Second Harvest Northland

What Second Harvest Northland does

Second Harvest Northland is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional food bank formed in 2021 by merging two 40-year-old predecessor organizations — Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank and Second Harvest North Central Food Bank — to consolidate hunger-relief operations across NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin. The organization operates two distribution centers (Duluth headquarters at 2302 Commonwealth Avenue and Grand Rapids at 2222 Cromell Drive) and serves a 15-county service region, distributing more than 10.6 million meals and $24 million worth of food and grocery items annually to approximately 70,000 neighbors facing food insecurity. It is the only regional food bank in the Northland and supplies 90% of the food distributed by local food shelves in its service area.

The organization operates five core direct-service programs: the BackPack Program (weekend meals in 18+ school districts and ~50 schools), the School Pantry Program (on-site school food access), the Food Shelf Program (monthly distribution at Duluth and Grand Rapids with drive-through, shopping, and delivery options), the Mobile Food Pantry Program (rural community distributions), and the Nutrition for Seniors Program / CSFP (USDA commodity boxes for income-eligible seniors age 60+). Distribution flows through a network of 300+ agency and community partners, with food sourced from national and regional manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and growers via the organization's own truck fleet.

Funding comes from individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring via the Harvester's Monthly Giving Club), corporate partnerships, foundation grants, planned giving/endowments (including the Second Harvest Michael E. Miner Hunger Endowment), securities gifts, and Donor Advised Fund grants. The organization is a member of Feeding America's network of more than 200 food banks and uses shared platforms (Service Insights, Meal Connect, Agency Express) for distribution and partner management. The 94% program-spending ratio and 3-meals-per-$1-donated metric indicate operational efficiency. Currently executing the $20 million Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign to fund a new 60,000+ sq. ft. facility, targeting 16 million meals annually by 2032.

Name

Second Harvest Northland

Legal name

Second Harvest Northland

Website

https://www.secondharvestnorthland.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Second Harvest Northland is a 501(c)(3) regional food bank serving a 15-county region across NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin, distributing 10.6 million meals and $24 million in food annually to 70,000+ food-insecure neighbors through five direct-service programs and 300+ partner agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank and Hunger-Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Regional food bank
• Hunger relief programs
• Food distribution services
• Community food assistance
• Nonprofit hunger relief

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations, corporate gifts, and organizational contributions provide the primary funding for operations. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, soliciting food, funds, volunteer and in-kind support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and religious/social organizations. Financial stewardship reports indicate 94% of every dollar donated supports hunger-relief programs.
2. Monthly Giving Program: The Harvester's Monthly Giving Club allows donors to provide sustained, recurring support through monthly credit card or bank account contributions.
3. Securities and Stock Gifts: Donors can give appreciated securities including stocks, bonds, or mutual funds held more than a year, providing tax deductions at fair market value while avoiding capital gains tax.
4. Planned Giving and Endowments: Bequests, wills, beneficiary designations, and endowment gifts allow donors to leave lasting legacies. The organization manages the Second Harvest Michael E. Miner Hunger Endowment through the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation.
5. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate gifts, employee giving programs, matching gifts, cause marketing promotions, and event sponsorships provide institutional funding and in-kind support.
6. Donor Advised Fund Grants: Donors with Donor Advised Funds can recommend grants to Second Harvest Northland through DAF Direct.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Second Harvest Northland is a regional food bank that acquires food from national/regional manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and growers and redistributes it across a 15-county service region in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin. It distributes food through five direct-service programs (BackPack, School Pantry, Food Shelf, Mobile Food Pantry, Nutrition for Seniors/CSFP) and through a network of 300+ agency and community partners. Operations are funded through donations, sponsorships, grants, and the Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign, distributing 10+ million meals annually to 70,000+ neighbors.

Product overview

Second Harvest Northland is a regional food bank operating as a single organizational entity (not a platform-plus-modules architecture) that provides hunger-relief services across NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin. The core offerings consist of five direct-service programs: the BackPack Program providing weekend meals to food-insecure children through schools; the School Pantry Program offering on-site school-based food access for children and families; the Food Shelf Program delivering monthly supplemental nutrition through physical locations in Duluth and Grand Rapids with drive-through, shopping, and delivery options; the Mobile Food Pantry Program bringing food distributions to underserved rural and urban communities; and the Nutrition for Seniors Program (CSFP) distributing monthly food boxes to income-eligible seniors. Supporting these programs are partner agency operations tools including MealConnect for retail reporting, Service Insights for neighbor data tracking, and Agency Express for product ordering. The organization also conducts the Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign to fund a new 60,000+ sq. ft. facility to expand capacity from 10.6 million meals to 16 million meals by 2032.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BackPack Program Weekend meal program for food-insecure children providing easy-to-open, easy-to-prepare food bags (3-6 pounds) packed by volunteers and distributed weekly through schools on Fridays. Operates in over 18 school districts and nearly 50 schools throughout NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin.
• School Pantry Program On-site food pantries within schools, stocked and managed by teachers, school nurses, and social workers, allowing children to access food for themselves, siblings, and family members with no intake paperwork or verification required.
• Food Shelf Program Monthly supplemental nutritious food distribution at locations in Duluth and Grand Rapids, MN, offering drive-through, shopping, and delivery formats that provide fresh produce, meat, dairy, baked goods, shelf-stable, and household items with low-barrier, equitable, and dignified access.
• Mobile Food Pantry Program "Food shelf on wheels" program bringing fresh produce, meat, dairy, baked goods, and shelf-stable items to Northland communities where need is high but food resources are limited. Operates farmer's market style distributions with drive-through service across multiple counties.
• Nutrition for Seniors Program (CSFP) USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program providing monthly boxes of wholesome, shelf-stable foods (fruits, vegetables, cereal, meat, dairy) to income-eligible Minnesota seniors age 60+. Food is packed by volunteers and distributed throughout NE Minnesota through pickup or proxy arrangements.
• Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign Capital campaign for new facility construction and renovation. Phase 1 ($16.5 million) includes a 60,000+ sq. ft. facility purchase with 13,600 sq. ft. freezer/cooler, program drive-through, and volunteer clean room. Phase 2 ($3.5 million) includes a grocery store-style market food shelf and community engagement center. Goals include scaling capacity from 10.6 million to 16 million meals annually by 2032.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10+ million meals annually to 70,000+ neighbors
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Sam's ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSam's Club has been a valued partner of Second Harvest Northland for years, helping ensure neighbors have access to fresh, nutritious food. This past year, Sam's Club donated more than 320,000 pounds of fresh produce—the equivalent of more than 266,000 meals for children, families, and seniors across the Northland.
• Erickson Orchard and Country StoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFourth-generation orchardist Fred Erickson partners with Second Harvest Northland to donate excess apples from the orchard each fall. What might otherwise go unpicked becomes fresh, nutritious food for children, families, and seniors across the Northland.
• Royal and Karen AlworthflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time friends and supporters who provide a generous matching gift for the Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign, up to $500,000 through June 30, 2026. Their gift of stock matches all individual gifts to the campaign.
• Miner's Inc./Super One FoodsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Miner family and Super One Foods are offering to match all corporate gifts to the Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign, up to $500,000 through June 30, 2026. Since the 1970s, Super One Foods has contributed through in-store campaigns, financial and food donations, and in-kind and technical support. Patrick Miner continues the legacy of board service started by his late uncles, Mike and Matt Miner.
• Essentia HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCapital campaign investor listed among investors supporting the Nourish the Northland facility construction and renovation project.
• Kwik Trip, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCapital campaign investor listed among investors supporting the Nourish the Northland facility construction and renovation project.
• McGough ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelected as construction partner for the Nourish the Northland facility project. Johnson-Wilson Constructors is also listed as a construction partner.
• UnitedHealthcare of MN, ND & SDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCapital campaign investor listed among investors supporting the Nourish the Northland facility construction and renovation project.
• DSGW ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm listed as capital campaign investor for the Nourish the Northland facility project.
• Feeding AmericaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member of Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through the nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, Second Harvest Northland collectively raises awareness, funds and shares surplus food, providing millions of meals to people facing hunger each year.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Channel One Food Bank: Rochester, MN-based food bank serving 14 counties in southeast Minnesota, including direct food distribution, BackPack, and Mobile Food Pantry programs. Directly comparable regional food bank with overlapping service model and Feeding America affiliation.
• The Food Group: Minnesota-based hunger-relief nonprofit operating food distribution programs across the Twin Cities region. Comparable nonprofit food bank model with focus on dignified food access and partner agency distribution.
• Second Harvest Heartland: Minnesota's largest food bank, serving the Twin Cities metro and surrounding counties through food distribution, direct programs, and agency partnerships. Most direct comparable to Second Harvest Northland as a Minnesota-based Feeding America affiliate operating BackPack, school pantry, and direct distribution programs.

Regional players

• Great Plains Food Bank: North Dakota's only food bank, serving communities across the state through direct programs and partner agencies. Comparable regional food bank with similar rural service model, though operating in an adjacent geography rather than directly competing.
• Feeding Wisconsin: Wisconsin's state association of Feeding America food banks, coordinating statewide hunger-relief advocacy and food bank operations. Overlaps with SHN's NW Wisconsin service territory and shares the CSFP Nutrition for Seniors program administration.

Emerging players

• Hunger Solutions Minnesota: Statewide anti-hunger advocacy and program organization operating in Minnesota. Comparable focus on food insecurity with overlapping policy/advocacy work, though more focused on systems-level change rather than direct food distribution.
• Midwest Food Bank: Multi-state nonprofit food bank operating distribution centers across the Midwest, with comparable direct food distribution and partner agency model. Serves overlapping regional geographies with similar BackPack and Mobile Pantry programs.

Others

• United Way of Northeastern Minnesota: Regional nonprofit umbrella serving the same NE Minnesota footprint as SHN, with overlapping donor base, community engagement, and food-related grantmaking. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct food distribution competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National network of more than 200 food banks, including Second Harvest Northland as a member. Provides national procurement, shared platforms (MealConnect, Service Insights), and brand umbrella; operates broadly across the entire U.S. food bank sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/secondharvestnorthland
• YouTubeinstagram.com/secondharvestnorthland
• Facebookfacebook.com/secondharvestnorthland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/second-harvest-northland
• Instagraminstagram.com/secondharvestnorthland

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Second Harvest Northland