Community Food Advocates of NYC

What Community Food Advocates of NYC does

Community Food Advocates (CFA) is a 501(c)(3) policy advocacy nonprofit founded in 2010 by Kathy Goldman and Agnes Molnar as a successor to the Community Food Resource Center, where both co-founders worked from 1981 to 2003 on federal food assistance, child nutrition, and EITC programs. The organization is headquartered in New York City under a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with the Tides Center and operates with a staff of approximately 15. CFA's mission is to leverage high-impact public policy and strategic coalition building to ensure all New Yorkers have access to healthy, affordable, culturally affirming food within a sustainable and equity-centered food system, with racial equity as a central operating pillar.

CFA delivers its work through four interconnected advocacy programs. The School Meals program operates the Lunch 4 Learning NYC campaign and the co-led Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids statewide coalition, both aimed at universal free school meals. The Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) campaign advances values-based procurement across NYC and New York State, with adoption in 7 of 11 NYC food-serving city agencies. The Supermarket Access program pursues a six-pillar policy framework to expand affordable grocery retail in underserved NYC neighborhoods and is now collaborating with the Mamdani administration on the first city-owned supermarket at La Marqueta in East Harlem. The Youth Food Advocates (YFA) program is a high-school leadership pipeline producing the YFA Menu Survey Report and the Cafeteria Enhancement Experience (CEE) cafeteria redesign model. Supporting deliverables include multilingual School Food 101 resource guides in 11 languages, policy publications, and youth-led social campaigns.

The business model is donations and grants from foundations, individuals, and recurring donors, accepted at tiers ranging from $35 (Friend) to $2,500 (Sustainer) via Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, and credit card. CFA holds a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, placing it in the top <1% of US-based nonprofits for accountability, and has been awarded the James Beard Foundation Leadership Award, the 2025 Hunger to Health Collaboratory Prizes for Innovation, and a 2012 White House Champion of Change honor. Revenue, paid customers, and government contracts are not in the model; CFA's 'revenue' in policy terms is the $340 million statewide school meals investment (2025), the $125M-plus Cafeteria Redesign capital (2023-2024), and the passage of the Good Food NY Bill through the NYS legislature (2026), reflecting significant recent programmatic and political momentum.

Name

Community Food Advocates of NYC

Legal name

Community Food Advocates

Website

https://foodadvocates.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Food Advocates (CFA) is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) policy advocacy nonprofit founded in 2010 that leverages high-impact public policy and coalition building to ensure all New Yorkers have access to healthy, affordable, culturally affirming food within an equity-centered food system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs) (EDACAMAA), Nutrition Policy, Dietary Guidelines & Fortification Programs (HLAJAEAC)

Keywords

• Food policy advocacy
• School meals programs
• Food justice coalitions
• Community food access
• Nonprofit advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CFA is a nonprofit organization that operates primarily through donations and grant funding. They have received the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid and accept donations through various payment methods including Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, and credit/debit cards.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Food Advocates is a nonprofit policy advocacy organization that leverages high-impact public policy and coalition building to ensure New Yorkers have access to healthy, affordable, culturally affirming food. Its core offerings include School Meals Advocacy (Lunch 4 Learning and Healthy School Meals for All campaigns), Good Food Purchasing Program advocacy, Supermarket Access policy advocacy, and the Youth Food Advocates youth leadership program. CFA does not sell products or services; it advances systemic change through strategic coalitions, policy analysis, and engagement of people most directly affected by food insecurity.

Product overview

Community Food Advocates (CFA) is a nonprofit policy advocacy organization that operates as a coalition-based model rather than a traditional software product. Its core offerings consist of four interconnected advocacy programs: School Meals Advocacy (including the Lunch 4 Learning city campaign and the Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids state campaign), Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) Advocacy (transforming institutional food procurement across NYC and NY State), Supermarket Access Program (expanding affordable grocery retail through policy and city-owned supermarket initiatives), and Youth Food Advocates (YFA) (a youth leadership and advocacy internship program for NYC high school students). Supporting sub-products include the Cafeteria Enhancement Experience (CEE) for physical cafeteria redesign, multilingual School Food 101 resource guides, the YFA Menu Survey Report for student-driven feedback, the YFA Gratitude Campaign for school food worker recognition, and published policy recommendation reports on supermarket access. All programs are advanced through strategic coalition building and high-impact public policy engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lunch 4 Learning: A coalition campaign advocating for universal free school lunch in NYC public schools, launched in 2013.
• Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids
• NYS Good Food Purchasing Program Campaign
• Youth Food Advocates

Products and services

• School Meals Advocacy
• Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) Advocacy
• Supermarket Access Program
• Youth Food Advocates (YFA)
• Cafeteria Redesign (Cafeteria Enhancement Experience)

Quantifiable outcome

• 35% increase in student participation in school lunch at schools with redesigned cafeterias
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

47 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CUNY Urban Food Policy InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Co-lead organization of the NYC Good Food Purchasing Program Coalition alongside CFA and Food Chain Workers Alliance. Provides research and policy expertise for GFPP implementation in NYC.
• Food Chain Workers AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Co-lead organization of the NYC GFPP Coalition. Represents food chain workers and advocates for valued workforce in institutional food procurement.
• Center for Good Food PurchasingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting NYC GFPP implementation and coalition efforts.
• City HarvestsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner focused on food rescue and food security.
• District Council 37 (DC37)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner and union representing municipal workers, including food service workers.
• Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner advocating for worker protections in food procurement contracts.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner focused on environmental sustainability in food systems.
• EarthjusticesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner providing environmental legal expertise.
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner advocating for animal welfare in food procurement.
• World Animal ProtectionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner focused on animal welfare values in GFPP.
• United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner representing food workers and advocates for good jobs.
• Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration CorporationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner representing Brooklyn community development.
• Bronx Health REACHsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner focused on health equity in the Bronx.
• Lenox Hill Neighborhood HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner providing social services and advocacy.
• Rural Migrant MinistrysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner advocating for rural and migrant farm workers.
• The Common MarketsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner connecting institutions with regional farms.
• Westside Campaign Against HungersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC coalition partner addressing hunger through direct services and advocacy.
• Good Food Buffalo CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition partner co-leading GFPP advocacy in Buffalo and Western NY.
• Adirondack Food System NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner focused on Adirondack region food systems.
• Alianza AgricolasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner representing agricultural workers.
• Black Farmers United NYSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner advocating for Black farmers.
• Catskills Agrarian AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner representing Catskills region farmers.
• Center for Agricultural Development & EntrepreneurshipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner supporting agricultural entrepreneurship.
• Center for Science in the Public InterestsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner focused on health and nutrition policy.
• Equity AdvocatessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner focused on equity in food systems.
• Farm SanctuarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner advocating for farm animal welfare.
• Feast Kitchen LLCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner representing food businesses.
• Feeding New York StatesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner representing food banks statewide.
• Food for the SpiritsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner focused on food justice.
• GynwoodsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner in food systems.
• Headwater Food HubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner connecting farms to institutions.
• Health Care Without HarmsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner focused on health care and food systems.
• Hudson Valley Food HubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner in Hudson Valley region.
• Hudson Valley Food Systems CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner focused on Hudson Valley food systems.
• Island Harvest Food BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner (Long Island) addressing hunger.
• Massachusetts Avenue ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner in Buffalo focused on food systems change.
• Northeast NY Coalition for Occupational Safety and HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner focused on worker safety.
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of New YorksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner representing organic farmers.
• NY Sustainable Agriculture Working GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner focused on sustainable agriculture.
• Rochester Food Policy CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner in Rochester region.
• Syracuse Onondaga Food Systems AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner in Syracuse region.
• Teens for Food JusticesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner engaging youth in food justice.
• VOICE BuffalosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner in Buffalo focused on worker organizing.
• West Valley Farms and CampssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner representing farms.
• Worker Justice Center of New YorksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYS coalition partner focused on worker rights.
• Hunger Solutions New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead of the Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids coalition with CFA. Led advocacy for $340M state investment in universal free school meals.
• NYC Mamdani AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFA is collaborating closely with key members of the Mamdani administration to ensure success of city-owned supermarkets initiative at La Marqueta in East Harlem.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute: Academic policy partner that co-leads the NYC GFPP Coalition with CFA and provides research underpinning GFPP implementation. Comparable mission (food justice, policy advocacy) and joint project structure make it a direct peer.
• Center for Good Food Purchasing: National backbone organization for the Good Food Purchasing Program. Direct peer because CFA is the NY lead advocate for GFPP adoption and the Center provides the program framework that CFA implements across NYC and NY State agencies.
• Food Chain Workers Alliance: National coalition of food worker organizations that co-leads the NYC GFPP Coalition with CFA. Direct peer in institutional food procurement advocacy, particularly the "valued workforce" pillar of GFPP.
• Hunger Solutions New York: Statewide anti-hunger advocacy organization that co-leads the Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids coalition with CFA. Direct peer because it operates in the same NYC/NY State food access policy space, with overlapping school meals and SNAP/WIC advocacy priorities.

Broad incumbents

• Share Our Strength / No Kid Hungry: National campaign to end childhood hunger that has invested heavily in universal free school meals advocacy at federal and state levels. Broader geographic and programmatic footprint, but directly comparable in school meals policy advocacy goals.
• WhyHunger: National hunger and poverty advocacy nonprofit where CFA board member Jan Poppendieck served for many years. Operates in overlapping food justice and anti-hunger advocacy space with a national rather than regional lens.
• Center for Science in the Public Interest: National nutrition and food policy advocacy organization that is also a CFA coalition partner. Broader scope across federal nutrition labeling, trans fats, and school nutrition, but operates in the same food policy advocacy field.
• Food Research & Action Center (FRAC): National anti-hunger advocacy organization working on federal nutrition programs (SNAP, school meals, WIC). Broader scope and larger scale than CFA, but operating in the same school meals and food access policy domain nationally.

Emerging players

• National Farm to School Network: National organization advancing farm-to-school procurement and programming. Emerging/specialized player that intersects with CFA's Good Food Purchasing and school meals work via local sourcing and values-based procurement.
• Edible Schoolyard NYC: NYC nonprofit integrating garden, kitchen, and nutrition education into public schools. Comparable in NYC food justice and school food space, with a complementary (education) rather than policy-only approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfanyc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Community Food Advocates of NYC