donated enables distribution of three meals.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual sponsorships, event sponsorships, fleet sponsorships (branding on trucks), cause marketing partnerships, and matching gift programs with employers.
3. Federal Food Programs: TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) and CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) provide USDA-purchased foods that supplement distributions to low-income Americans and seniors.
4. Grocery Rescue: Receives surplus food from participating grocery retailers including perishable and non-perishable items that would otherwise go to waste, accounting for over 50% of food received.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

United Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that collects, warehouses, and distributes food to individuals and families facing food insecurity across East Valley and Eastern Arizona. It operates a network of 125+ partner agencies, mobile distribution sites, and direct distribution programs, and administers federal nutrition programs including TEFAP and CSFP.

Product overview

United Food Bank is a nonprofit food bank offering a comprehensive portfolio of food assistance programs and services. The core offering centers on food distribution through a network of 125+ partner agencies, direct distributions including mobile food trucks serving rural communities, and specialized programs targeting children, seniors, and families. Key programs include the Summer of a Million Meals campaign, Grocery Rescue (diverting food from landfills), Commodity Senior Food Program, Kids Pack/Snack programs for students, School Markets, Neighbor's Pantry choice-based distributions, and Holiday Food Distributions. Additional services include volunteer programs, food drive hosting, corporate sponsorships, and a charitable tax credit donation program. The organization partners with Feeding America and serves a 19,608 square mile service area across Arizona.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Food Distribution
• Partner Agency Network Distribution
• Neighbor's Pantry
• Grocery Rescue
• TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program)
• CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• 29.2 million pounds of food distributed in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Food Bank is a member of the Feeding America national network of food banks, providing access to resources, best practices, and national awareness campaigns.
• Kroger/Fry's Food StorescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFry's grocery stores host in-register donations for Summer of a Million Meals campaign. The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation provides financial assistance for the campaign. Part of 9th annual Summer of a Million Meals partnership.
• 12News (KPNX-TV)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for Summer of a Million Meals campaign, providing coverage and promotion of the annual telethon to raise awareness and funds for child hunger in Arizona.
• Arizona Foodbank NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Food Bank is a member of the Association of Arizona Food Banks and Arizona Foodbank Network, collaborating on statewide hunger relief efforts.
• Arizona DiamondbacksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteers from Arizona Diamondbacks participated in Holiday Distribution event at Mesa Convention Center, providing hands-on support.
• Waste NotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in Purpose collaboration ensuring surplus food is transformed into meals for those in need, driving impactful hunger relief across Arizona.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Midwest Food Bank: Midwest Food Bank operates with a similar nonprofit food bank model including disaster relief, mobile distributions, and partner agency networks across multiple U.S. states. Comparable in scale of food distributed and reliance on volunteer and donor support.
• Gleaners Community Food Bank: Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan operates a partner agency network with mobile distributions and food rescue programs. Directly comparable in terms of distribution scale, federal food program participation, and focus on serving urban and rural communities.
• St. Mary's Food Bank: St. Mary's Food Bank is the largest food bank in Arizona, headquartered in Phoenix, distributing food through partner agencies and direct distributions. It is the most direct peer to United Food Bank given overlapping Arizona service territory, comparable partner-agency distribution model, and shared Feeding America membership.
• Food Bank of the Rockies: Food Bank of the Rockies serves Colorado and Wyoming through a partner agency network, mobile pantries, and direct distributions. Highly comparable in operational model (partner agencies, mobile distributions, federal TEFAP/CSFP participation, hunger-relief programs) and regional scale.
• Houston Food Bank: Houston Food Bank is one of the largest food banks in the U.S., distributing food through a partner agency network across southeast Texas. Highly comparable in partner agency distribution, federal program (TEFAP/CSFP) participation, and food rescue programs.
• North Texas Food Bank: North Texas Food Bank distributes food through a partner agency network serving 13 counties. Comparable in operational model, partner agency structure, federal program participation, and pursuit of innovative food rescue models.
• Capital Area Food Bank: Capital Area Food Bank serves the Washington D.C. metro area through partner agencies and direct distributions. Comparable in operating model, federal program participation, and program scope including nutrition education and mobile distributions.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida operates a similar partner agency distribution model serving multiple counties. Comparable in mission, partner network model, and federal food program participation (TEFAP/CSFP).

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is a larger, well-established food bank serving LA County through a partner agency network. Broader incumbent operating at a larger scale with similar model, serving as a reference for organizational growth and program maturity.

Emerging players

• Waste Not: Waste Not is an Arizona-based nonprofit focused on food rescue and redistribution to reduce food waste and feed people in need. Directly comparable because of the established 'Partners in Purpose' collaboration with UFB and shared focus on grocery rescue and surplus food redistribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UnitedFoodBank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ufbarizona
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedFoodBank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unitedfoodbank
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedfoodbank

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 United Food Bank