Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

What Food Bank of Eastern Michigan does

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (FBEM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Flint, Michigan, that sources, warehouses, and distributes food across a 22-county service area in eastern Michigan. The organization's operational core consists of three Flint facilities (headquarters at 2300 Lapeer Road, warehouse distribution at 2312 Lapeer Road, and the Hunger Solution Center on Howard Avenue) supporting a mobile pantry truck fleet and a network of nearly 700 partner agencies — food pantries, soup kitchens, churches, schools, and shelters — through which food reaches beneficiaries. In 2025 FBEM distributed nearly 38 million pounds of food, including 12.7 million pounds of fresh produce sourced from more than a dozen Michigan farms, 2.9 million pounds of dairy, and 3.2 million pounds of meat and proteins.

FBEM's program portfolio is organized around distinct beneficiary segments: children (BackPack Program across 139 schools, School Pantry at 39 sites, Summer Food Service at 67 sites, At Risk After School since 1996), seniors (CSFP commodity boxes), and the general food-insecure population (mobile pantry distributions, pantry/soup kitchen network, TEFAP). The organization also operates SNAP/Bridge Card outreach via specialized hotline staff across four sub-regions. Technology is conventional logistics — warehouse management with industrial refrigeration, mobile distribution scheduling, and basic website tools (agency locator, distribution calendar, virtual food drives) — with no disclosed AI/ML, proprietary software, or API platform.

The revenue model is donations-based: individual giving (online, mail-in, Dedicated Donor Club recurring giving at ~$7,000/month aggregate, $25-$250 impact tiers), event-driven fundraising (Empty Bowls, Chip In To End Hunger golf outing, Feeding Frenzy Radiothon with Kroger as presenting sponsor, March Against Hunger, Giving Tuesday, Hunger Action Month) with sponsorship tiers ranging from $250 to $10,000, corporate sponsorships (monthly, fleet truck, pop-up pantry), federal/state programs (USDA Summer Food Service, CSFP, TEFAP), and in-kind contributions from grocers, food manufacturers, distributors, and farms. The organization reports 98% program-spending efficiency and operates with 101-250 employees plus nearly 7,000 annual volunteers.

Name

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

Legal name

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

Website

https://fbem.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan distributes food, fresh fruits and vegetables to partner agencies, schools and community organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hunger Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), Meal Program Compliance & Administration (NSLP/SBP, Reimbursements) (EDAEAEAC), Institutional Foodservice Distribution (Education, Healthcare, Government) (CRAOABAM)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Flint

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monetary contributions from individuals through online donations, mail-in checks, and recurring monthly giving through the Dedicated Donor Club. Every dollar donated provides 6 meals for community members in need.
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from ticket sales, sponsorships, and auction items at annual events including Empty Bowls, Chip In To End Hunger golf outing, Feeding Frenzy Radiothon, and other campaign events.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Monthly sponsorships, event sponsorships, fleet truck sponsorship (mobile billboards), and pop-up pantry sponsorships providing branded marketing opportunities for corporate partners.
4. Government Grants: USDA-funded Summer Food Service Program administered through Michigan Department of Education providing meals to children during summer months when school is not in session.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan is a hunger relief organization that sources donated and procured food from retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and Michigan farmers, then distributes it through a network of nearly 700 partner agencies and direct service programs (mobile pantries, school-based programs, and senior commodity boxes) across 22 counties in eastern Michigan. In 2025 the organization distributed nearly 38 million pounds of food, with more than half consisting of fresh produce, dairy, and proteins, to 234,610 food-insecure residents.

Product overview

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan operates as a food sourcing and distribution network serving 22 counties in Michigan through a combination of direct programs and a network of nearly 700 partner agencies. The organization offers food assistance programs including Mobile Pantry Distributions, a network of Pantries & Soup Kitchens, and children's programs (BackPack, At Risk After School, School Pantry, Summer Food Service). Government nutrition programs include SNAP/Bridge Card Outreach, CSFP for seniors, and TEFAP emergency assistance. The organization also operates Food Locator and Food Distribution Calendar tools for finding assistance. Fundraising events include Chip In To End Hunger Golf Outing, Empty Bowls, March Against Hunger, Feeding Frenzy Radiothon, Giving Tuesday, and Hunger Action Month. Additional services include Virtual Food Drives and the Dedicated Donor Club recurring giving program. In 2025, the food bank distributed nearly 38 million pounds of food through its network, with a goal that 98% of donations go directly to food and feeding programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Pantry Distributions Mobile food distribution program that sets up in parking lots and community spaces to deliver fresh produce, meat, and dairy directly to neighborhoods with limited grocery access across the 22-county service area. Each truck feeds 300-500 families per distribution event.
• Pantries & Soup Kitchens Network Network of nearly 700 hunger relief partner agencies — food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and meal programs — that source food from FBEM and distribute it directly to the public across 22 eastern Michigan counties.
• BackPack Program Weekend food assistance program providing backpacks full of nutritious, shelf-stable foods to children who receive free or reduced-price school lunches. Serves 139 schools across 22 counties.
• At Risk After School Program After-school feeding program combining nutritious meals with cultural and educational activities for children ages 18 and under, operating since 1996 in partnership with the Genesee Intermediate School District.
• School Pantry Program On-campus food assistance program operating at 39 school sites serving low-income students and their families with set distribution schedules and ongoing food services.
• Summer Food Service Program USDA-funded program providing free healthy meals to children during summer months when school is not in session. Operates 67 feeding sites across Genesee, Gladwin, Saginaw, and Lapeer counties.
• Bridge Card / SNAP Outreach Program that assists individuals with applying for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, providing over-the-phone and in-person application assistance through SNAP specialists serving multiple regions.
• CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) Federal program providing monthly USDA commodity food packages to low-income seniors age 60 and older to supplement their nutritional needs.
• TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) Federal emergency food assistance program providing USDA commodities to FBEM and partner agencies for distribution to families in need across eastern Michigan.
• Food Locator / Agency Locator Online searchable tool that helps individuals find nearby food pantries, soup kitchens, and food distribution agencies within FBEM's 22-county service area, with radius-based search by zip code.
• Food Distribution Calendar Calendar tool displaying current food distribution locations, dates, and times for mobile pantry distributions across FBEM's 22-county service area.
• Virtual Food Drives Online fundraising campaigns that allow organizations to create branded pages for collecting donations used by FBEM to purchase fresh produce, meat, and dairy for distribution to those in need.
• Dedicated Donor Club Recurring monthly donation program that provides exclusive benefits including early event access, special updates, and year-end giving statements, with monthly donors contributing approximately $7,000 combined.
• Chip In To End Hunger Golf Outing Annual fundraising golf event held in June featuring a four-person scramble format with continental breakfast, shotgun start, lunch at the turn, awards ceremony and banquet. Ticketed at $125 per player or $500 per foursome.
• Empty Bowls Signature fundraising event held during Hunger Action Month in September, featuring a simple meal of soup, bread, and dessert with nearly 1,000 attendees receiving handcrafted bowls as reminders of hunger in the community.
• March Against Hunger Annual March fundraising campaign in which businesses collect donations and sell symbolic boot prints to support partner agencies and combat hunger across eastern Michigan.

Quantifiable outcome

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

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Genisys Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 November 2023Genisys Credit Union provided a Matching Gift Pledge for Giving Tuesday 2023, doubling the impact of every contribution made to FBEM. Jackie Buchanan, President and CEO of Genisys Credit Union, stated commitment to partnering in the fight against hunger.
• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFBEM is a member of the Feeding America network, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization with 200 food banks across the country. This affiliation provides access to national resources, bulk purchasing power, shared best practices, and the 2025 Feeding America logo partnership shown on FBEM materials.
• KrogercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger is the presenting sponsor of the Fox Feeding Frenzy Radiothon event, providing major event support and visibility. Kroger's partnership enables FBEM to raise funds and awareness for food insecurity throughout eastern Michigan communities.
• Van Ooteghem FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan farmer partner providing fresh produce to FBEM for distribution to those in need. FBEM works closely with farmers throughout Michigan including Van Ooteghem Farms to source fresh produce.
• Michigan Farmers (Multiple)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFBEM partners with more than a dozen Michigan farms to source fresh produce including fruits and vegetables. These agricultural partnerships enable distribution of 12.7 million pounds of fresh produce annually.
• Retail Grocery PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with retail grocery stores provide donated food items for sorting and redistribution. Retail partnerships help leverage every dollar into six meals through donated product.
• Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GISD enables the At Risk After School program to serve Head Start students breakfast, lunch and snacks 4 days a week through a combined feeding and educational initiative.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA provides funding for the Summer Food Service Program administered by the Michigan Department of Education. FBEM serves as a sponsor, distributing meals to children during summer months when school is not in session.
• Food Manufacturers and DistributorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with food manufacturers and distributors enable bulk food procurement and donation programs that help leverage every dollar into six meals for those in need.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Food Gatherers: Ann Arbor-based food bank serving Washtenaw County with similar mission of food distribution through partner agencies. Comparable scale and operating model in a neighboring Michigan geography.
• Gleaners Community Food Bank: Southeast Michigan food bank distributing tens of millions of pounds annually through a partner agency network. Comparable programmatic model including mobile pantries and child hunger programs.
• Feeding America West Michigan: Fellow Feeding America affiliate food bank serving western Michigan with similar mobile pantry and partner agency distribution model. Direct competitor for statewide donor and corporate sponsor attention.
• Food Bank of South Central Michigan: Feeding America member food bank serving south central Michigan with overlapping geographic and programmatic scope. Direct peer in mission and operating structure.
• Forgotten Harvest: Metro Detroit food rescue organization distributing surplus food through partner agencies. Comparable model of food sourcing from grocery/manufacturer partners and redistribution to community agencies.

Broad incumbents

• Midwest Food Bank: Multi-state regional food bank operating across multiple Midwest geographies with similar partner agency distribution model. Broader geographic footprint but aligned mission and operational approach.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Larger regional food bank serving the Chicago metropolitan area with comparable programs including mobile pantries, partner agency network, and child nutrition. Operates at substantially larger scale but with similar model.
• Second Harvest Heartland: Upper Midwest regional food bank serving Minnesota with similar multi-program structure and partner agency network. Comparable in scale and organizational complexity.
• Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona: Regional Feeding America affiliate food bank serving Southern Arizona with similar pounds-distributed scale and comprehensive program suite including child nutrition and mobile distributions.
• St. Louis Area Foodbank: Regional Feeding America member food bank serving the St. Louis metro area with comparable mobile distribution and partner agency network model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FoodBankofEasternMichigan
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefoodbankofeasternmichigan
• Xx.com/foodbankemich

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Food Bank of Eastern Michigan