Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service

What Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service does

Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1982 in Fairbanks, Alaska, that collects and redistributes donated food to individuals and partner agencies throughout the Tanana Valley and Interior Alaska. The organization operates from a 50,000 sq. ft. facility at 725 26th Avenue in Fairbanks, supplemented by a dedicated Food Is Medicine program site at 2582 Rickert Street and a USDA commodity warehouse. It runs nine core programs: Emergency Food Box (approx. 20 lbs per person, up to 10 boxes/year), Food Is Medicine (up to 30 lbs of fresh produce weekly for medically referred individuals), Agency Shopping (15 tons of food weekly to ~100 partner agencies), TEFAP, CSFP for seniors 60+, Bone Builders summer feeding program for children, Move For Hunger, and Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday food box distributions. The organization also operates a secondary distribution hub and serves as the regional administrator for federal USDA food assistance programs.

The business model is a hybrid charitable revenue structure: individual donations, corporate and foundation grants (notably Alyeska Pipeline as a 35-year anchor sponsor, plus BP, ConocoPhillips, Walmart, and the Alaska Community Foundation), federal USDA commodity allocations through TEFAP and CSFP, in-kind food donations from grocery stores and vendors, and revenue from ancillary channels including Pick.Click.Give, Combined Fund Campaign #38953, Amazon Wishlist, Virtual Food Drive (GoFundMe), and community fundraising events such as Empty Bowls. All services are provided free of charge to recipients, with eligibility based on federal poverty guidelines for federal programs and need-based criteria for others. Operations are supported by approximately 16 staff and more than 25,000 annual volunteer hours.

Underlying technology is conventional logistics and nonprofit-operations tooling: warehouse intake, sorting, and redistribution workflows; a GiveVirtuous donation platform; a WordPress-based public website with Facebook and Instagram channels; and standard email/newsletter communications (Food Bank Harvest newsletter, Annual Reports). There is no proprietary technology stack, no AI/ML deployment, and no API or SDK surface; the core "technology" is the operational know-how, the 50,000 sq. ft. physical infrastructure, and the institutional relationships built over four decades. The organization holds federal civil rights compliance with USDA, Good Samaritan legislative positioning, and a Great Place to Work certification, and is governed by a board that includes representatives from Safeway, Doyon, UAF, Span Alaska, Journey Christian Church, Alaska State Troopers, Catholic Schools of Fairbanks, Flowline, Three Bears, and the Law Office of Gail M. Ballou.

Name

Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service

Legal name

Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service, Inc.

Website

https://fairbanksfoodbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that collects and redistributes approximately 4 million pounds of donated food annually to individuals, families, seniors, children, and roughly 100 partner agencies throughout the Tanana Valley region of Interior Alaska.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hunger Relief and Food Assistance Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAA

Food Assistance & Food Banks

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAAAD

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

SECONDARYBPAIAKAF

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Social Security, Benefits & Welfare Administration

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Hunger relief programs
• Food assistance distribution
• Community food redistribution
• Charitable food programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairbanks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monetary contributions from individuals supporting food bank operations and programs
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Grants and sponsorships from companies like Alyeska Pipeline, BP, Conoco Phillips, and Walmart, as well as foundations
3. USDA Commodities: Federal commodities through TEFAP (Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program) and CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program)
4. Food Donations: Surplus food donations from grocery stores, vendors, and individuals that are redistributed rather than sold

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collects donated and surplus food from local commercial vendors, grocery stores, and USDA federal commodity programs, then redistributes it free of charge to individuals, families, and partner agencies in the Tanana Valley region of Interior Alaska. Core operations include Emergency Food Box, Food Is Medicine, Agency Shopping, CSFP (seniors), TEFAP, Bone Builders (children), Move For Hunger, and seasonal Thanksgiving and Christmas food box programs, supported by a 50,000 sq. ft. warehouse, over 25,000 annual volunteer hours, and roughly four million pounds of food distributed each year.

Product overview

Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates multiple food assistance programs in the Tanana Valley region of Interior Alaska. The organization collects and redistributes donated food collected from local commercial vendors. Core programs include Emergency Food Box, Food Is Medicine, Agency Shopping (distributing 15 tons weekly to partner agencies), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for seniors, and TEFAP (Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program). Seasonal offerings include Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Boxes, while Bone Builders provides summer nutrition for children. Additional services include Move For Hunger and Virtual Food Drive platforms for donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Food Box Provides approximately 20 pounds of food per person (a 3-day supply) to individuals and families in emergency situations. Recipients may receive up to 10 boxes per calendar year, distributed through partner churches in Fairbanks and North Pole.
• Food Is Medicine Provides six pounds of fresh produce daily, up to 30 pounds per person weekly, for medically referred individuals. Operates Monday through Friday 11am-3pm at 2582 Rickert Street, Fairbanks.
• Agency Shopping Distributes 15 tons of food weekly to local partner 501(c)(3) agencies for use in their own programs. Participating agencies must complete monitoring forms and provide IRS 501(c)(3) documentation.
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Monthly packages of nutritious food plus nutrition education for seniors aged 60 and over who meet CSFP income guidelines. Pickup available weekdays 2-4pm at the main food bank and select Saturdays at the USDA warehouse.
• Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) USDA federal commodities program assisting families meeting federal poverty guidelines. Serves 450+ families monthly with 50+ volunteers distributing staple items; home-bound recipients receive delivery from The Salvation Army.
• Bone Builders Summer supplemental food program for children providing approximately 5 pounds of kid-friendly snacks including juice, fruit, and granola bars to address childhood hunger during summer months.
• Thanksgiving Food Box Holiday food box distribution including meat, potatoes, carrots, canned goods, and handmade bread, distributed at First Presbyterian Church (Fairbanks) and Lord of Life Lutheran Church (North Pole).
• Christmas Food Box Holiday food assistance program operated in partnership with Santa's Helpers Alaska to provide Christmas food boxes to community members in need.
• Move For Hunger Partnership program accepting donated non-perishable food items from people relocating through a national moving-company network, helping address food insecurity affecting 1 in 8 Fairbanks residents.
• Virtual Food Drive Online donation platform enabling individuals and organizations to create or join food drives and make monetary donations; powered through GoFundMe.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributes 4 million pounds of food annually to thousands of community members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alyeska PipelinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner35-year relationship with Alyeska Pipeline, one of the food bank's first sponsors since 1982. Alyeska has been the go-to sponsor for events, building projects, and construction. Most recently, they sponsor an annual matching fund drive event in November to double donations. They have supported canned food drives, bake sales, and potato donations for food box programs.
• BP (British Petroleum)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBP supports the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, praising its efficient and effective mission. During 2003, BP spent $5.4 million supporting community organizations with focus on education, environment, and nonprofit capacity building. Employee donations and volunteer efforts supplement corporate giving.
• Conoco PhillipscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConoco Phillips sponsors the monthly TEFAP (Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program) which assists families meeting USDA federal poverty guidelines. This is a joint project with The Salvation Army and Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, serving over 400 households each month.
• Move For HungerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMove For Hunger is a non-profit organization that works with moving companies across the country to support local food banks. The partnership helps capture food that would otherwise be thrown out when people move, donating it to families in need in Fairbanks, Alaska.
• Alaska RailroadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlaska Railroad employees organize annual food drives each October to fight hunger and food insecurity among Alaskan neighbors.
• APOA (Alaska Police Officers Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPOA hosts annual law enforcement food drives benefiting the Fairbanks Community Food Bank. Food or cash donations collected October through November at Alaska State Troopers, North Pole Police Dept., Fairbanks Airport Police, Eielson AFB Security Forces, and Fairbanks Police Department.
• First Presbyterian ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution site for emergency food boxes and Thanksgiving food box distribution at 547 7th Avenue, Fairbanks. Also provides hot meals Wednesday evenings at 6pm.
• Lord of Life Lutheran ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution site for Thanksgiving food boxes at 1005 St. Nicholas Drive in North Pole.
• The Salvation ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps pack and deliver 100 boxes to local home-bound recipients as part of TEFAP program. Joint project partner with Conoco Phillips and Alaska Cooperative Extension Service for TEFAP distribution.
• WalmartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGranted $50,000 to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank in October 2012 to support the Bone Builders summer feeding program for children.
• Pick.Click.GiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable giving program allowing Alaska residents to make donations to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank through the Pick.Click.Give program.
• Combined Fund CampaignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCFC #38953 - State of Alaska workplace giving campaign allowing employees to donate to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella for 200+ member food banks including most Alaska food banks. Comparable model (food aggregation and redistribution, partner agency distribution), but operates as a broad national network rather than a single community food bank.

Direct peers

• Food Bank of Alaska: Statewide food bank network serving Anchorage and broader Alaska. Directly comparable food-bank model with USDA commodity distribution, partner-agency networks, and similar CSFP/TEFAP administration across Alaska, partially overlapping with Fairbanks Community Food Bank's service area.
• Houston Food Bank: One of the largest U.S. food banks with a similar surplus-food redistribution model including perishable handling, partner-agency distribution, and TEFAP/CSFP administration. Differentiated by vastly larger scale and urban Texas geography.

Others

• Move For Hunger: National nonprofit that partners with moving companies to capture surplus food and donate it to local food banks (including Fairbanks Community Food Bank). Comparable nonprofit mission and a direct operational partner for food inflow.
• Alaska Community Foundation: Statewide foundation that administers the Fairbanks Community Food Bank Fund. Comparable nonprofit funding ecosystem; not a food bank but a key financial intermediary and ecosystem partner that funnels donor capital into the food bank.

Emerging players

• Catholic Social Services (Alaska): Alaska-wide social services organization providing food assistance, emergency aid, and case management. Comparable mission and beneficiary base, with partial overlap in food distribution through parish and community programs.
• Meals on Wheels America: National organization providing home-delivered meals, particularly to seniors. Comparable mission around senior nutrition (overlapping Fairbanks' CSFP program) and homebound delivery, but focused on prepared meals rather than commodity distribution.
• The Salvation Army (Alaska): Active operational partner in Fairbanks for TEFAP deliveries; the broader Salvation Army operates comparable food assistance, meal programs, and emergency relief through its charitable network in Alaska, with overlapping beneficiary segments.

Regional players

• Mat-Su Food Bank: Matanuska-Susitna Borough food bank serving another Alaskan region. Comparable community food bank operating model with volunteer-driven distribution and USDA commodity programs, but in a different interior Alaska geography.
• Food Bank of the Kenai: Regional food bank serving the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. Operates the same nonprofit food-distribution model with partner agencies and USDA programs in a distinct Alaskan region, providing a geographically-comparable but non-overlapping peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FairbanksCommunityFoodBank
• Instagraminstagram.com/fairbankscommunityfoodbank/?hl=en
• Xx.com/fbksfoodbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fairbanks-community-food-bank-service-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service