What Food for Others does

Food for Others is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food bank and food rescue organization, incorporated October 20, 1995, headquartered at 2938 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, Virginia, that distributes free food directly to food-insecure individuals and families across Northern Virginia (Fairfax County, Falls Church, and Arlington County). The organization operates a portfolio of distribution channels as its "Core 4" plus adjacent programs: (1) My Market, a client-choice pantry at 2942 Prosperity Avenue providing grocery-store-style shopping plus wrap-around social services; (2) the Power Pack Program (P3), delivering weekend meal backpacks to approximately 3,900 students each week across ~46–47 Fairfax County Public Schools; (3) 11 neighborhood sites providing supplementary food without referral; (4) 6 mobile food pantry sites seeded during COVID with CARES Act funding and retained post-pandemic. Adjacent programs include the Emergency Referral Program (3–5 days of food via social worker referral), the USDA TEFAP monthly distribution, Farm Stands (fresh produce from gleaning), Community Partners (food banking to smaller pantries), and the 2017-vintage Rx for Food healthcare-referral program with Burke Pediatrics and the Capital Area Food Bank. The organization's underlying technology stack is minimal and non-proprietary: an internal online referral web application (Return Client Dashboard) for social worker submissions, standard nonprofit website CMS, and generic third-party accessibility tooling on foodforothers.org. There is no public/partner-facing API, SDK, or proprietary AI pipeline.

Funding comes entirely from charitable contributions: individual donations (described as the largest source, via online portal, IRA QCDs, DAFs, workplace giving, stock), corporate and faith-based contributions, Fairfax County government support, USDA TEFAP, and in-kind food donations from major retailers (Costco, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, Fresh Market, Target, Walmart, Giant Food, Lidl) and farm partners (Hollins Farm, JK Community Farm, Central Farm Markets, Fairfax County Farmers Market). All food assistance is delivered free of charge. Operations are volunteer-led — approximately 34,000 volunteer hours annually — with a small paid staff (firmographic of 1–10, with ~20+ named staff and interns in management) supervised by a 13-member Board of Directors chaired by Matt Salter (VP, Chief Growth Officer at Noblis). Executive Director Deb Haynes has led the organization since August 2023. In FY24, Food for Others distributed over 3.8 million pounds of food and served 64,218 individuals; 39% of distributed food was rescued from waste in FY23. Independent ratings include the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, a Charity Navigator four-star rating, a 2024 Moxie Award for Nonprofits (<20 employees), and a SpurRank designation from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Name

Food for Others

Legal name

Food for Others

Website

https://foodforothers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Food for Others is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food bank founded in 1995 in Fairfax, Virginia that distributes free food to food-insecure individuals across Northern Virginia through a client-choice pantry, mobile pantries, school-based weekend meal packs, and neighborhood distribution sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs) (EDACAMAA), Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Emergency food distribution
• Food rescue programs
• Hunger relief services
• Weekend meal programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfax

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute directly to Food for Others via online portal, check, stock donation, IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution, Donor Advised Funds, and workplace giving campaigns. Individual donations are described as the largest source of funding.
2. Corporate and Faith-Based Contributions: Charitable contributions from corporations, foundations, and faith-based organizations form a major part of the budget alongside individual donations.
3. Fairfax County Government Funding: Fairfax County contributes to the work of Food for Others as part of Northern Virginia's safety net.
4. Food Donations (In-Kind): Local grocery stores, farmers markets, farms, Costco, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, Fresh Market, Target, Walmart, Giant Food, Lidl, and others donate food. The USDA provides food through the TEFAP program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Food for Others is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food bank that distributes free food directly to food-insecure individuals and families across Northern Virginia. It runs a portfolio of programs - a client-choice pantry (My Market), USDA TEFAP monthly distribution, Emergency Referral boxes, neighborhood and mobile pantry sites, the school-based Power Pack Program (P3), the Rx for Food healthcare referral, farm stands with gleaned produce, and a community-partner food-bank network - all funded by donations, grants, and roughly 34,000 annual volunteer hours.

Product overview

Food for Others is a regional food bank offering a portfolio of food distribution programs organized as a unified service model. The Core 4 Programs include: (1) Warehouse Food Distribution through My Market client-choice pantry combining Emergency Referral and USDA programs; (2) Neighborhood Sites providing supplementary food at 13+ locations; (3) Mobile Food Pantry Sites reaching underserved areas; and (4) Power Pack Program (P3) delivering weekend meals to food-insecure students. Additional programs include Rx for Food (healthcare referrals), Farm Stands (fresh produce), and a Community Partners network. All programs work together to provide comprehensive food assistance to Northern Virginia residents experiencing food insecurity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Market: Client choice pantry and empowerment-focused space where families can select their own grocery items and access wrap-around services to help them work towards greater food security.
• Power Pack Program (P3)
• Rx for Food

Products and services

• USDA Program (TEFAP) Monthly food distribution program providing non-perishables, produce, protein options, and grocery store-donated items to income-eligible families; recipients qualify based on income and receive food once per month at no cost.
• Emergency Referral Program Provides approximately 3-5 days worth of food to individuals and families referred by social service providers (social workers, hospitals, schools, clergy); recipients must have an emergency referral to qualify, and food is provided free of charge.
• Neighborhood Sites Program Supplementary food distribution at 13+ neighborhood locations throughout Fairfax County, Arlington, and Falls Church; no referral is required - clients only state household size to receive food at no cost.
• Mobile Food Pantry Sites Six mobile food distribution sites providing 3-5 days worth of food to families with an emergency referral from a social worker, reaching underserved areas throughout the community.
• Power Pack Program (P3) Weekend meal backpack program for food-insecure elementary school students; serves approximately 3,900 students at 46-47 Fairfax County Public Schools each week during the school year, providing 2 breakfast, 2 lunch, 2 dinner items plus 2 snacks and 2 drinks per pack, delivered through school social workers.
• Rx for Food Program Healthcare-referral program where doctors screen patients for food insecurity and refer them to Food for Others with a food prescription; partnerships with Burke Pediatrics and Capital Area Food Bank.
• My Market (Client Choice Pantry) Client-choice pantry at 2942 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA, offering a grocery store-like shopping experience where families select their own items based on cultural preferences and dietary needs, with access to wrap-around social services; operates Emergency Referral and USDA TEFAP distribution out of this space.
• Farm Stands Seasonal produce distribution program offering fresh fruits and vegetables sourced from local farmers market gleaning and partner farms (including JK Community Farm, Hollins Farm, Central Farm Markets, Fairfax County Farmers Market); held on Mondays or Tuesdays during the growing season to give clients additional access to fresh produce after shopping at My Market.
• Community Partners Program Network of community partner organizations that distribute food to localized communities through their own smaller food pantries or programming; Food for Others acts as a food bank/supplier, providing bulk food to partner pantries who then serve their own communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 64,000 individuals in 2024, distributing 3.8 million pounds of food
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Capital Area Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood for Others is affiliated with the Capital Area Food Bank and works with them on the Rx for Food program. The Capital Area Food Bank is a key supply partner and collaborator in addressing regional food insecurity.
• Fairfax County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFairfax County contributes funding and support to Food for Others as part of the county's safety net for residents experiencing food insecurity. The Department of Community Action was instrumental in founding the organization.
• CostcomajorOthersCostco is listed as a major food donor providing surplus and donated food items to Food for Others for distribution to food-insecure families.
• WegmansmajorOthersWegmans is listed as a food donor contributing food to Food for Others.
• Trader Joe'smajorOthersTrader Joe's is listed as a food donor contributing food to Food for Others.
• The Fresh MarketmajorOthersThe Fresh Market is listed as a food donor contributing to Food for Others.
• TargetmajorOthersTarget is listed as a food donor contributing to Food for Others.
• WalmartmajorOthersWalmart is listed as a food donor contributing to Food for Others.
• Giant FoodmajorOthersGiant Food is listed as a food donor contributing to Food for Others.
• LidlmajorOthersLidl is listed as a food donor contributing to Food for Others.
• Central Farm MarketsminorOthersCentral Farm Markets is listed as a partner, likely contributing to farm-to-table food sourcing and farmers market gleaning.
• Fairfax County Farmers MarketminorOthersFairfax County Farmers Market is listed as a partner, likely contributing produce and gleaning opportunities.
• Burke PediatricscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Food for Others in 2017 to launch the Rx for Food program. Doctors screen patients for food insecurity and refer them to Food for Others with a prescription for food.
• FCPS IGNITE PartnershipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood for Others participates in Fairfax County Public Schools' IGNITE Partnerships program, supporting the Power Pack Program (P3) which delivers weekend meal packs to students at ~47 schools.
• Compost CrewminorOthersMaryland-based company that picks up food scraps from Food for Others and converts them to compost at their facility, supporting the organization's sustainability and food waste reduction mission.
• JK Community FarmminorOthersProduces fresh produce donated to Food for Others, contributing to the organization's supply of fresh fruits and vegetables for food-insecure families.
• America's Charities Community First FederationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood for Others is a member of America's Charities Community First Federation, enabling workplace giving campaigns and corporate donations.
• Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal employees can donate to Food for Others through the Combined Federal Campaign using code 40790.
• Hollins FarmminorOthersFrom July to October, Hollins Farm offers Food for Others volunteers the opportunity to rescue fallen produce from their orchards through gleaning, a key source of fresh produce for distribution.
• Capital Area Food Bank (Rx for Food)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapital Area Food Bank partnered with Food for Others, Burke Pediatrics, and Fairfax County offices in 2017 to launch the Rx for Food program, where doctors screen patients for food insecurity and refer them with a prescription.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National hunger-relief organization and the largest US domestic hunger-relief charity, operating a network of 200+ member food banks. Capital Area Food Bank is a Feeding America member, making Feeding America the broad umbrella incumbent in the same category.
• No Kid Hungry (Share Our Strength): National campaign focused on ending childhood hunger, including school-based meal programs. Comparable to FFO's Power Pack Program (P3) weekend-meals-for-kids model, operating at much broader scale as a funder/advocate.

Emerging players

• Food Rescue US: National nonprofit focused on directly transferring surplus food from restaurants and grocers to food-insecure communities. Comparable focus on the food-rescue component that now represents ~39% of FFO's distribution.
• Moveable Feast: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing medically tailored meals and food to individuals facing food insecurity and illness. Comparable healthcare-referral food model (akin to FFO's Rx for Food) and similar mid-Atlantic footprint.

Direct peers

• DC Central Kitchen: Washington DC-based nonprofit combating hunger through meal distribution, food rescue, and culinary job training. Comparable in operating model (food rescue, community meal distribution) and immediate DC-metro geography.
• Loudoun Hunger Relief: Loudoun County-based food pantry serving Northern Virginia with similar client-choice distribution model. Comparable in scale and program structure, and a logical geographic extension peer for FFO.
• Martha's Table: DC-based nonprofit providing healthy food, clothing, and education to children and families. Comparable mission and operating model (client-choice food distribution, community partnerships) in the DC-metro region.
• Capital Area Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the Washington DC metro area, including Northern Virginia. Food for Others is an affiliated partner pantry that receives food supply and collaborates on the Rx for Food program. Most directly comparable as a community-food distribution peer.
• Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC): Arlington-based nonprofit food pantry providing free groceries and wrap-around services to neighbors in need. Directly comparable model (client-choice pantry, referral-based distribution) operating in an adjacent Northern Virginia jurisdiction.

Regional players

• Manna Food Center: Montgomery County, MD-based food bank distributing food through choice pantries and partner network. Comparable client-choice model and smart-sourcing/gleaning programs, serving the adjacent DC-area jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/foodforothers
• Facebookfacebook.com/FoodForOthers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/food-for-others

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 for Others