Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance

What Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance does

Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA), a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) founded in 1990, provides medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling to individuals with serious illnesses across nine counties in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. Eligibility requires both a qualifying diagnosis (HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease, or liver disease) and an acute nutritional risk factor. The organization delivers 21 home-delivered meals per week across 11–12 diet modifications through 8 temperature-controlled trucks operating across the region, completing more than 90,000 deliveries annually; since founding, MANNA has delivered over 25 million meals and served more than 54,000 individuals. Research partnerships with the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel, and HUP feed The MANNA Institute, a research arm established in March 2019 focused on Food is Medicine evidence generation.

The operational stack comprises a 10,000-square-foot in-house production kitchen, a custom Client Choice Portal for meal selection (launched in pilot July 2025 and planned for full roll-out), a Referral Portal for healthcare providers, and a real-time HealthShare Exchange (HSX) integration that surfaces hospital admission/discharge events and lab values to registered dietitian nutritionists. Volunteer operations are central: more than 9,400 volunteers contribute approximately 56,000 hours annually in kitchen and delivery roles, supported by tiered corporate volunteer packages ($500–$2,000) and a Young Friends advisory board. MANNA holds renewed Food Is Medicine Coalition (FIMC) accreditation as the only Pennsylvania provider with this credential, and is rated 4-Star by Charity Navigator with a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency.

MANNA's business model is a hybrid of insurance reimbursement (~35% of clients), federal funding — including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and Combined Federal Campaign/United Way designations (~40%) — and philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and special events (Pie in the Sky, Guac Off, Chef Radio Live!, Main Course). All services are provided at no cost to the client. Direct payer channels include Health Partners Plans, Keystone First, Aetna Better Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Jefferson Health Plans, with referral-based acquisition through provider case managers. Distribution is direct-to-home (Tuesday–Friday, 8am–5pm) plus walk-in pickup and third-party relay options for clients outside the core delivery footprint.

Name

Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance

Legal name

Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance

Website

https://mannapa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MANNA is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers 21 medically tailored meals per week and registered-dietitian nutrition counseling, at no cost, to individuals with serious illnesses across nine Pennsylvania and New Jersey counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medically Tailored Meal Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Meal Preparation, Nutrition Support & Feeding Assistance (HLADAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Meal Preparation & Nutrition Support (Non-Medical) (HSABAAAC)

Keywords

• Medically tailored meals
• Nutrition counseling services
• Food is medicine
• Home-delivered meals
• Therapeutic nutrition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Insurance Reimbursement: Approximately 35% of MANNA's clients are covered by their insurers who reimburse MANNA for providing therapeutic meals and nutrition counseling. Partnerships with Health Partners Plans, Keystone First, Aetna Better Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Jefferson Health Plans provide reimbursement for select clients referred and covered by these insurers.
2. Philanthropic Support: Majority of client services are funded through philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, and corporations as well as special events. The organization hosts major fundraisers including Pie in the Sky, Guac Off, Chef Radio Live!, and Main Course.
3. Federal Funding: Approximately 40% of services are federally funded through programs including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Additional funding comes from Combined Federal Campaign, workplace giving campaigns, and United Way designations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MANNA cooks and home-delivers 21 medically tailored meals per week (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert) to individuals with serious illnesses at acute nutritional risk, with 11+ diet modifications. The service is paired with individual and group nutrition counseling from Pennsylvania-licensed Registered Dietitians. All services are provided at no cost to clients; approximately 35% of services are reimbursed by partner health insurers and the balance is funded through philanthropy and federal grants.

Product overview

MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance) is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of food-as-medicine services centered on medically tailored meal delivery and nutrition education. The core offering is the Medically Tailored Meals Program, delivering 21 meals per week to individuals with serious illnesses, complemented by Nutrition Education & Counseling services provided by licensed Registered Dietitians. The organization operates The MANNA Institute as its research arm focused on food is medicine evidence-building. Digital services include an online Client Portal (with Client Choice functionality for meal selection), online education modules for diabetes self-management, and dietary handbooks. The organization also runs a Volunteer Program with kitchen and delivery operations, a Healthcare Partnerships Program with insurance reimbursement contracts, and The MANNA Shop merchandise store. All services are provided at no cost to clients, with approximately 35% of services funded through insurance reimbursements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The MANNA Institute: MANNA's research arm that explores the impact of nutrition on health for people with serious illnesses, leads research and evaluation initiatives, and educates healthcare practitioners and consumers.

Products and services

• Medically Tailored Meals Program Delivers 21 medically tailored meals per week (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert) to individuals with serious illnesses at acute nutritional risk. Meals are designed by registered dietitians, cooked in-house in a 10,000-square-foot kitchen, packaged frozen, and delivered to clients' homes. Menu includes 11+ diet modifications including pureed, kidney-friendly, heart-healthy, vegetarian, halal-friendly, and diabetes-appropriate options. Provided at no cost to eligible clients.
• Nutrition Education & Counseling Individual and group nutrition counseling provided by Pennsylvania-licensed Registered Dietitians who are members of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. Sessions cover diet plans for medical diagnoses, weight management, medication side effects, wound healing, and blood pressure and sugar control. Provided at no cost to clients and others.
• Healthcare Partnerships Program Reimbursement contracts with health insurers — including Health Partners Plans, Keystone First, Aetna Better Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Jefferson Health Plans — to provide medically tailored meals as a covered benefit for eligible members. Includes provider referral resources, client enrollment support, and healthcare provider education materials.
• The MANNA Institute MANNA's research arm, exploring the impact of nutrition on health for people with serious illnesses. Leads research and evaluation initiatives, educates healthcare practitioners and consumers, publishes peer-reviewed studies, and shares findings to improve service delivery and advance food is medicine.
• Cooking Classes Free cooking classes offered four times per year, taught by MANNA's registered dietitians. Designed to help clients and community members make healthy food choices and learn cooking skills for managing medical conditions.
• The MANNA Shop Online merchandise store selling apparel items such as aprons and beanies for volunteers and supporters. Proceeds support MANNA's meal programs. Operated through Square online store.
• Online Education Modules (Diabetes) Self-paced online diabetes education modules ('Diabetes: The Basics', 'Diabetes & Medication', 'Diabetes & Diet') developed by MANNA's Registered Dietitians and hosted on the easygenerator platform. Available to clients and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in hospital visits for MANNA clients
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Health Partners PlanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedicaid insurer partnership for reimbursable medically tailored meal services to members. One of MANNA's longest-standing insurance partnerships.
• Keystone FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedicaid managed care organization partnership providing reimbursement for MANNA's nutrition services to eligible members.
• Aetna Better HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership for covering medically tailored meal services to Aetna members with qualifying conditions.
• UnitedHealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance partnership providing reimbursement for select clients referred and covered by UnitedHealthcare.
• Jefferson Health PlanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health plan partnership. Jefferson Health Plans also sponsors MANNA's fueling the MANNA Fleet program.
• HealthShare Exchange (HSX)coreTechnology or IntegrationCommunity Information Exchange partnership enabling real-time hospital admission/discharge notifications to MANNA. RDNs can access clinical data including lab values, medications, and hospital encounters. Joint pilot study analyzing client hospitalization and ED utilization data.
• University of Pennsylvania School of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership on medically tailored meals for heart failure patients. Research published in BMC Nutrition showed improved outcomes for patients receiving MANNA meals.
• Hospital of the University of PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical Nutrition Support Services partnership for collaborative research on heart failure patients and medically tailored meals.
• Drexel UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnerships including 'Benchmarking a Home-Delivered Meal Program's Satisfaction Survey' and '6-Month Outcomes of a Home-Delivered Meal Program for Acute Nutritional Risk'. Partnership on Five-a-Day fruit and vegetable intake research.
• Food Is Medicine Coalition (FIMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition of nonprofits providing medically tailored nutrition services. MANNA is an active member, participating in annual advocacy in Washington DC, sharing best practices, and coordinating policy efforts. FIMC accreditation holder.
• Root Cause CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit coalition addressing social determinants of health with emphasis on hunger as public health issue. Founded by ProMedica and AARP Foundation. MANNA joined in 2017 to share best practices.
• Center for Health Law & Policy Innovation (CHLPI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvard Law School initiative providing advocacy support for food and nutrition services incorporation into healthcare programs. Works with FIMC organizations including MANNA.
• InstacartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and partner. Instacart provides support for MANNA's operations and fundraising events.
• Thomas Jefferson UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and partner. Provides support through events and programs.
• Independence Blue CrossminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate sponsor and partner. Sponsors Volunteer Appreciation Program and annual events.
• American AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor. Board member Rachael Tamalonis is retired Executive Assistant at American Airlines.
• PECO (Exelon Company)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Thanksgiving Day program and corporate partner.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Philabundance: Philadelphia-region food bank addressing hunger and food insecurity through direct distribution. Adjacent mission (food access) but distinct model (food banking vs. medically tailored meal delivery).

Broad incumbents

• Mom's Meals (PurFoods): Largest for-profit provider of medically tailored meals nationally, serving Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and dual-eligible populations across all 50 states. Competitor in payer contracting and the clearest commercial benchmark for MANNA's MTM offering.
• Sodexo: Global food service and integrated facilities management company that operates MTM-adjacent programs for hospitals and senior living. A broad incumbent expanding into the same payer-funded MTM category.

Direct peers

• Open Hand Atlanta: Atlanta-based nonprofit providing home-delivered medically tailored meals and nutrition education for individuals with chronic illness, HIV/AIDS, and other serious conditions — directly comparable service model.
• Moveable Feast: Maryland-based nonprofit providing medically tailored meals and nutrition services to clients with critical illnesses, with FIMC accreditation and similar volunteer-driven operations.
• Project Angel Food: Los Angeles-based nonprofit delivering medically tailored meals to critically ill clients, with nutrition counseling and a celebrity-driven fundraising model. Closely comparable mission, eligibility criteria, and home-delivery format.
• Community Servings: Boston-area nonprofit operating the largest MTM program in New England with a 12-diet-modification kitchen model, FIMC accreditation, and outcomes research — closely aligned to MANNA's service model and geographic role.
• God's Love We Deliver: NYC-based nonprofit providing medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling to people living with serious illness. Direct peer in the MTM space with similar payer-reimbursement, volunteer-driven, and outcome-research model.
• Ceres Community Project: Sonoma County, CA-based nonprofit providing medically tailored meals and nutrition education to clients with serious health conditions, with a youth-volunteer model — comparable mission and population.

Others

• Food Is Medicine Coalition: National coalition of nonprofit MTM providers of which MANNA is an accredited member. Not a competitor but the industry-association peer that sets accreditation standards and runs collective advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mannanourishes
• Facebookfacebook.com/mannapa

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance