Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation

What Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation does

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1966 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, operating with a lean staff of six as the dedicated philanthropic arm of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Foundation's core function is collecting charitable donations and disbursing them as scholarships, awards, research grants, fellowships, and disaster relief to registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), nutrition and dietetics technicians registered (NDTRs), and students across the nutrition and dietetics pipeline. In its most recent fiscal year (FY2026), it distributed over $1.35 million to 380 recipients, following $1.6 million to 543 recipients in FY2025 and $1.7 million to 390 recipients and projects in FY2024. The Make It a Million Scholarship Campaign raised $1,078,945, surpassing its goal, demonstrating campaign execution capability beyond recurring program disbursements.

The Foundation operates a portfolio of programmatic initiatives beyond direct funding. Proprietary evidence-based tools include GENIE (a nine-category, 35-criterion self-assessment framework for nutrition education program design) and DANEH (a 21-construct checklist for evaluating and developing nutrition education handouts). Thematic initiatives include Kids Eat Right (childhood obesity prevention), Food as Medicine (registered dietitian integration in food retail settings), and Food and Nutrition Security (including the Future of Food initiative launched in 2012 with Feeding America and the National Dairy Council). International programming runs through the Wimpfheimer-Guggenheim Fund, supporting exchange programs and fellowships for dietitians in countries including Ghana, Guatemala, India, Laos, and Malawi.

The Foundation's business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. It receives no portion of Academy member dues and operates independently through individual donors, corporate and foundation grants, event fundraising (FNCE silent auctions, Give Day, Anytime 5K), and planned giving vehicles (I Will Legacy Society, Emeritus Society). Distribution of resources occurs through a universal electronic application portal and free downloadable resources from eatrightfoundation.org, with the website and newsletter serving as primary engagement channels. The Foundation's strategic partnerships span food industry (Walmart, Topco, ConAgra, General Mills), professional credentialing bodies (Commission on Dietetic Registration), and adjacent non-profits (Feeding America, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, FMI), positioning it as a convener within the nutrition profession.

Name

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation

Legal name

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation

Website

https://eatrightfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1966 that funds the nutrition and dietetics profession through scholarships, awards, research grants, and fellowships, distributing over $1.35 million annually to RDNs, NDTRs, and students worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nutrition & Dietetics Services (EDALAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrition & Diet Education (Meal Planning, Macros, Healthy Cooking) (EDAAAHAA), General Nutrition Coaching (HSADAFAA)

Keywords

• Nutrition education scholarships
• Dietetics research grants
• Professional nutrition awards
• Charitable nutrition foundation
• Public health nutrition

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that funds scholarships, awards, research grants, and fellowships for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), nutrition and dietetics technicians registered (NDTRs), and students pursuing nutrition and dietetics careers. It also develops and distributes free evidence-based nutrition education resources and tools (such as GENIE and DANEH) and supports public health initiatives like Kids Eat Right, Food as Medicine, and Food and Nutrition Security.

Product overview

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is a charitable organization that serves as the only foundation devoted exclusively to enhancing public health through supporting and advancing the nutrition and dietetics profession. The Foundation operates as a unified portfolio of funding programs (scholarships, awards, research grants, and fellowships) supported by evidence-based tools including GENIE (a self-assessment framework for nutrition education programs) and DANEH (a checklist for nutrition education handouts). Key initiatives include Kids Eat Right, Food as Medicine, and Food and Nutrition Security, along with international programs through the Wimpfheimer-Guggenheim Fund. The Foundation does not charge for its resources and is funded entirely through donor contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GENIE (Guide for Effective Nutrition Interventions and Education)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.35 million provided to 380 RDNs, NDTRs, and students in fiscal year 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WalmartcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Provided a planning grant for the 'Leveraging RDNs in the Food Retail Environment to Improve Public Health' project, supporting the Foundation's Food as Medicine initiative in food retail settings.
• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Collaborated on the Future of Food initiative launched in 2012 to position nutrition and dietetics professionals to address food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition, food waste, agriculture, and healthy sustainable food systems.
• National Dairy CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Co-founded the Future of Food initiative with Feeding America in 2012 to advance food and nutrition security through professional education and community resources.
• ConAgra Foods FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the development of GENIE (Guide for Effective Nutrition Interventions and Education), an evidence-based tool for nutrition education program design and evaluation.
• TopcominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided grant funding for the 'Food as Medicine in the Retail Setting: A Comprehensive Guide to Program Evaluation' resource development.
• Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership to develop the next generation of food and nutrition professionals through scholarships, awards, and research grants. Co-sponsors the CDR Emerging Researcher Grant ($10,000 each to 5 recipients) and CDR Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Grant ($5,000 each to 5 recipients).
• General Mills FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided educational grant supporting the 'Dietitian-led Food as Medicine e-commerce program' feasibility study webinar and continuing education.
• Healthy Eating Research / Robert Wood Johnson FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids Toolkit with expert panel representation from key national health and nutrition organizations including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• FMI - The Food Industry AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the 'The Food as Medicine Opportunity in Food Retail' report and ongoing partnership for food retail nutrition programming and professional development.
• Pediatric Nutrition Practice GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with the Foundation and Women's Health DPG to support the ANDHII Breastfeeding Registry study examining RDN documentation of breastfeeding support services.
• Women's Health DPGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Foundation and Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group on the Breastfeeding Registry study and other women's health nutrition initiatives.
• Gatorade Sports Science InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors the Foundation's Anytime 5K event at FNCE, supporting fundraising while promoting health and wellness among conference attendees.
• Indiana University Indianapolis Nutrition and DieteticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors the Foundation's Silent Auction at FNCE, supporting the Annual Fund through event fundraising.
• Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors (NDEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Foundation to provide NDEP Outstanding Preceptor of the Year Awards (with registration support up to $1,000 to attend FNCE) and annual scholarships including NDEP Graduate Scholarship and Preceptor Scholarship.
• Academy of Nutrition and DieteticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation is the charitable arm of the Academy, receiving organizational support while maintaining independence. The Academy's Research, International, and Scientific Affairs team collaborates on research projects including the Evidence Analysis Center scoping reviews.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Diabetes Association: Health-focused nonprofit foundation funding nutrition research and professional education in diabetes management; comparable mission overlap with dietetics.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Major health philanthropy funding nutrition, food systems, and Healthy Eating Research; co-developed Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids Toolkit with the Foundation.
• American Heart Association: Larger health-focused nonprofit funding nutrition-related research, scholarships, and public education; overlaps mission around diet's role in disease prevention.

Direct peers

• American Institute for Cancer Research: Charitable organization funding nutrition and cancer research, providing grants and public education in the same niche.
• Feeding America: Co-founded the Future of Food initiative with the Foundation in 2012; comparable nonprofit working on food security and nutrition access.
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Parent professional association for registered dietitian nutritionists; the Foundation is its charitable arm and shares mission, members, and brand. Directly aligned in serving the nutrition profession.
• Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR): Credentialing body for RDNs that co-sponsors research grants and emerging researcher awards with the Foundation; shares the same professional audience and pipeline.
• National Dairy Council: Co-founded Future of Food initiative with the Foundation; food industry-affiliated nutrition education and research nonprofit with shared priorities.

Others

• General Mills Foundation: Corporate foundation funding nutrition education and dietitian-led programs; current partner of the Foundation and comparable grantmaker in the food-and-nutrition space.
• ConAgra Brands Foundation: Corporate foundation that funded development of the Foundation's GENIE tool; comparable corporate grantmaker supporting nutrition education initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academy-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation