RIVER FUND
RIVER FUND is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit frontline poverty center in New York City, distributing over 1 million pounds of groceries monthly across 40+ zip codes and connecting low-income families, children, seniors, immigrants, and expectant mothers to integrated food, benefits, and education services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersRichmond Hill, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What RIVER FUND does
RIVER FUND is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 11-3450363) founded in 1994 in Queens, New York, operating as a frontline poverty center serving New York City across 40+ zip codes. It delivers three integrated service pillars — Food Access, Benefits Access, and Education (Cradle to College) — through a 'Family-by-Family' approach. Food Access distributes over 1 million pounds of groceries monthly via four channels: an onsite pantry in Richmond Hill serving 41,000 clients monthly, a mobile pantry operating in Queens and Brooklyn since 1995, a homebound delivery program for seniors and disabled individuals established in 2012, and a Hub & Spoke wholesale-style network supplying 350,000+ pounds monthly to 6-8+ smaller community-based organizations. Benefits Access connects 5,000+ clients annually to 40+ social service programs spanning SNAP, immigration, and health care. Education spans prenatal through college, including the Mary C. Tiedemann Scholarship, mentoring, the Baby Shower Program, Child Poverty Awareness Day, and Kids Worldwide workshops.
The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its core technology is its physical distribution infrastructure (warehouses, mobile units, delivery routes) and its network of referral partnerships. Revenue derives entirely from charitable donations — individual giving, corporate sponsorships (via the G.I.V.E. tiered volunteer-engagement program at $5K/$10K/$25K levels), foundation grants, and event-driven fundraising (annual gala, Thanksgiving distribution, Xmas in Queens). Donations are fully tax-deductible. The organization employs event-driven go-to-market: annual galas, signature community events, and corporate volunteer days drive both donor acquisition and program delivery. Major corporate partners include AlixPartners, Resorts World NYC, Bloomberg, Citi, PNC, Coca-Cola, Amazin' Mets Foundation, Madhive, and Hilton Capital Management; institutional partners include GMHC, Catholic Migration Services, CUNY, and PAC NYC.
RIVER FUND was founded by Swami Durga Das and operates under a Board chaired by Michael Tiedemann (CEO of AlTi Tiedemann Global), with R. Spencer Potts (CEO of Madhive) as Capital Chair. The board includes senior executives from PNC Bank, Perella Weinberg Partners, Newmark, The Arena Group, PJT Park Hill, and other financial/operating firms. For its first 24 years the organization operated entirely through volunteers; it has since professionalized while retaining volunteer centrality.
RIVER FUND firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RIVER FUND
- Legal name
- RIVER FUND NY
- Website
- https://river.fund
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- RIVER FUND is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit frontline poverty center in New York City, distributing over 1 million pounds of groceries monthly across 40+ zip codes and connecting low-income families, children, seniors, immigrants, and expectant mothers to integrated food, benefits, and education services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RIVER FUND industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Poverty Alleviation and Social Services
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG)
Keywords
Where RIVER FUND is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond Hill
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
RIVER FUND business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (Tax ID # 11-3450363), RIVER FUND's primary revenue comes from charitable donations from individuals, corporate partners, and foundations. Donations are fully deductible as charitable contributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | $25,000 Corporate Engagement — 3 Dedicated Food Distribution Program Days, up to 25 volunteers per program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | $10,000 Corporate Engagement — Mary C. Tiedemann Scholarship Volunteer Program, up to 15 volunteers per program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | $5,000 Corporate Engagement — Baby Shower Program for Expectant Mothers, up to 10 volunteers per program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
RIVER FUND product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RIVER FUND is a direct-service poverty alleviation nonprofit providing free emergency food distribution, social services navigation, and educational support to low-income individuals, families, children, and seniors in New York City. It operates through three pillars: Food Access (distributing over 1 million pounds of groceries monthly across onsite, mobile, homebound, and hub-and-spoke channels), Benefits Access (connecting 5,000+ clients annually to 40+ social service programs including SNAP, immigration, and health care), and Cradle to College Education (scholarships, mentoring, baby showers, and back-to-school programs). Services are provided free of charge to clients and funded through donations and corporate partnerships.
Product overview
RIVER FUND is a non-profit poverty assistance organization operating as a unified portfolio of integrated social service programs. The organization delivers three core service channels through its 'Family-by-Family' Approach: Food Access (including Onsite Pantry, Mobile Pantry, Homebound Independence, and Hub & Spoke programs), Education/Cradle to College (featuring the Mary C. Tiedemann Scholarship, Child Poverty Awareness Day, and Kids Worldwide), and Benefits Access (SNAP, immigration, and health care services). The G.I.V.E. Program enables corporate volunteer engagement. The organization serves the New York City area from its Richmond Hill, Queens location.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Food Access Programs RIVER FUND's Food Access division provides emergency food distribution through multiple channels including Onsite Pantry, Mobile Pantry, Homebound Independence, and Hub & Spoke programs, distributing over 1 million pounds of groceries monthly to families, individuals, and seniors in New York City across 40+ zip codes.
- Onsite Pantry Weekly food distribution at the Richmond Hill, Queens location with Wednesday dedicated to seniors and disabled (1,100+ households weekly), Saturday serving families and individuals (1,800+ households weekly), using a Client Choice Pantry model and distributing approximately 100 lbs of fresh produce, protein, and staples per household.
- Mobile Pantry Mobile food distribution program bringing groceries to communities with limited food access across Queens and Brooklyn, with emergency response capabilities demonstrated during Hurricane Sandy (2012) when RIVER FUND distributed 323 tons of food to 87,000 New Yorkers in two months.
- Homebound Independence Program Bi-weekly grocery delivery service for elderly and disabled individuals, providing customized groceries tailored to dietary requirements to support aging-in-place with dignity. Clients are assessed and enrolled yearly to ensure receipt of all qualifying benefits.
- Hub & Spoke Program Food distribution network in which RIVER FUND serves as a central hub supplying 350,000+ pounds of food monthly to 6-8+ smaller community-based organizations and food pantries serving food-insecure neighborhoods, supporting 4,000+ new households monthly.
- Education Programs (Cradle to College) Comprehensive educational support from prenatal through college, including Mary C. Tiedemann Scholarship, Mentoring Program, Baby Shower Program, Child Poverty Awareness Day, and Kids Worldwide workshops, with documented impact of $46 in youth-poverty reduction per $1 spent.
- Mary C. Tiedemann Scholarship Scholarship program supporting youth educational journeys from college through graduate studies, with recipients including valedictorians from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health.
- Child Poverty Awareness Day Annual August back-to-school program distributing 5,500 backpacks and school supplies to children in poverty, launched as the nation's first Child Poverty Awareness Day in 2013.
- Benefits Access Programs Social services navigation including SNAP assistance, immigration services, and health care guidance, connecting over 5,000 clients annually to over 40 social service programs, with documented impact of $27 in cash-value to clients per $1 spent.
- G.I.V.E. Program (Get Involved Volunteer Experience) Corporate volunteer engagement program offering structured service days with tiered tax-deductible donation levels: $25,000 (3 Dedicated Food Distribution Program Days, up to 25 volunteers per program), $10,000 (Mary C. Tiedemann Scholarship Volunteer Program, up to 15 volunteers per program), and $5,000 (Baby Shower Program for Expectant Mothers, up to 10 volunteers per program).
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1 million pounds of groceries and essentials distributed per month
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use RIVER FUND
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
RIVER FUND technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RIVER FUND partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- PAC NYC (Perelman Performing Arts Center)corePAC NYC partnered with RIVER FUND during the holiday season (November 23 through January 4) for the production of 'A Christmas Carol' direct from London's Old Vic. Each performance invited audiences to donate and hold a Toy Drive directly supporting RIVER FUND's mission and the families served.
- Amazin' Mets FoundationminorAmazin' Mets Foundation partnered with RIVER FUND for the 2023 Thanksgiving distribution of 5,500 turkeys to households in need.
- City HarvestminorCity Harvest partnered with RIVER FUND for the 2023 Thanksgiving distribution, supporting food access efforts.
- Coca-ColaminorCoca-Cola partnered with RIVER FUND for the 2023 Thanksgiving distribution of 5,500 turkeys to households in need.
- Food Bank NYCminorFood Bank NYC partnered with RIVER FUND for the 2023 Thanksgiving distribution.
- New York CaresminorNew York Cares partnered with RIVER FUND for the 2023 Thanksgiving distribution.
- Van Wyck & Van WyckminorVan Wyck & Van Wyck partnered with RIVER FUND for the 2023 Thanksgiving distribution. The event design and production firm also supports gala events.
- We Wore What (Danielle Bernstein)minorWe Wore What, the brand of RIVER FUND Board Member Danielle Bernstein, partnered with RIVER FUND for the 2023 Thanksgiving distribution through its philanthropic arm WeGaveWhat.
- Young Men's/Women's Real Estate Association of New York (YMWREA)minorYMWREA partnered with RIVER FUND for the 2023 Thanksgiving distribution, including support from Gary Trock.
- RCano EventsminorRCano Events partnered with RIVER FUND for the 2023 Thanksgiving distribution.
- GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis)coreGMHC partnered with RIVER FUND and Catholic Migration Services for the first in-person Immigration Drive since COVID, completing citizenship applications for over 20 clients. GMHC serves New Yorkers disproportionately affected by HIV and COVID-19 pandemics.
- Catholic Migration ServicescoreCatholic Migration Services partnered with RIVER FUND and GMHC to provide pro-bono legal screenings and services to documented and undocumented immigrants in Brooklyn and Queens for citizenship application assistance.
- AlixPartnerscoreAlixPartners is a long-standing corporate partner of RIVER FUND, participating in annual holiday programs, volunteerism, and donating refurbished tech equipment. During COVID-19, AlixPartners staff engaged with RIVER FUND through its 'family by family' approach. The partnership exemplifies corporate community engagement and was honored at the 2023 RIVER FUND Gala.
- Resorts WorldcoreResorts World New York City is a neighboring partner that collaboratively supports RIVER FUND throughout the year, enhancing the community and creating positive change. Resorts World has been a consistent supporter of RIVER FUND's vital work.
- Bloomberg ServicemajorBloomberg Service partnered with RIVER FUND for five consecutive years to provide brand-new bicycles to children during summer break. 150 children received bikes annually, bringing joy and mobility to RIVER FUND youth.
- CitimajorCiti partnered with RIVER FUND alongside Bloomberg Service for five consecutive years to provide bicycles to children, supporting summer programming for youth from low-income families.
- MadhivecoreMadhive team members have participated in RIVER FUND volunteer days, describing the experience as incredible and noting pride in being part of an organization 'leading with empathy.' R. Spencer Potts, CEO of Madhive, serves as Capital Chair of RIVER FUND's Board.
- Hilton Capital ManagementcoreHilton Capital Management, led by Board Member Timothy Reilly, is a true believer in RIVER FUND's mission and supports the Mary C. Tiedemann Scholarship and other programs. The firm also offers a summer internship each year to a Mary C. Tiedemann Scholarship Recipient.
- MiddleGround CapitalminorA partner from MiddleGround Capital participated in a RIVER FUND volunteer day, describing it as an opportunity to make a meaningful difference for neighbors navigating difficult circumstances.
- CUNY Graduate School of Public HealthminorMary C. Tiedemann Scholars Aaishah and Alisha Mahadeo graduated from CUNY's Graduate School of Public Health with Master's Degrees in Public Health with concentrations in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, serving as valedictorians. CUNY is an educational pathway partner in RIVER FUND's Cradle to College initiative.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
RIVER FUND competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CAMBA: Brooklyn-based social services nonprofit providing housing, health, education, and youth programs. Comparable as a multi-pillar Brooklyn/Queens-area direct service provider addressing poverty across multiple dimensions.
- Coalition for the Homeless: NYC's oldest advocacy and direct-service organization for homeless individuals. Comparable as a NYC-based emergency assistance provider serving overlapping low-income populations with direct food and benefits support.
- City Harvest: NYC's largest food rescue organization, distributing surplus food to pantries and feeding programs. Directly comparable as a NYC emergency food provider and an actual RIVER FUND partner (Thanksgiving 2023).
- Food Bank For New York City: NYC's largest food bank, distributing food citywide through pantries and partner organizations. Directly comparable to RIVER FUND in food distribution mission and serves overlapping Queens/Brooklyn beneficiaries at significantly greater scale.
- Henry Street Settlement: Historic NYC social services organization serving Lower East Side with integrated education, workforce, health, and arts programs. Comparable as a multi-pillar community-based nonprofit delivering coordinated services to low-income NYC families.
- Catholic Charities of New York: Major multi-service NYC social services nonprofit operating food pantries, immigration, and benefits programs. Comparable in offering wraparound services across food, benefits, and family support to overlapping low-income populations.
- The Bowery Mission: NYC poverty services organization providing meals, shelter, and recovery programs. Comparable as a frontline NYC poverty nonprofit distributing food and wraparound services to low-income households.
Emerging players
- God's Love We Deliver: NYC nonprofit providing medically-tailored home-delivered meals to people living with serious illness. Comparable in homebound meal delivery model (overlapping with RIVER FUND's Homebound Independence Program) but narrower disease-focused scope.
Others
- Hunger Free America: NYC-based anti-hunger advocacy and direct-service organization. Adjacent in mission space but focuses primarily on policy advocacy and benefits access rather than food distribution scale.
Broad incumbents
- Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services: Large NYC social services nonprofit providing mental health, housing, and family services. Comparable as a multi-pillar NYC social services organization but with broader clinical/behavioral health scope and substantially greater scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RIVER FUND social profiles
Digital presenceRIVER FUND compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
RIVER FUND financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RIVER FUND leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
RIVER FUND funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RIVER FUND M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RIVER FUND
What does RIVER FUND do?
RIVER FUND is a direct-service poverty alleviation nonprofit providing free emergency food distribution, social services navigation, and educational support to low-income individuals, families, children, and seniors in New York City. It operates through three pillars: Food Access (distributing over 1 million pounds of groceries monthly across onsite, mobile, homebound, and hub-and-spoke channels), Benefits Access (connecting 5,000+ clients annually to 40+ social service programs including SNAP, immigration, and health care), and Cradle to College Education (scholarships, mentoring, baby showers, and back-to-school programs). Services are provided free of charge to clients and funded through donations and corporate partnerships.
Is RIVER FUND a public or private company?
RIVER FUND is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was RIVER FUND founded?
RIVER FUND was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is RIVER FUND based?
RIVER FUND is headquartered in Richmond Hill, United States, in the North America region.
How does RIVER FUND make money?
One revenue line is on record: charitable Donations.
Who are RIVER FUND's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CAMBA, Coalition for the Homeless, City Harvest, Food Bank For New York City, Henry Street Settlement, Catholic Charities of New York and The Bowery Mission. God's Love We Deliver is listed as an emerging player. Hunger Free America is listed as an others. Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does RIVER FUND have an API?
No public API is recorded for RIVER FUND.
What industry is RIVER FUND in?
RIVER FUND's product category is Poverty Alleviation and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJALAF, Community Health & Prevention Program Funding, with a secondary code of BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors). Its NAICS code is 624210 and its SIC code is 8300.