Congressional Hunger Center
The Congressional Hunger Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 in Washington, D.C. that develops anti-hunger leaders through the Emerson and Leland fellowship programs, the Zero Hunger Internship, the Zero Hunger Academy online learning platform, and the annual Hunger Leadership Awards, funded by USDA, USAID, corporate foundations, and individual donors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Congressional Hunger Center does
The Congressional Hunger Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 in Washington, D.C., after the expiration of the House Select Committee on Hunger. It develops, inspires, and connects leaders in the movement to end hunger in the United States and globally, operating through a portfolio of cohort-based fellowship and internship programs combined with an online learning platform. Its core programs are the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship (one-year, domestic), the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship (two-year, global), the Zero Hunger Internship (ten-week summer program in Washington D.C.), the Zero Hunger Academy (online courses and seminars), and the annual Hunger Leadership Awards. Since 1993, it has trained 581 Emerson Fellows, 159 Leland Fellows, and 101 Zero Hunger Interns, placing them with 394 partner organizations across 48 U.S. states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, and 47 countries. All programs are anchored by a proprietary eleven-point Leadership Capabilities Model that organizes leadership development into three categories: Develop Self, Lead with Others, and Create Change.
The organization's revenue model is diversified across four streams: federal government grants (USDA as principal funder since 2000, USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance since 2018), corporate and foundation partnerships (Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, General Mills, Albertsons Companies Foundation, Kellogg Company Fund, Kroger Foundation, Land O'Lakes, PepsiCo, Tyson Foods, C&S Wholesale Grocers, and others), individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring), and event sponsorships from the annual Hunger Leadership Awards. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: the organization recruits cohort-based fellows and interns through its website, blog, email newsletters, social media, conferences, and partnerships with universities, then deploys them to host organizations for field and policy placements. Programs are delivered through host-organization partnerships (food banks, advocacy groups, international NGOs, and UN agencies), online learning platforms, and in-person events. Technology infrastructure consists of an online learning hub (Zero Hunger Academy), event/conference operations, and standard nonprofit communications tooling; there is no evidence of proprietary AI/ML capabilities or productized software revenue.
Congressional Hunger Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Congressional Hunger Center
- Legal name
- Congressional Hunger Center
- Website
- https://hungercenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Congressional Hunger Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 in Washington, D.C. that develops anti-hunger leaders through the Emerson and Leland fellowship programs, the Zero Hunger Internship, the Zero Hunger Academy online learning platform, and the annual Hunger Leadership Awards, funded by USDA, USAID, corporate foundations, and individual donors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Congressional Hunger Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Congressional Hunger Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government Grants: Primary funding from federal government partners including USDA (principal funder since 2000) and USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (since 2018). Supports Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship and Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship programs.
- Corporate and Foundation Partnerships: Support from corporate foundations including Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, General Mills, Albertsons Companies Foundation, Kellogg Company Fund, Kroger Foundation, Land O'Lakes, PepsiCo, Tyson Foods, and others. Funding supports fellowship programs, awards events, and operational activities.
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to support the mission. Online donation portal accepts one-time and monthly contributions with suggested amounts from $10 to $500+. Also accepts stock donations and estate planning contributions.
- Event Sponsorships: Annual Hunger Leadership Awards event generates sponsorship revenue from corporate sponsors at various tiers (Harvester, Cultivator, Sower, Planter, Gardener, Friend levels). Sponsors include Amazon, Uber Eats, Tyson Foods, Walmart, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Individual donation levels |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Congressional Hunger Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Congressional Hunger Center is a nonprofit organization that develops leaders in the movement to end hunger through fellowship, internship, and online learning programs. It offers the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship (one-year domestic), the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship (two-year global), the Zero Hunger Internship (ten-week summer), the Zero Hunger Academy (online education), and the annual Hunger Leadership Awards. Programs place emerging leaders with anti-hunger organizations and federal agencies in the U.S. and internationally.
Product overview
Congressional Hunger Center operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of leadership development programs designed to develop, inspire, and connect leaders in the movement to end hunger. The core offerings include the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship (domestic, one-year) and Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship (global, two-year) for emerging leaders, the Zero Hunger Internship (ten-week domestic summer program), and Zero Hunger Academy as an online educational platform. The Hunger Leadership Awards provide annual recognition, and all programs are grounded in a proprietary Leadership Capabilities Model. These programs collectively work to bridge the gap between field and policy, community and Congress.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship A one-year program combining anti-hunger work in local communities across the United States with policy-level experience in Washington, D.C., training new leaders to bridge gaps between local efforts and national public policy.
- Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship A two-year program where emerging leaders develop professional and leadership skills while strengthening food and nutrition security around the world, with each class of twelve to fifteen fellows placed with international host organizations.
- Zero Hunger Internship A ten-week summer paid internship program in Washington, D.C. for college students and recent graduates to gain work experience at anti-hunger organizations while developing professional skills and leadership capabilities.
- Zero Hunger Academy An online hub for advocacy and education offering food security and leadership development curriculum, including self-paced courses, 30-day challenges, seminars, videos, and multimedia resources to help individuals become effective agents for change.
- Zero Hunger Summer Seminars An online learning series exploring hunger, poverty, and systems change across five interactive sessions with practitioners and leaders, including career pathway insights and a certificate of completion.
- Hunger Leadership Awards Annual event recognizing outstanding leaders from government, philanthropy, the private sector, and the anti-hunger community with awards including the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Leadership Award.
Quantifiable outcome
- 75% of program alumni go on to work for social good in hunger/poverty sectors
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Congressional Hunger Center
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Congressional Hunger Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Congressional Hunger Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and primary.
- AmazoncoreCorporate sponsor at Cultivator level for Hunger Leadership Awards. Receives Corporate Partner Award in 2026.
- Uber EatsminorCorporate sponsor at Cultivator level for 2026 Hunger Leadership Awards.
- World Food ProgrammecoreHost organization for Leland Fellows. Partners with 13th Class fellows serving 2025-2027.
- CIMMYTcoreHost organization for Leland Fellows working on international agricultural development.
- Helen Keller InternationalcoreHost organization for Leland Fellows working on global health and nutrition.
- OxfamcoreHost organization for Leland Fellows working on international development and advocacy.
- World Vision InternationalcoreHost organization for Leland Fellows working on food security and nutrition programs globally.
- Greater Boston Food BankcoreHost organization for Emerson Fellows working on domestic anti-hunger initiatives.
- Hunger Free OklahomacoreHost organization for Emerson Fellows. Awarded Community Champion Award in 2026.
- Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)coreHost organization for Zero Hunger Interns. National nonprofit working to end hunger and undernutrition.
- CAREcoreHost organization for Zero Hunger Interns and Leland Fellows. International humanitarian organization fighting poverty.
- Food Bank of Alaskaminor2025 partner of Zero Hunger Academy, using online learning resources to educate members.
- Swipe Out Hungerminor2025 partner of Zero Hunger Academy, using online learning tools to expand audience.
- Universities Fighting World Hungerminor2025 partner of Zero Hunger Academy, university network engaged in anti-hunger work.
- Carnegie Mellon University Heinz CollegeminorGraduate scholarship partnership offering reduced tuition for Hunger Fellows pursuing advanced degrees.
- University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public PolicyminorGraduate scholarship partnership offering reduced tuition for Hunger Fellows pursuing advanced degrees.
- Corella & Bertram F. Bonner FoundationcoreProvided support enabling 2026 Zero Hunger Internship cohort, alongside Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation.
- USAIDprimaryU.S. Agency for International Development's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance named the Hunger Center as grantee in 2018 award to expand Leland International Hunger Fellows Program and support leadership development for emergency humanitarian nutrition assistance.
- Albertsons Companies FoundationcoreSponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2017. In 2020, supported expansion of online learning content and development of education tools for Zero Hunger Academy.
- Kroger Co. FoundationcoreSupported Hunger Leadership Awards and Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program since 2017.
- General Mills FoundationcoreSupported Hunger Leadership Awards and Emerson Fellowship since 2012. Received Corporate Partner Hunger Leadership Award in 2018.
- Kellogg Company FundcoreSponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2012 and Zero Hunger Internship Program in 2020.
- Land O'Lakes Inc.coreSponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2012 and supported Zero Hunger Summer Seminar Series in 2020.
- PepsiCocoreSponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2012. Beginning 2019, supporting Emerson Fellows work in Chicago.
- Tyson Foods, Inc.coreSponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2012. Supported Emerson Fellows work in rural communities since 2018.
- C&S Wholesale GrocerscoreProvided annual support for Emerson Fellows work on child hunger and child nutrition since 2005.
- USDAprimaryU.S. Department of Agriculture has been the principal funder since 2000, providing substantial annual support for the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program and Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program.
- Sodexo Stop Hunger FoundationprimaryHas supported Emerson Fellows work on child hunger since 2000, invested in Zero Hunger Initiative and Global Anti-Hunger Corps Summit. Principal sponsor of Youth and Future Generations work. Supported Zero Hunger Internship launch in 2018. Supports Zero Hunger Academy and Summer Seminars.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Congressional Hunger Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Feeding America: National food bank network and the largest U.S. hunger-relief organization. While broader in mission (food distribution rather than leadership development), it operates in the same domestic anti-hunger space and shares corporate partners such as Albertsons, Tyson, and Walmart.
- Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian and development organization with extensive food security and nutrition programming. Operates across many of the same countries as the Leland Fellowship and overlaps in international-fellowship-style placements for early-career professionals.
- CARE USA: Major international humanitarian organization fighting global poverty with significant food security and nutrition programming. Listed as a host for both Leland Fellows and Zero Hunger Interns, operating a comparable large-fellowship placement model.
- Heifer International: Global nonprofit focused on ending hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture and livestock. Overlaps with Congressional Hunger Center's international food-security mission and shares a focus on long-term capacity building rather than direct food aid.
Regional players
- Oxfam America: U.S. affiliate of Oxfam focused on global poverty, food security, and advocacy. A host organization for Leland Fellows, this is a directly comparable international-development partner with a similar host-fellowship relationship.
Direct peers
- World Food Programme USA: U.S. fundraising and advocacy arm of the UN World Food Programme, focused on global hunger. Directly comparable as a global anti-hunger organization operating in Washington, D.C. and a host organization for the Leland Fellowship.
- Share Our Strength (No Kid Hungry): National anti-hunger nonprofit running the No Kid Hungry campaign focused on childhood hunger, school meals, and federal nutrition program access. Comparable Washington, D.C. presence, fundraising model (corporate sponsors such as Walmart, Amazon), and federal policy focus.
- Food Research & Action Center (FRAC): National nonprofit working to end hunger and undernutrition in the U.S. through research, policy, and advocacy. Listed as a host organization for the Hunger Center's Zero Hunger Interns, FRAC operates a peer leadership development and policy model centered on federal nutrition programs.
- Bread for the World: Christian hunger advocacy nonprofit headquartered in Washington, D.C. that lobbies Congress on U.S. and global hunger policy. Directly comparable to Congressional Hunger Center's federal-policy and anti-hunger mission, with a similarly small professional staff and donor-funded operating model.
Emerging players
- RESULTS / Citizens' Institute on Hunger: Anti-poverty advocacy organization that trains everyday citizens to lobby Congress on hunger and global health issues. Comparable to the Hunger Center's leadership-development-meets-policy model and its D.C.-based federal advocacy approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Congressional Hunger Center social profiles
Digital presenceCongressional Hunger Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Congressional Hunger Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Congressional Hunger Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Congressional Hunger Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Congressional Hunger Center
What does Congressional Hunger Center do?
The Congressional Hunger Center is a nonprofit organization that develops leaders in the movement to end hunger through fellowship, internship, and online learning programs. It offers the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship (one-year domestic), the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship (two-year global), the Zero Hunger Internship (ten-week summer), the Zero Hunger Academy (online education), and the annual Hunger Leadership Awards. Programs place emerging leaders with anti-hunger organizations and federal agencies in the U.S. and internationally.
Is Congressional Hunger Center a public or private company?
Congressional Hunger Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Congressional Hunger Center founded?
Congressional Hunger Center was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Congressional Hunger Center based?
Congressional Hunger Center is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Congressional Hunger Center make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Partnerships, individual Donations and event Sponsorships.
Who are Congressional Hunger Center's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Feeding America, Mercy Corps, CARE USA and Heifer International. Oxfam America is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are World Food Programme USA, Share Our Strength (No Kid Hungry), Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) and Bread for the World. RESULTS / Citizens' Institute on Hunger is listed as an emerging player.
Does Congressional Hunger Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Congressional Hunger Center.