What Gaining Ground does

Gaining Ground is a 501(c)(3) non-profit farm founded in 1994 and headquartered in Concord, Massachusetts, that grows and donates 100% of its produce to neighbors experiencing food insecurity in the Greater Boston region. The organization cultivates approximately 6–8 acres across its flagship farm on the Thoreau Birthplace Farm property and satellite fields, producing more than 50 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. In the 2024 growing season it harvested over 137,000 pounds of produce and supplied more than 2,100 food-insecure households weekly through 18 hunger relief partner organizations. The farm engages over 3,800 volunteers annually alongside a professional staff of approximately 25.

Its core technology is a regenerative, no-till organic farming system that exceeds baseline organic requirements. The methodology includes 400+ permanent raised beds (broadforked rather than rototilled to preserve soil structure), silage tarp weed management that lifts germination rates by at least 20%, protected growing via high tunnels and caterpillar tunnels enabling year-round production, and a wash-and-pack station with crop-specific handling. Since transitioning to no-till, annual produce donations rose approximately 50% (from 60,000 to 99,000 pounds within four years), and root-crop yields per bed increased 66%.

The business model is a donation-funded non-profit: all produce is given away free of charge, with zero commercial revenue. Funding is diversified across individual donations, group fundraisers (e.g., the Read for Seeds school program funding ~90% of seed budget with $18,000+ raised), foundation and government grants (USDA Conservation Innovation Grant via NOFA, Massachusetts Food Security Infrastructure Grant, Sudbury Foundation), corporate partnerships, planned giving/bequests, and stock donations. The organization runs complementary workforce and education programs (Farming Apprenticeship, Summer Internship, High School Farm Team, Read for Seeds) that double as community engagement and donor cultivation channels. The farm holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, a GuideStar Seal of Transparency, and 2026 Social Innovator recognition.

Name

Gaining Ground

Legal name

Gaining Ground

Website

https://gainingground.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gaining Ground is a 501(c)(3) non-profit farm in Concord, Massachusetts that grows and donates 100% of its produce to food-insecure households in the Greater Boston region, supplying 2,100+ households weekly through 18 partner hunger relief organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Hunger Relief Farming

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Nutrient Stewardship & Soil Fertility Management (4R Nutrients, Compost, Biofertilizers) (AFAGAMAE), Fresh Produce Packhouses (Fruits & Vegetables) (AFAOAGAA), Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH)

Keywords

• Organic no-till farming
• Food donation programs
• Hunger relief services
• Community farm volunteering
• Farming apprenticeship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Concord, Massachusetts

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: Gaining Ground relies on donations from individuals who support the organization's mission of growing and donating fresh food to food-insecure neighbors. Donations can be made online through their website.
2. Group donations and fundraisers: Schools, church groups, and other organizations establish fund drives and fundraising efforts to support Gaining Ground. Schools like Belmont Day School and Thoreau Elementary participate in Read for Seeds program which raised over $18,000.
3. Planned giving and bequests: Planned giving options including bequests in wills, gifts of retirement assets (IRA, 401(k), 403(b)), life insurance policies, and charitable trusts allow donors to make lasting impacts while potentially reducing taxes.
4. Stock donations: Gaining Ground accepts marketable securities as donations, enabling donors to make charitable contributions while adjusting portfolios without paying capital gains on appreciated securities.
5. Foundation grants: Funding from foundations including Sudbury Foundation and Massachusetts Food Security Infrastructure grant. The organization also received a $170,000 USDA Conservation Innovation Grant through NOFA.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gaining Ground operates a no-till, organic farm in Concord, Massachusetts that grows and donates 100% of its produce to neighbors experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts. The farm supplies 18 hunger relief partner organizations across the Greater Boston region with weekly deliveries from a 6-acre farm producing over 137,000 pounds of food annually, supplemented by volunteer, apprenticeship, and internship programs.

Product overview

Gaining Ground is a non-profit, no-till, organic farm that operates as a unified hunger relief organization. At their flagship farm and satellite fields spanning 8 acres, they grow over 50 varieties of vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers, donating 100% of their harvest to 18 hunger relief partner organizations. The organization delivers programs through volunteer engagement (individual/group volunteers, High School Farm Team), professional training (Farming Apprenticeship Program, Summer Internship Program), youth education (Read for Seeds program), and seasonal offerings (Maple Sugaring, Winter Growing). The farm also maintains bee colonies for pollination and honey production. All programs support the core mission of growing and donating fresh, sustainably grown produce to address food insecurity in the Greater Boston region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Harvested over 137,000 pounds of produce in 2024, supplying 2,100+ food-insecure households weekly
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Open Table (Concord/Maynard)coreOthers30-year partnership making it Gaining Ground's longest-running food distribution partner. Open Table is a food pantry and community dinner in both Maynard and Concord serving nearly 9,000 people in 21 local communities. Receives weekly Thursday deliveries and Saturday distributions.
• Bridge Boston Charter SchoolcoreOthersK-8 charter school in Roxbury partnering since 2019. Gaining Ground provides fresh produce including 80 pounds of okra and spinach for Chef Keverne Glasgow's Trinidadian callaloo. Students participate in growing ingredients and recognize them when served.
• Daniel's TableminorOthersFramingham-based hunger relief organization. A board member at Daniel's Table discovered Gaining Ground and connected Andy and Carolyn Limeri as monthly donors to the farm.
• Head Start (Lowell)coreOthersEarly childhood education program with two market sites in Lowell serving 25-40 families weekly. Children and parents attend weekly farmer's markets to shop for fresh produce, taste samples, and receive recipes. Partnership expanded to a second site on an every-other-week basis.
• Sudbury Community Food PantrycoreOthersNearly 30-year partnership to nourish the MetroWest region. The partnership is more critical than ever given rising food insecurity rates.
• Lowell Transitional Living CenterminorOthersServes over 300 meals daily to low-income people in its programs and those living on streets. Added for flexible pickup schedule and shared mission of respectfully providing food for those in need.
• NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGaining Ground is one of nine organic farms selected for USDA Conservation Innovation Grant administered by NOFA Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The $170,000 three-year grant supports development of organic no-till and reduced-till methods for smaller scaled organic farms.
• Minuteman High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional public technical education high school in Lexington entering its fifth year partnership. Provides students experiential field learning that complements classroom concepts. Students from member towns participate.
• Welch'sminorOthersCorporate volunteer group. In November, 20 of Welch's newest employees gathered at Gaining Ground to help prepare the farm for winter shutdown by hauling tarps and sandbags.
• e-mass CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training)minorOthersEducational workshop provider. Farming Apprentices and Summer Interns attend educational field trips to partner organizations as well as other local farms for CRAFT workshops.
• Trinity Episcopal ChurchminorOthersConcord-based parish with long history of philanthropic support for hunger relief efforts, including mulching and other farm volunteer work.
• National Charity LeagueminorOthersService organization that partners with Gaining Ground; represented on the Volunteer Committee alongside board members, staff, and dedicated volunteers.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Homeless Garden Project: Homeless Garden Project is a Santa Cruz, California non-profit organic farm that provides paid transitional employment and donates produce to people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Its small-acreage organic donation model and volunteer-supported operations closely mirror Gaining Ground's community-engaged farm approach.
• Alemany Farm: Alemany Farm is a San Francisco non-profit urban farm managed by the San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance, producing organic fruits and vegetables for donation to food-insecure residents. Its volunteer-powered, donation-focused model and urban-edge farm positioning make it directly comparable to Gaining Ground.
• Red Wiggler Community Farm: Red Wiggler Community Farm is a Maryland-based non-profit farm that grows certified organic produce and donates to food-insecure neighbors while providing meaningful employment for adults with developmental disabilities. It mirrors Gaining Ground's organic growing, food donation, and volunteer-engagement model with similar small-acreage intensity.
• Coastal Roots Farm: Coastal Roots Farm is a non-profit Jewish community farm and food justice organization in Encinitas, California that donates 100% of its produce to fight food insecurity. Its regenerative agriculture, food donation, and education programs closely parallel Gaining Ground's mission and methods.
• Soil Born Farms: Soil Born Farms is a Sacramento-based non-profit urban farm and education center that produces organic produce for donation to food-insecure communities while offering farming apprenticeships. Its dual mission of food production for hunger relief and farmer training is structurally similar to Gaining Ground.
• The Food Project: The Food Project is a Massachusetts-based non-profit farm that grows produce and donates to hunger relief organizations while training youth in sustainable agriculture. It is a direct geographic and operational peer to Gaining Ground, with overlapping volunteer-powered production and food donation model.
• Brookwood Community Farm: Brookwood Community Farm is a Massachusetts non-profit farm operating on conservation land in Canton and Milton, growing produce through sustainable methods and donating a portion to hunger relief. Its CSA-supported donation model and New England geography make it a close operational peer to Gaining Ground.
• Waltham Fields Community Farm: Waltham Fields Community Farm is a Massachusetts non-profit farm that grows and donates produce to hunger relief organizations while offering educational programming. It mirrors Gaining Ground's model of organic no-till growing, food access mission, and CSA/donation hybrid operations in the same New England region.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Boston Food Bank: Greater Boston Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, distributing millions of pounds of food annually across Eastern Massachusetts. It is a broader-scope hunger relief incumbent in Gaining Ground's geography that distributes sourced (not grown) food, providing a complementary ecosystem for Gaining Ground's produce donations.
• Project Bread: Project Bread is a Massachusetts statewide hunger-relief organization focused on ending hunger through advocacy, direct food access programs, and grantmaking. It is a broader hunger-relief incumbent in Gaining Ground's operating geography, addressing food insecurity through systemic and programmatic interventions rather than direct farm production.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GGConcord
• Instagraminstagram.com/gaininggroundconcord
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gaining-ground

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 Gaining Ground