Meals on Wheels of Alameda County (MOWAC)

What Meals on Wheels of Alameda County (MOWAC) does

Meals on Wheels of Alameda County (MOWAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation (Tax ID 94-2651065) headquartered at 1721 Broadway #201, Oakland, California. It functions as a central coordinating and fundraising body for five independent Meals on Wheels delivery programs in Alameda County: J-Sei (culturally tailored Japanese meals), Service Opportunity for Seniors/Meals on Wheels, Spectrum Community Service, Tri-City Meals on Wheels, and Alameda Meals on Wheels. Rather than operating its own delivery fleet, MOWAC channels financial support and strategic assistance to these partners, which together deliver approximately 2,700 nutritious meals per day to homebound seniors across roughly 20 cities, while also performing wellness checks that enable seniors to remain independent at home. The organization is led by Executive Director Marisa P. Melo (since 2016) and Development & Administrative Coordinator Colleen Roeser (since early 2020), with governance from a volunteer Board of Directors.

MOWAC's revenue is entirely philanthropic and diversified across more than a dozen giving mechanisms: individual donations, employer matching gifts, workplace giving campaigns (Alameda County Combined Charities, America's Best Charities, California State Employee Campaign, City of Oakland/SF, Combined Federal Campaign, East Bay MUD, Port of Oakland), Donor-Advised Fund grants (including a DAF Day on October 9, 2025), charitable IRA rollovers up to $100,000 for donors 70½+, stock gifts, cryptocurrency donations (BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, Z-cash, GUSD), vehicle donations through partner Car Donation Services, and legacy/bequest gifts recognized through the Legacy Society at $10,000+. A branded merchandise storefront (mugs, totes, polos, charging cables priced $12-$30) provides a minor supplemental revenue line. Signature fundraising events include the More than a Meal 2025 Casino Speakeasy Night (June 21, 2025) and virtual Estate Planning Seminars (April 30, 2025), with ticket-style pricing and auction proceeds.

Accreditation and transparency posture is strong: Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025), BBB Wise Giving Alliance accreditation, and Charity Navigator 4-star rating are publicly displayed. Audited financials are referenced from FY 2011-2012 onward. The headcount is small (1-10 employees) and the organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no equity funding. The core technology stack is non-technical: a Squarespace website (feedingseniors.org), online donation pages via givebutter.com, and standard email/newsletter tooling — with no proprietary platform, mobile app, API, or AI/ML component disclosed.

Name

Meals on Wheels of Alameda County (MOWAC)

Legal name

Meals on Wheels of Alameda County

Website

https://feedingseniors.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Meals on Wheels of Alameda County (MOWAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and coordinates five partner meal-delivery programs serving approximately 2,700 homebound seniors daily across Alameda County, California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, employer matching gifts, workplace giving campaigns (payroll deduction), Donor-Advised Fund grants, charitable IRA rollovers (for donors 70½ or older, up to $100,000 tax-free), stock gifts, cryptocurrency donations, and vehicle donations through partner Car Donation Services.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including mugs, totes, polo shirts, and charging cables through the organization's online store. Prices range from $12 to $30 per item.
3. Legacy Giving and Bequests: Bequests through wills or living trusts, beneficiary designations on retirement plans or life insurance. Supporters committing $10,000 or more through estate are recognized as Legacy Society members. Tax ID: 94-2651065.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MOWAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that functions as the central coordinating and funding body for five independent Meals on Wheels delivery programs serving Alameda County. It enables homebound seniors to maintain independence by channeling financial support, strategic assistance, and operational coordination to partner programs that deliver approximately 2,700 nutritious meals and wellness checks daily across cities including Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Fremont, Hayward, and surrounding areas. The organization also operates a branded merchandise store and runs signature fundraising events to sustain its mission.

Product overview

Meals on Wheels of Alameda County (MOWAC) is a nonprofit organization that enables homebound seniors to maintain independence by providing financial support and strategic assistance to Meals on Wheels programs. MOWAC operates as a hub organization supporting five local meal delivery programs (J-Sei, Service Opportunity for Seniors/MOW, Spectrum Community Service, Tri-City Meals on Wheels, and Alameda Meals on Wheels) that collectively nourish approximately 2,700 seniors daily. The organization also maintains an online merchandise store selling branded items (mugs, charging cables, tote bags, and polo shirts) and organizes signature fundraising events including the annual Casino Speakeasy Night and Estate Planning Seminars. MOWAC offers multiple giving mechanisms including cryptocurrency donations, vehicle donations, legacy giving, charitable IRA rollovers, and workplace giving campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Desk Mug 12 oz stainless steel vacuum insulated desk mug with soldered handle that keeps drinks hot or cold for 12 hours; sold for $21.00 as branded merchandise to support MOWAC's fundraising.
• Two Tone 3-In-1 Charging Cable Two-tone charging cable compatible with Apple 8-pin devices, Micro USB, and Type C USB; sold for $12.00 as branded merchandise.
• 5 oz Natural Cotton Tote with Black Straps Natural cotton tote bag with black straps, size 14.76"x14"x5"; sold for $15.00 as branded merchandise.
• Port Authority SuperPro React Polo (Men's) Men's 5-ounce 65/35 poly/cotton pique polo, stain-releasing, snag-resistant, available in Medium to X-Large; sold for $30.00 as branded merchandise.
• Port Authority Women's SuperPro React Polo Women's 5-ounce 65/35 poly/cotton pique polo, stain-releasing, snag-resistant, 5-button placket, available in Small to XXX-Large; sold for $30.00 as branded merchandise.
• Partner Meal Delivery Network (J-Sei, SOS, Spectrum, Tri-City, Alameda MOW) Five member programs delivering nutritious meals and wellness checks to homebound seniors across Alameda County: J-Sei (Japanese meals in Alameda/Albany/Berkeley/Hayward/Oakland/San Leandro/San Lorenzo), Service Opportunity for Seniors (Oakland, Fremont, Union City, Newark, Piedmont, Hayward and surrounding cities), Spectrum Community Service (Dublin, Pleasanton, Sunol, Livermore), Tri-City Meals on Wheels (Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville), and Alameda Meals on Wheels (Alameda city).
• More than a Meal 2025 - Casino Speakeasy Night Annual signature fundraising gala featuring three-course meal, cocktails, live entertainment, gaming tables with play money, silent and live auctions, and dancing, held to raise funds for MOWAC's mission.
• Estate Planning Virtual Seminars Virtual educational seminar on estate planning held on April 30, 2025, helping individuals learn how to secure their assets and legacies while making a meaningful impact on homebound seniors.
• Donor-Advised Fund Day (DAF Day) Annual collaborative giving day held October 9, 2025, reframing how donor-advised funds are used; part of a coordinated effort with leading nonprofits and DAF providers.
• Vehicle Donation Program Partnership with Car Donation Services (1-888-686-4483) enabling donors to contribute vehicles to support MOWAC; the partner handles DMV paperwork and arranges pickup.
• Cryptocurrency Donations Tax-efficient donation option accepting Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Z-cash, and Gemini Dollars (GUSD); cryptocurrency gifts to 501(c)(3) charities receive property tax treatment without triggering capital gains tax.
• Legacy Giving / The Legacy Society Estate planning giving options including bequests in wills or living trusts and beneficiary designations through retirement plans or life insurance. Members committing $10,000+ through estate are recognized in The Legacy Society.
• Charitable IRA Rollover Tax-free gift option for donors 70½ or older, allowing up to $100,000 from Traditional or Roth IRA to be donated directly to MOWAC, counting toward required minimum distribution and excludable from federal gross income.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,700 seniors receive daily meal delivery and wellness checks
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Car Donation ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle donation partner facilitating donors' vehicle contributions to support meal delivery programs. Donors can call 1-888-686-4483 or complete an online donation form. Partner handles DMV paperwork and arranges vehicle pickup through towing company. This partnership supports delivery of 2,500 meals daily to isolated seniors.
• J-SeicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese meals program serving Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Hayward, Oakland, San Leandro & San Lorenzo for seniors 60+. Delivers culturally appropriate meals to Japanese-speaking seniors. Contact: (510) 654-4000 ext. 105. Address: 1285 66th Street, Emeryville, CA 94608.
• Service Opportunity for Seniors/Meals on WheelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes Oakland, Fremont, Union City, Newark, Piedmont, Hayward, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Cherryland, Ashland, & San Leandro. Contact: (510) 582-1263. Address: 2235 Polvorosa Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94577.
• Spectrum Community ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes Dublin, Pleasanton, Sunol (510-881-0305) and Livermore (510-881-0304). Address: 2621 Barrington Ct., Hayward, CA 94545. Serves seniors 60+.
• Tri-City Meals on WheelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes Berkeley (510-981-5250), Albany (510-524-9122), Emeryville (510-596-4309). Address: 1011 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710.
• Alameda Meals on WheelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes Alameda city. Contact: (510) 865-6131. Address: 516 Willow St., Alameda, CA 94501. Serves all ages.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• God's Love We Deliver: NYC-based nonprofit providing medically tailored home-delivered meals to people living with serious illness. Comparable volunteer-supported home-delivery operating model with strong brand recognition, though focused on acute/chronic illness rather than senior independence.
• Project Angel Food: Los Angeles-based nonprofit delivering medically tailored meals to people facing serious illness. Operates a comparable home-delivery model with similar donor-funded cost structure and signature-event-driven fundraising, though geographically distinct from MOWAC.
• Project Open Hand: San Francisco-based nonprofit delivering nutritious meals to seniors and individuals with critical illness. Operates a comparable home-delivered meal model with a similar donor-supported cost structure, though with a broader medical-nutrition focus than MOWAC's pure senior-services scope.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National hunger-relief umbrella organization operating a network of 200+ regional food banks; addresses senior nutrition as one of several program areas. Operates at vastly larger scale than MOWAC and represents a broader-mission peer in the same hunger-relief space.
• Meals on Wheels of America: National umbrella organization supporting 5,000+ community meal programs across the U.S. Provides branding, research, advocacy, and federal funding channels that flow down to MOWAC and its five partner programs. Operates as both a strategic partner and the broadest-scale peer.
• Meals on Wheels California: Statewide trade association representing California Meals on Wheels affiliates; provides advocacy, training, and state-level grantmaking. MOWAC is a member of this umbrella body, making it both a peer and a funder/support partner.

Others

• Alameda County Community Food Bank: Largest hunger-relief organization in Alameda County, distributing food via a partner pantry network rather than direct home delivery. Shares geographic footprint, overlapping donor base, and food-security mission though operating via a fundamentally different distribution model.

Direct peers

• Meals on Wheels of San Mateo County: Adjacent Bay Area county Meals on Wheels affiliate serving homebound seniors through daily meal delivery and wellness checks. Same brand, comparable service model, and overlapping regional fundraising market.
• Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa County: Adjacent Bay Area county Meals on Wheels affiliate delivering daily meals to homebound seniors through a comparable volunteer-driven model. Closely comparable in mission, partner program structure, and donor demographic profile to MOWAC.
• Meals on Wheels of San Francisco: Direct county-level Meals on Wheels affiliate serving homebound San Francisco seniors through volunteer-driven meal delivery and wellness checks. Same national brand affiliation, same hub-and-spoke delivery model, and overlapping Bay Area donor base make this the closest direct peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alameda-county-meals-on-wheels

Compliance4 records

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 Meals on Wheels of Alameda County (MOWAC)