World Harvest Food Bank

What World Harvest Food Bank does

World Harvest Charities and Family Services (doing business as World Harvest Food Bank and Food Bank LA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Glen Curado, a former U.S. Air Force officer. The organization is headquartered at 3100 Venice Blvd in Los Angeles, California, and operates with a 7-person staff supplemented by trained volunteers. Its core mission is to alleviate hunger and provide nutritional support to food-insecure individuals and families across Los Angeles County, with an explicit emphasis on dignity of choice and community-based delivery.

The organization's primary products are the Cart With a Heart program, which converts a $50 tax-deductible contribution into a cart of groceries valued at over $500 (feeding a family of five for up to two weeks), and Community Grocery Distributions, which are farmers market-style events providing fresh proteins, produce, grains, and staples. Distribution occurs through four channels: walk-in service at the Venice Blvd facility, neighborhood distributions, pick-ups through 200+ partner agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, after-school programs), and mobile delivery to underserved areas and disaster zones. The organization does not deploy proprietary technology; its operational backbone consists of a truck fleet, volunteer labor, and partner relationships.

The business model combines charitable donations (the primary cash inflow), in-kind food rescue from major grocery partners (Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Erewhon, Costco, Gelson's, Sprouts, Bristle Farms, CVS), fee-for-service and grant partnerships with City Council Districts and government entities (LADWP, City of West Hollywood), and waste-stream monetization through Republic Services (composting via Agromin and surplus donation to the LA Zoo). Additional service lines address veterans, seniors, and women in need through behavioral health and wellness support, and crisis response is conducted under the "We Take Care of Each Other" program. The organization reported distributing an average of 25 million pounds of food annually, serving nearly 20,000 people per year, and earned Candid Gold Transparency 2025 recognition.

Name

World Harvest Food Bank

Legal name

World Harvest Charities and Family Services

Website

https://worldharvestfoodbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

World Harvest Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that distributes an average of 25 million pounds of food annually through direct service, a $50 Cart with a Heart program, and 200+ partner agencies serving food-insecure individuals and families across Los Angeles County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank and Hunger Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH), Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Emergency food assistance
• Community grocery distribution
• Food rescue operations
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, organizations, and community members. Donations directly fund food acquisition and distribution operations. Cart with a Heart program generates $50 contributions that provide $500+ worth of groceries.
2. Food Rescue and Redistribution: Partnerships with major grocery stores and food distributors (Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Erewhon, Bristle Farms, Sprouts, CVS, Costco, Gelson's Market) to rescue food that would otherwise go to waste and redistribute to communities in need.
3. Fee-for-Service and Grant Partnerships: Fee-for-service and grant-driven partnerships with local organizations and City Council Districts to conduct community grocery distributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

World Harvest Food Bank collects and rescues surplus food from major grocery chains and distributors (Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Erewhon, Costco, Sprouts, CVS, Gelson's, Bristle Farms) and redistributes it through direct service at its Los Angeles facility, farmers market-style community distributions, mobile delivery, and a 200+ partner-agency network. Its flagship donation-funded offering is the Cart With a Heart program, where a $50 contribution provides a grocery cart with $500+ worth of food, plus targeted social services for veterans, seniors, and women, and crisis-response food delivery.

Product overview

World Harvest Charities and Family Services is a non-profit food bank and social services organization offering multiple programs. The core offerings include the Cart With a Heart grocery program ($50 contribution providing $500+ worth of food) and Community Grocery Distributions (farmers market-style distribution events). The organization also provides specialized support services including Veterans, Seniors, and Women's wellness programs, crisis response initiatives, and partnerships with local governments. Food is sourced through partnerships with major grocery stores and distributors including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Erewhon, and others. Distribution is conducted through direct events, partner pick-ups, and mobile delivery. The organization operates from its Arlington and Venice facility in Los Angeles, serving nearly 20,000 people annually through its facility and more than 200 partner agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cart With a Heart A flagship donation-funded grocery distribution program for food-insecure individuals and families; for a $50 tax-deductible contribution, recipients receive a cart filled with over $500 worth of groceries including fresh produce, proteins (meat, beans, tofu), breads, grains, pantry staples, snacks, beverages, and household essentials. Each cart can feed a family of five for up to two weeks and is also offered to volunteers who complete 4 hours of service.
• Community Grocery Distributions Farmers market-style food distribution program for families and individuals in Los Angeles County that provides a dignified grocery-style experience with balanced selections of fresh and frozen proteins, produce, grains, and essentials designed to sustain households for one week. Delivered through fee-for-service and grant-driven partnerships with local organizations and City Council Districts, including neighborhood distributions, partner pick-ups, and mobile delivery to areas most affected by food insecurity.
• West Hollywood Groceries Program Grocery program provided in partnership with the City of West Hollywood to deliver groceries to eligible West Hollywood residents, workers, students, and people experiencing homelessness.
• L.A. Zoo Food Donation Program Partnership operated with Republic Services that redirects surplus food from landfills to feed animals at the L.A. Zoo; since December 2017, over 74 tons of food have been donated, with about 10 tons of surplus food redirected per month.
• We Take Care Of Each Other (Crisis Response) Emergency response and disaster relief program that provides food and essentials to communities during crises, partnering with local nonprofits, City Council offices, grassroots leaders, tenant unions, and partner organizations to deliver rapid aid (e.g., 300+ pallets during the 2025 LA wildfires and immigration enforcement crises).
• Veterans Behavioral and Mental Health Services Specialized support services for veterans including addiction and substance use disorder recovery, mental health services, crisis counseling, and homelessness support with shelter access and housing assistance.
• Seniors Mental Health and Support Support services tailored to senior citizens, including addiction recovery, mental health therapy and counseling, crisis counseling, and housing instability assistance with shelter access and resources.
• Women's Wellness and Support Services prioritizing women's well-being and dignity, including addiction and substance use disorder programs, behavioral and mental health services, crisis counseling, homelessness support, and family support programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributes 25 million pounds of food annually through facility and partner agencies
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Partnership through LADWP Community Partnership Outreach Grants Program. World Harvest helps spread information about LADWP programs and services around the city and underserved communities, including EZ-SAVE Low Income Customer Assistance Program, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Serving Our Seniors. Joint effort to support community growth and vitality.
• Republic ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaste management partnership through which surplus food is donated to L.A. Zoo. Since December 2017, about 10 tons of surplus food per month is donated. Republic Services also handles composting of spoiled food (approximately 40 tons per month to Agromin). Part of RecycleLA initiative.
• Los Angeles ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceives surplus food donations from World Harvest through Republic Services partnership. Over 74 tons of food redirected from landfills to feed zoo animals since 2017. Reduces food waste while providing nutrition for animals.
• Whole FoodsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor grocery partner providing food surplus that would otherwise go to waste. Part of network of partnerships with major grocery stores and food distributors enabling food rescue operations.
• Trader Joe'smajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrocery partner providing surplus food for rescue and redistribution. Contributes to organization's ability to provide quality nutritious food to communities.
• ErewhonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium grocery partner contributing surplus food items to food rescue program.
• SproutsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrocery partner in food rescue network providing surplus produce and food items.
• CostcomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarehouse retailer partner providing bulk surplus food for redistribution.
• Gelson's MarketmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpscale grocery partner contributing to food rescue efforts.
• Bristle FarmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm partner providing fresh produce for food distribution.
• CVSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmacy and retail partner contributing surplus items including household essentials.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeptember 2025 launched weekly distribution program in partnership. YMCA delivers prepared meals, grocery items and other necessities as extension of FeedLA program. YMCA locations serve as collection sites for donations and assemble supply packages.
• City of West HollywoodmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide groceries to eligible West Hollywood residents, workers, students, and those experiencing homelessness. Program announcement forthcoming.
• City of Los Angeles and Government AgenciesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with local, city, county, and state government agencies. Previous affiliations include Public Works, United Neighbors Neighborhood Council, and P.I.C.O Neighborhood Council.
• NASA ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of RecycleLA waste management and recycling partnerships.
• AgrominminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComposting partner receiving approximately 40 tons per month of spoiled food which is turned into nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Food Forward: Los Angeles-based nonprofit that rescues surplus produce from wholesalers and retailers and redistributes to communities in need. Closely comparable mission (food rescue and redistribution) and overlapping grocery partner network in Southern California.
• LA Regional Food Bank: The largest food bank serving Los Angeles County, distributing food through a partner agency network similar to World Harvest. Direct comparison point for scale, partnership models, and donor base within the same geography.

Regional players

• San Francisco-Marin Food Banks: Large Bay Area food bank operating a partner-agency distribution model. Comparable operating model and nonprofit structure, but geographically distant and therefore not a direct competitor.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County: Major Southern California food bank operating with a similar partner-agency model, just across county lines. Comparable in scale, partner ecosystem, and donor base dynamics, but does not directly compete in World Harvest's service area.
• Waste Not OC: Orange County-based food rescue nonprofit focused on redirecting surplus food from restaurants and grocers. Similar food-rescue mission and Southern California geography but distinct service territory.
• Food Bank of Santa Barbara County: Regional food bank serving California's Central Coast with comparable partner-agency distribution and grocery rescue operations. Comparable scale and model in a distinct adjacent California region.
• St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance: Arizona-based food bank with similar partner-agency network and food-rescue partnerships. Comparable model but distinct Southwest geography outside LA.
• City Harvest: New York City's largest food rescue organization with a comparable partner-agency and direct-distribution model. Useful for benchmarking urban food-bank operations, fundraising scale, and program design.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella network of 200+ food banks including LA Regional. Relevant as the overarching infrastructure (food sourcing, logistics, federal grants) that smaller food banks either plug into or compete with for funding.
• No Kid Hungry: National campaign focused on ending childhood hunger through grants, advocacy, and direct program funding. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but competes for the same donor and government funding pool.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WorldHarvestFB1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-harvest-food-bank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 World Harvest Food Bank