What Feed Our Vets does

Feed Our Vets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in February 2009 by Navy Veteran Rich Synek and his wife Michele Synek in Vernon Center, NY, after the founders encountered a World War II veteran who could not afford regular meals. The organization provides free food assistance to US veterans, active-duty service members, and their families through three physical community food pantries in Utica NY, Watertown NY, and Ashtabula OH, a mobile food pantry serving central and eastern New York State, and a Walmart gift card mail-distribution program that extends service coverage to all 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. As of 2023, the organization reports serving over 79,000 veterans and family members, distributing 6 million pounds of food, and providing more than $430,000 in gift cards.

Name

Feed Our Vets

Legal name

Feed Our Veterans

Website

https://feedourvets.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Feed Our Vets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that provides free food assistance to US veterans, active-duty members, and their families through community pantries in NY and OH plus a Walmart gift card mail program across 43 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Utica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: 100% of funds come from private donors. The organization receives very little government funding. Donations are accepted online, by mail, monthly recurring, and one-time.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Feed Our Vets branded merchandise through shopfeedourvets.com. All proceeds benefit the organization.
3. Planned Giving: Bequests, wills, trusts, retirement account plan designations, and life insurance policy beneficiary designations. Donors joining Legacy Society upon notification.
4. Stock Donations: Gifts of appreciated securities allowing donors to avoid capital gains tax and receive full fair market value deduction.
5. Amazon Smile: 0.5% of eligible purchases on smile.amazon.com donated to Feed Our Vets when customers select the organization.
6. Corporate Partnership Donations: BarlowsFoods.com donates 2% of purchases to Feed Our Vets. Business sponsors also contribute.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Feed Our Vets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free food assistance to veterans, active-duty military members, and their families through community food pantries in Utica NY, Watertown NY, and Ashtabula OH, a mobile food pantry serving central and eastern New York, and a Walmart gift card mail distribution program covering veterans in 43 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. The organization also sells branded merchandise through shopfeedourvets.com to raise additional funds for veteran hunger relief.

Product overview

Feed Our Vets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of food assistance programs for veterans. The core offerings consist of community food pantries (in Utica NY, Watertown NY, and Ashtabula OH), a Walmart gift card program covering states without physical pantry locations, and a mobile food pantry for on-site distributions. The organization also operates an online merchandise store (shopfeedourvets.com) with proceeds supporting its programs. In 2023, 93% of expenditures went directly to veteran and active-duty member assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Food Pantry Services Free, regular food distributions operated from physical community food pantry locations in Utica NY, Watertown NY, and Ashtabula OH, serving veterans, active-duty members, and their families facing food insecurity.
• Walmart Gift Card Program Mail-based food purchase assistance program distributing Walmart gift cards to veterans across all 43 states, DC, and Puerto Rico, enabling food purchases in communities without a nearby physical pantry.
• Mobile Food Pantry Mobile food distribution program that brings free food directly to scheduled locations in central and eastern New York State, reaching veterans in areas without a fixed pantry site.
• Feed Our Vets Merchandise Store Online store selling Feed Our Vets branded apparel and merchandise, with 100% of proceeds directed to the organization's veteran hunger relief programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 79,000 veterans and family members since 2009
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BarlowsFoods.comminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021BarlowsFoods.com, founded by Tiffani Barlow honoring her grandfather Arthur 'Barlow' Harris (US Army Veteran), donates 2% of all purchases to Feed Our Vets to assist with closing the hunger gap for veterans.
• WalmartcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2009Walmart gift card program enables Feed Our Vets to provide food purchase assistance to veterans in states and communities that cannot support a physical pantry. Over $430,000 in gift cards distributed.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured in VFW Magazine April 2018 article on veteran hunger. VFW joined forces with Feed Our Vets to fight hunger affecting veterans.
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIAVA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans whose programs empower the veteran community with health, employment, education and community (HEEC) resources. Listed as a veteran resource on Feed Our Vets website.
• National Veterans Foundation - Lifeline for VetsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational Veterans Foundation's Lifeline for Vets (888-777-4443) assists Veterans of any era with any problem 355 days a year. Listed as a veteran resource on Feed Our Vets website.
• Pedro's KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Feed Our Vets. Local restaurant contributing to veteran hunger relief efforts.
• Trailer Marketing ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Feed Our Vets Fest event and supporter of veteran hunger programs.
• Express Employment ProfessionalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor and partner for Give Back Giveaway food drive events supporting Feed Our Vets.
• Character CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Feed Our Vets organization.
• New York SashminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Express Employment Professionals for Give Back Giveaway food drive event benefiting Feed Our Vets Utica Pantry.
• Bite Bakery and CafeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 600 lbs of potatoes to Feed Our Vets Utica Pantry for Saturday food distribution for veteran families.
• Saratoga Automobile MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the 2018 humvee auction benefiting Feed Our Vets veteran hunger programs.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazonSmile program donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to Feed Our Vets when customers select the organization.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: Largest U.S. hunger-relief nonprofit operating a nationwide network of 200+ food banks. Comparable as a food distribution nonprofit serving food-insecure populations, though far larger in scale and not veteran-specific.
• Salvation Army: Large faith-based nonprofit operating food pantries and emergency assistance programs serving low-income and vulnerable populations. Comparable in operating physical food pantries with broad geographic coverage.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Established congressionally chartered veteran service organization providing benefits assistance and direct support to disabled veterans. Comparable mission of serving vulnerable veterans through direct service delivery.
• Meals on Wheels America: National nonprofit network providing meal delivery to seniors and food-insecure populations. Comparable in being a food delivery/distribution nonprofit operating through a franchise-like network of local affiliates.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): Major congressionally chartered veteran service organization with food assistance and emergency grant programs. Already a partner of Feed Our Vets (VFW Magazine feature), and comparable in veteran-focused direct service.

Direct peers

• Bob Woodruff Foundation: Veteran-focused nonprofit funding programs addressing food insecurity, mental health, and housing for post-9/11 veterans. Closely comparable niche focus on veteran food insecurity and direct service delivery model.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Major veteran-focused nonprofit serving injured and struggling post-9/11 veterans with direct programs and grants. Comparable as a service-delivery nonprofit addressing unmet needs of veterans and their families, with high program-spending ratios.
• Operation Homefront: National military family nonprofit providing food assistance, financial aid, and housing support to active-duty and veteran families. Direct comparable in mission and direct-service delivery model to veteran family hunger.

Emerging players

• Military Family Support Network: Nonprofit providing food and financial assistance to military families in need. Comparable focus on active-duty and veteran family food insecurity.

Regional players

• Food Bank for New York City: Regional food assistance nonprofit serving New York City with food pantries and distribution programs. Comparable food pantry distribution model, with geographic overlap given Feed Our Vets' Utica NY base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FeedOurVets
• Xx.com/FeedOurVets1

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Feed Our Vets