Congressional Hunger Center

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.

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and primary.

• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate sponsor at Cultivator level for Hunger Leadership Awards. Receives Corporate Partner Award in 2026.
• Uber EatsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate sponsor at Cultivator level for 2026 Hunger Leadership Awards.
• World Food ProgrammecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Host organization for Leland Fellows. Partners with 13th Class fellows serving 2025-2027.
• CIMMYTcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Host organization for Leland Fellows working on international agricultural development.
• Helen Keller InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Host organization for Leland Fellows working on global health and nutrition.
• OxfamcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Host organization for Leland Fellows working on international development and advocacy.
• World Vision InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Host organization for Leland Fellows working on food security and nutrition programs globally.
• Greater Boston Food BankcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Host organization for Emerson Fellows working on domestic anti-hunger initiatives.
• Hunger Free OklahomacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Host organization for Emerson Fellows. Awarded Community Champion Award in 2026.
• Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Host organization for Zero Hunger Interns. National nonprofit working to end hunger and undernutrition.
• CAREcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Host organization for Zero Hunger Interns and Leland Fellows. International humanitarian organization fighting poverty.
• Food Bank of AlaskaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of Zero Hunger Academy, using online learning resources to educate members.
• Swipe Out HungerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of Zero Hunger Academy, using online learning tools to expand audience.
• Universities Fighting World HungerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of Zero Hunger Academy, university network engaged in anti-hunger work.
• Carnegie Mellon University Heinz CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Graduate scholarship partnership offering reduced tuition for Hunger Fellows pursuing advanced degrees.
• University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public PolicyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Graduate scholarship partnership offering reduced tuition for Hunger Fellows pursuing advanced degrees.
• Corella & Bertram F. Bonner FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Provided support enabling 2026 Zero Hunger Internship cohort, alongside Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation.
• USAIDprimaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018U.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 FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Sponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2017. In 2020, supported expansion of online learning content and development of education tools for Zero Hunger Academy.
• Kroger Co. FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Supported Hunger Leadership Awards and Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program since 2017.
• General Mills FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Supported Hunger Leadership Awards and Emerson Fellowship since 2012. Received Corporate Partner Hunger Leadership Award in 2018.
• Kellogg Company FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Sponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2012 and Zero Hunger Internship Program in 2020.
• Land O'Lakes Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Sponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2012 and supported Zero Hunger Summer Seminar Series in 2020.
• PepsiCocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Sponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2012. Beginning 2019, supporting Emerson Fellows work in Chicago.
• Tyson Foods, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Sponsored Hunger Leadership Awards since 2012. Supported Emerson Fellows work in rural communities since 2018.
• C&S Wholesale GrocerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Provided annual support for Emerson Fellows work on child hunger and child nutrition since 2005.
• USDAprimaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000U.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 FoundationprimaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Has 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/hungercenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7Zv0A1kNNb3Z5qJ1bK1jYw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CongressionalHungerCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/congressional-hunger-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Congressional Hunger Center