Make Food Not Waste
Make Food Not Waste is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues surplus food and upcycles it into free meals for food-insecure residents, while partnering with municipalities across Southeast Michigan to cut the state's food waste in half by 2030.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Make Food Not Waste does
Make Food Not Waste is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 85-3423759) founded in July 2017 by the Detroit Food Policy Council and Chef Phil Jones. Its mission is to prevent edible surplus food from entering landfills by rescuing it and upcycling it into nutritious meals for food-insecure community members, while building municipal and statewide infrastructure for long-term food waste reduction. The organization operates two professional Upcycling Kitchens — at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church (opened January 2021) and Salvation Army Harborlight (opened 2023) — that collectively produce approximately 2,000 meals per week from over 100,000 pounds of weekly surplus produce sourced from farms, grocery stores, food distributors, and the Detroit Produce Terminal. Since 2021, it has produced 450,000+ meals and diverted 500,000+ pounds of food from landfills.
Its core programs include the Every Bit Counts municipal initiative (engaging six Metro Detroit cities covering 600,000 residents), the MI 2030 Food Waste Coalition (a 120+ organization statewide network), the Beet Brigade ambassador program, and the U.S. launch of The PLEDGE on Food Waste restaurant certification (2022). It has no proprietary technology; operations rely on volunteer labor, physical kitchen infrastructure, and partner-provided tooling (Bigbelly Smart Compost bins, Every.org donation platform).
Revenue is generated through individual donations (credit card, PayPal, Venmo, stocks, crypto, DAFs), corporate sponsorships structured as four annual tiers from $2,500 (Sustainable Steward) to $25,000 (Zero Waste Champion), foundation grants (e.g., W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Community Foundation SE Michigan), in-kind donations via Amazon Wishlist, and government funding (Michigan EGLE, Oakland County). Named sponsors include Meijer, Kroger, Mercedes-Benz, Ally, DTE Foundation, Lineage, EGLE, NRDC, WWF, and the U.S. Climate Alliance. Customers/beneficiaries span food-insecure residents of Metro Detroit, municipal governments (Southfield, Farmington Hills, Westland, Livonia, Canton, Dearborn), local restaurants pursuing certification, and schools such as Hayes Elementary (a 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School).
Make Food Not Waste firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Make Food Not Waste
- Legal name
- Make Food Not Waste
- Website
- https://makefoodnotwaste.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Make Food Not Waste is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues surplus food and upcycles it into free meals for food-insecure residents, while partnering with municipalities across Southeast Michigan to cut the state's food waste in half by 2030.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Make Food Not Waste industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Waste Reduction Services
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (62421)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)
Keywords
Where Make Food Not Waste is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Make Food Not Waste business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals via credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Venmo, bank transfers, stocks, and Donor-Advised Funds through Every.org partnership
- Corporate Sponsorships: Four sponsorship tiers ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 with benefits including volunteer opportunities, event tickets, logo placement, and Lunch and Learns for employees
- Amazon Wishlist: In-kind donations of kitchen supplies, spices, and equipment through Amazon registry
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Zero Waste Champion - $25,000 annual sponsorship with comprehensive benefits including volunteer opportunities, event tickets, logo placement, and staff Lunch and Learns |
| Subscription | Annual | Resource Rescuer - $10,000 annual sponsorship with volunteer session and event tickets |
| Subscription | Annual | Waste Warrior - $5,000 annual sponsorship with volunteer session and event tickets |
| Subscription | Annual | Sustainable Steward - $2,500 annual sponsorship with volunteer opportunity |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Make Food Not Waste product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Make Food Not Waste rescues surplus edible food from farms, grocery stores, and food distributors and upcycles it into nutritious meals at two professional chef-run Upcycling Kitchens, distributing the meals free to community members facing food insecurity. Beyond meal production, the nonprofit operates the Every Bit Counts municipal partnership program across six Metro Detroit cities, runs the statewide MI 2030 Food Waste Coalition, and delivers educational programs including the Beet Brigade ambassador initiative and food scrap drop-off services.
Product overview
Make Food Not Waste is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of food waste reduction programs rather than a traditional technology product. The core offerings include: (1) Every Bit Counts - a municipal partnership program helping Southeast Michigan cities implement food waste prevention, rescue, and organics recycling; (2) Upcycling Kitchens - professional chef-operated kitchens transforming rescued surplus food into nutritious community meals; (3) MI 2030 Food Waste Coalition - a statewide network of 120+ organizations working toward 50% food waste reduction by 2030; (4) Beet Brigade Ambassador Program - community engagement initiative with exclusive guides and events; and (5) Volunteer Opportunities including Chop and Chat and Prep & Plate. The organization also provides educational resources, the 7-Day Food Waste Challenge, and manages the Southfield Counts food scrap drop-off pilot program. All programs focus on preventing food from entering landfills to reduce methane emissions and combat climate change.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Every Bit Counts: Community-focused program that empowers individuals, businesses, and local governments to cut food waste in practical, measurable ways. Focuses on Southeast Michigan with an initial pilot in Southfield.
- Upcycling Kitchens
- MI 2030 Food Waste Coalition
- Beet Brigade
- Southfield Counts
Products and services
- Upcycling Kitchens Professional chef-run kitchens that transform surplus food (over 100,000 pounds per week from farms, grocery stores, and food distributors) into nutritious meals for community members facing food insecurity. Meals are distributed free with no proof of need required.
- Every Bit Counts Community-focused program that engages six major Metro Detroit cities (population 600,000) to activate food waste prevention, rescue, and organics recycling actions. Includes food scrap drop-off programs, smart shopping tips, meal planning resources, food donation guidance, and composting support.
- MI 2030 Food Waste Coalition Michigan's first statewide network uniting over 120 organizations across prevention, recovery, and organics recycling sectors to cut food waste in half by 2030. Includes working groups for statewide directory development, food rescue coordination, and legislative outreach.
- Southfield Counts Food Scrap Drop-Off Program Pilot food scrap drop-off program in Southfield (January-November 2026) using Smart Compost Bins with a free starter kit for residents including countertop caddy, compostable bag liners, and quick start guide. Drop-off sites operate 24/7 with mobile app for location finding.
- Beet Brigade Ambassador Program Ambassador program providing supporters of food waste reduction with exclusive benefits including event advanced notice, quarterly Beet & Greet happy hour gatherings, full access to food waste reduction guides, and special recognition on the website and in media.
- The PLEDGE on Food Waste Certification Program International food waste certification program brought to the U.S. by Make Food Not Waste in 2022, helping Detroit restaurants become the first in the country to receive certification. Provides certification guidance, portion optimization, and surplus food donation support to foodservice operators.
- Corporate Sponsorship Program Four-tier annual corporate sponsorship program ($2,500 Sustainable Steward; $5,000 Waste Warrior; $10,000 Resource Rescuer; $25,000 Zero Waste Champion) with benefits including volunteer opportunities, event tickets, logo placement on website and newsletters, Lunch and Learns for staff, and VIP reception access.
Quantifiable outcome
- 450,000+ meals produced and 500,000+ pounds of food diverted from landfills since 2021
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Make Food Not Waste
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Make Food Not Waste technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Make Food Not Waste partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)coreGovernment partner supporting food waste reduction initiatives and MI Healthy Climate Plan alignment; sponsors programs through state funding
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)coreNational environmental partner providing expertise and support for food waste reduction initiatives
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)coreNational conservation partner collaborating on food waste reduction and environmental impact measurement
- EPA Region 5coreFederal environmental agency partner supporting regional food waste reduction efforts and policy alignment
- Metro Food RescuecoreFood rescue partner with trucks operating 6 days/week, picking up food from 27 locations and delivering to 50+ partner food banks
- Forgotten HarvestcoreFood rescue partner organization redistributing surplus food to those in need
- CO SustainabilitycoreOrganics recycling partner providing food scrap collection services and composting solutions for Southeast Michigan
- MyGreenMIcoreOrganics recycling partner transporting food scraps from Southfield program to composting facilities
- Giffels WebstersupportingProject management partner supporting municipal planning and Every Bit Counts implementation
- City of SouthfieldcorePilot municipality for Every Bit Counts program with food scrap drop-off initiative running January-November 2026
- Oakland CountycoreCounty government partner supporting regional food waste reduction planning and coordination
- Food Rescue US – DetroitcoreFood rescue partner using technology and volunteer networks to redistribute surplus food to those in need
- Bigbelly (Smart Compost)coreTechnology provider for Smart Compost Bin collection system with mobile app for locating drop-off sites 24/7
- The Work DepartmentsupportingCommunications partner supporting marketing and outreach efforts for food waste reduction initiatives
- College for Creative StudiessupportingEducational partner contributing creative and communications support to programs
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Make Food Not Waste competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Food Forward: Southern California-based food rescue nonprofit that recovers surplus produce and distributes to communities in need. Comparable mission (food rescue + redistribution), volunteer-driven model, and downstream food pantry partnerships.
- 412 Food Rescue: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit using technology to redirect surplus food to those facing hunger. Directly comparable operating model (tech-enabled food rescue + volunteer drivers + nonprofit meal distribution) at a similar regional scale.
- DC Central Kitchen: National nonprofit that recovers wasted food and prepares nutritious meals for the food-insecure, operating commercial-style kitchens and distribution. Most operationally similar to Make Food Not Waste's Upcycling Kitchens model, including culinary-led transformation of surplus food into community meals.
- Too Good To Go: Global commercial platform connecting consumers with surplus food from restaurants and stores to reduce waste. Comparable mission (food waste reduction) and restaurant-engagement focus (via PLEDGE-style partnerships), but uses a consumer-facing app and commercial model rather than nonprofit operations.
- City Harvest: New York City's largest food rescue organization, rescuing surplus food and delivering to communities facing food insecurity. Closely comparable mission and operational model to Make Food Not Waste's combined rescue + meal distribution approach.
- Food Rescue US: National nonprofit using a technology platform to connect food donors directly with recipient agencies and volunteers. Directly comparable as a food rescue partner listed in Make Food Not Waste's distribution channel mix.
- Forgotten Harvest: Metro Detroit-based food rescue nonprofit redistributing surplus food to those in need. Direct peer operating in the same geography and listed as a Make Food Not Waste channel partner; essentially competes for the same donor pool and food supply.
- Rescuing Leftover Cuisine: National nonprofit focused on food rescue and direct redistribution to address food insecurity and food waste. Directly comparable as a volunteer-coordinated food rescue nonprofit with similar B2B donor engagement (restaurants, grocers).
Regional players
- FoodCloud: Ireland-founded food rescue technology company connecting retailers with charities to redistribute surplus food. Comparable mission and tech-enabled food-rescue model, but operates primarily in Ireland and the UK rather than competing directly in the U.S. Midwest.
Broad incumbents
- ReFED: National nonprofit dedicated to reducing food waste across the U.S. food system through data, policy, and coalition-building. Broader, non-operational scope than Make Food Not Waste (policy + analytics vs. direct service), but overlaps on coalition convening and policy advocacy.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Make Food Not Waste social profiles
Digital presenceMake Food Not Waste financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Make Food Not Waste leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Make Food Not Waste funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Make Food Not Waste M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Make Food Not Waste
What does Make Food Not Waste do?
Make Food Not Waste rescues surplus edible food from farms, grocery stores, and food distributors and upcycles it into nutritious meals at two professional chef-run Upcycling Kitchens, distributing the meals free to community members facing food insecurity. Beyond meal production, the nonprofit operates the Every Bit Counts municipal partnership program across six Metro Detroit cities, runs the statewide MI 2030 Food Waste Coalition, and delivers educational programs including the Beet Brigade ambassador initiative and food scrap drop-off services.
Is Make Food Not Waste a public or private company?
Make Food Not Waste is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Make Food Not Waste founded?
Make Food Not Waste was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Make Food Not Waste based?
Make Food Not Waste is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does Make Food Not Waste make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships and amazon Wishlist.
Who are Make Food Not Waste's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Food Forward, 412 Food Rescue, DC Central Kitchen, Too Good To Go, City Harvest, Food Rescue US, Forgotten Harvest and Rescuing Leftover Cuisine. FoodCloud is listed as a regional player. ReFED is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Make Food Not Waste have an API?
No public API is recorded for Make Food Not Waste.
What industry is Make Food Not Waste in?
Make Food Not Waste's product category is Food Waste Reduction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAEAH, Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAA, Food Assistance & Food Banks. Its NAICS code is 62421 and its SIC code is 2090.