MEANS DATABASE
MEANS Database (FoodRecovery.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a digital platform that connects surplus food donors — restaurants, schools, manufacturers, and warehouses — with nonprofit recipients such as pantries, shelters, and mutual aid groups to reduce food waste and food insecurity across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What MEANS DATABASE does
MEANS Database, Inc. (DBA FoodRecovery.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC that operates a digital platform connecting surplus food donors with nonprofit recipients to reduce food waste and food insecurity. The organization operates a two-tier platform: an Online Platform (app.foodrecovery.org) serving small donors (restaurants, schools, caterers, grocers) and small recipients (pantries, shelters, churches, mutual aid groups), and a Food Industry Program serving large donors (manufacturers, warehouses, truck drivers) and large recipients (nonprofits with warehouse capacity) under specific partnership requirements.
The platform's core technology is a web and mobile application that facilitates matching, sign-up, and communication between donors and recipients. It functions as a free, self-service marketplace rather than a fee-based service, with the organization funded primarily through grants and monetary donations. The company also operates a Community Partnerships sub-program under its Food Industry Program for warehouse-equipped nonprofit recipients, and runs marketing through social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, LinkedIn), email newsletters, and content marketing.
The business model is a nonprofit donation-and-grant model with no platform fees. MEANS Database reported 4,400+ partners, 256+ million pounds of food rescued and donated since 2023, and 213+ million meals served since 2023, addressing a stated annual US food waste problem of 133 billion pounds. The organization is independently operated (no parent company), founded circa 2018 (per company history) or 2012 (per firmographics), and was an early MassChallenge participant. It acquired ChowBank in September 2021 and holds Charity Navigator 3-star, Guidestar Transparency Seal, and 1% for the Planet credentials.
MEANS DATABASE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MEANS DATABASE
- Legal name
- MEANS Database, Inc.
- Website
- https://meansdatabase.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MEANS Database (FoodRecovery.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a digital platform that connects surplus food donors — restaurants, schools, manufacturers, and warehouses — with nonprofit recipients such as pantries, shelters, and mutual aid groups to reduce food waste and food insecurity across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MEANS DATABASE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Recovery and Donation Platform
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (624210), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Data Sharing, Data Exchange & Data Marketplace Platforms (HDAEABAH)
Keywords
Where MEANS DATABASE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MEANS DATABASE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Grants and Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, FoodRecovery.org is funded primarily through grants and monetary donations. The organization does not charge fees for its platform services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
MEANS DATABASE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MEANS Database, Inc. DBA FoodRecovery.org operates a free online platform and mobile application that connects food donors with nonprofit recipients to reduce food waste and address food insecurity. The organization runs a dual-track offering: an Online Platform for small donors (restaurants, schools, caterers, grocers) and small recipients (pantries, shelters, churches, mutual aid), and a Food Industry Program for large donors (manufacturers, warehouses, truck drivers) and large nonprofit recipients with warehouse space. The platform is offered at no cost, with the nonprofit funded primarily by grants and monetary donations.
Product overview
MEANS Database, Inc. DBA FoodRecovery.org operates as a dual-track platform consisting of an Online Platform for small-scale food donors and recipients, and a Food Industry Program for large-scale industrial food donors and nonprofit recipients with warehouse capacity. The platform connects surplus food from businesses with organizations fighting hunger and food insecurity, enabling donations while reducing waste. Users access the system through app.foodrecovery.org for registration and login, while program details and documentation are available at foodrecovery.org.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Online Platform (FoodRecovery.org) A free web-based platform at app.foodrecovery.org that connects small food donors (restaurants, schools, caterers, grocers) with small recipient organizations (pantries, shelters, churches, mutual aid groups) to facilitate food donations and reduce waste.
- Food Industry Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 256+ million pounds of food rescued and donated since 2023
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use MEANS DATABASE
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
MEANS DATABASE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
MEANS DATABASE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
MEANS DATABASE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Feeding America: Feeding America is the largest U.S. hunger-relief nonprofit operating a nationwide network of food banks, functioning as a broad incumbent in the food assistance space where MEANS Database also operates.
Direct peers
- Copia: Copia connects businesses with surplus food to nonprofits in need through a logistics-coordinated platform, directly competing with MEANS Database's enterprise food recovery program.
- OLIO: OLIO operates a food-sharing app connecting neighbors and businesses to share surplus food, comparable to MEANS Database's small-donor online platform but with a peer-to-peer consumer emphasis.
- FoodCloud: FoodCloud runs a technology platform connecting retailers and food businesses with charities to redistribute surplus food, operating the same donor-to-nonprofit matching model as MEANS Database at a larger international scale.
- Too Good To Go: Too Good To Go is a marketplace app that lets restaurants and stores sell surplus meals to consumers to reduce food waste, comparable to MEANS Database as a tech-enabled food waste reduction platform, though with a consumer-pays model.
- Replate: Replate is a nonprofit platform that picks up surplus food from businesses and delivers it to communities in need, serving as a direct operational peer to MEANS Database's donor-to-recipient matching model.
- 412 Food Rescue: 412 Food Rescue operates a direct food donation platform connecting surplus food donors with nonprofits serving food-insecure communities, mirroring MEANS Database's core two-sided marketplace model.
- Food Rescue US: Food Rescue US operates a volunteer-driven platform that transports surplus food from businesses directly to nonprofit agencies, providing a comparable donor-to-nonprofit logistics and matching model to MEANS Database.
Emerging players
- FoodFinder: FoodFinder is a web and mobile platform helping people locate free food assistance programs nearby, partially overlapping with MEANS Database's small-recipient side while focusing more on end-user discovery.
Regional players
- City Harvest: City Harvest is a New York City-based food rescue organization that collects surplus food and distributes it to soup kitchens and pantries, comparable in mission and operational scale to MEANS Database but geographically concentrated.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MEANS DATABASE social profiles
Digital presenceMEANS DATABASE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MEANS DATABASE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
MEANS DATABASE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MEANS DATABASE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MEANS DATABASE
What does MEANS DATABASE do?
MEANS Database, Inc. DBA FoodRecovery.org operates a free online platform and mobile application that connects food donors with nonprofit recipients to reduce food waste and address food insecurity. The organization runs a dual-track offering: an Online Platform for small donors (restaurants, schools, caterers, grocers) and small recipients (pantries, shelters, churches, mutual aid), and a Food Industry Program for large donors (manufacturers, warehouses, truck drivers) and large nonprofit recipients with warehouse space. The platform is offered at no cost, with the nonprofit funded primarily by grants and monetary donations.
Is MEANS DATABASE a public or private company?
MEANS DATABASE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was MEANS DATABASE founded?
MEANS DATABASE was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MEANS DATABASE based?
MEANS DATABASE is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does MEANS DATABASE make money?
One revenue line is on record: grants and Donations.
Who are MEANS DATABASE's main competitors?
Feeding America is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Copia, OLIO, FoodCloud, Too Good To Go, Replate, 412 Food Rescue and Food Rescue US. FoodFinder is listed as an emerging player. City Harvest is listed as a regional player.
Does MEANS DATABASE have an API?
No public API is recorded for MEANS DATABASE.
What industry is MEANS DATABASE in?
MEANS DATABASE's product category is Food Recovery and Donation Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAA, Food Assistance & Food Banks, with a secondary code of HDAEABAH, Data Sharing, Data Exchange & Data Marketplace Platforms. Its NAICS code is 624210 and its SIC code is 8600.