Montgomery County Food Council

What Montgomery County Food Council does

The Montgomery County Food Council is a private nonprofit organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, that coordinates programs, resources, and advocacy to strengthen the local food system and address food insecurity across Montgomery County, Maryland. It operates as a backbone organization that convenes more than 90 food assistance providers, the Montgomery County Government (including DHHS and the Office of Food Systems Resilience), the Capital Area Food Bank, the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council, and over 75 local food businesses and farms through its MoCo Made program. Its core offerings include the Food Assistance Resource Directory and Map, Food Resource Specialists (formerly the SNAP Team) who provide individualized pre-screening for SNAP and other benefits, SNAP enrollment assistance, the Local Produce Vendors Listing, the Food and Beverage Guide, and strategic plans including the 2017 Strategic Plan to Achieve Food Security and the 2023 Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its operational backbone is community-led coordination via working groups, community calls, an interactive online resource map, and digital marketing channels (website, email newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube). A food security context drives demand: per the Capital Area Food Bank's 2025 Hunger Report, 35% of Montgomery County residents now experience food insecurity (up from 27% in 2023), and more than 27,000 children lack consistent access to nutritious food. Programs target four priorities: Food Security, Environmental Sustainability & Food Waste, Agriculture & Economic Opportunity, and Food System Advocacy.

The Food Council is funded through grants, donations, and community support rather than commercial revenue streams, with no pricing model as all services are provided at no cost. Its go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on collaborative partnerships rather than direct sales. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the mailing address (P.O. Box 34412, Bethesda MD 20827) and a small staff of 1-10 employees indicate a lean operating footprint. Notable institutional milestones include Bill 19-16 (2017 Food Security Plan), the 2019 establishment of the Food Security Community Advisory Board, and Resolution 19-1235 (2023 Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger), each of which has anchored the Council's strategic role in county-level food policy.

Name

Montgomery County Food Council

Legal name

Montgomery County Food Council

Website

https://mocofoodcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Montgomery County Food Council is a Bethesda, Maryland-based nonprofit founded in 2012 that coordinates 90+ food assistance providers, county government agencies, and 75+ local food businesses to address food insecurity across Montgomery County through resource directories, benefits navigation, policy advocacy, and economic development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Security Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD), Consumer Education, Risk Communication & Public Advisories (HLAJAEAJ)

Keywords

• Food security coordination
• Community food assistance
• Local food systems
• SNAP enrollment support
• Food system advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding and Donations: The organization operates as a nonprofit and appears to be funded through grants, donations, and community support rather than commercial revenue streams. No specific revenue figures are disclosed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Montgomery County Food Council coordinates programs, resources, and advocacy to strengthen the local food system and food security in Montgomery County, Maryland. It operates the Food Assistance Resource Directory and Map covering 90 provider organizations, runs the Food Resource Specialists program (SNAP enrollment and benefits support), supports 75+ local food businesses through the MoCo Made Program, and develops strategic plans such as the Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger in partnership with county government.

Product overview

Montgomery County Food Council is a nonprofit organization that does not offer technology products but rather provides community programs and services focused on building an equitable local food system. The organization's offerings include direct assistance programs (Food Resource Specialists, SNAP Enrollment Assistance), resource directories (Food Assistance Resource Directory and Map, Montgomery County Local Produce Vendors Listing, Food and Beverage Guide), economic development initiatives (MoCo Made Program), strategic planning (Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger, Strategic Plan to Achieve Food Security), and community advisory structures (Food Security Community Advisory Board). These programs work together to address food security, environmental sustainability, agriculture economic opportunity, and food system advocacy across Montgomery County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Assistance Resource Directory and Map (FARD) An online directory and interactive map connecting Montgomery County residents with food assistance resources from approximately 90 organizations throughout the county, searchable by location and need.
• Food Resource Specialists Specialized staff who provide individualized support to Montgomery County residents, connecting them with food resources and pre-screening households for SNAP and other public benefits.
• MoCo Made Program A program that increases visibility of Montgomery County-based food businesses and farms through networking opportunities, customer connections, educational resources, and events.
• SNAP Enrollment Assistance Outreach program helping Montgomery County residents enroll in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
• Montgomery County Local Produce Vendors Listing A listing of local DMV-region farms and food businesses to help food assistance providers source fresh produce, including vendors owned by historically underserved communities.
• Food and Beverage Guide An online searchable guide to food and beverage businesses in Montgomery County.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35% of Montgomery County residents experiencing food insecurity (2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Montgomery County Office of Food Systems ResiliencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Food Council collaborates with the Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience to elevate on-the-ground insights, coordinate efforts, and ensure investments reflect real-time community needs. They work together on strategic plans to improve food security across the county.
• Montgomery County Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with DHHS to implement the Food Security Plan and Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger, developing comprehensive government strategies to address food insecurity in the county.
• Capital Area Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerData partner providing annual Hunger Report statistics that inform the Food Council's understanding of food insecurity trends in Montgomery County (35% food insecurity rate reported in 2025).
• Maryland Food System Resiliency Council (FSRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Food Council participates in the Maryland FSRC, monitoring food systems bills during Maryland General Assembly sessions and tracking relevant legislation through a policy tracker.
• Montgomery County Local Food Businesses and FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 75 Montgomery County-based food businesses and farms participate in the MoCo Made Program, receiving networking opportunities, customer connections, and educational resources through the Food Council.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• WhyHunger: National nonprofit advocating to end hunger and supporting grassroots food justice organizing. Shares the food-system advocacy and equitable food access mission, though focused at a national rather than county level.
• Food Recovery Network: National nonprofit addressing food waste and food insecurity by recovering surplus food. Overlaps with the Food Council's Environmental Sustainability & Food Waste priority area, though focused on recovery rather than broad system coordination.

Direct peers

• Real Food for Kids: Montgomery County-based nonprofit focused on improving school food and childhood nutrition. Directly comparable to MoCo Food Council's Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger work and local food-system advocacy for children.
• DC Food Policy Council: District-level food policy council that coordinates food system stakeholders and advises government on food access, equity, and policy. Closely comparable to MoCo Food Council as a peer jurisdiction-level food council operating a coordination and advocacy model.
• Community Foodworks: DC-area nonprofit operating farmers markets and food access programs focused on equitable local food systems. Comparable to MoCo Food Council's MoCo Made program in supporting local food businesses and improving food access in the DMV region.
• Capital Area Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the DC metro area including Montgomery County, providing food distribution and hunger-relief data. Already a data partner of MoCo Food Council and operates an overlapping regional food-assistance mission with shared provider network.
• Manna Food Center: Montgomery County-based nonprofit that distributes food and addresses food insecurity through direct service and advocacy. Operates in the same county and is one of the 90 organizations in MoCo Food Council's resource directory, making it a directly comparable food-assistance peer.

Broad incumbents

• Maryland Food System Resiliency Council (FSRC): State-level council monitoring Maryland food systems legislation and coordinating statewide food system resilience. MoCo Food Council participates in FSRC; the state body operates at a higher jurisdictional level with overlapping policy and coordination functions.
• Feeding America: National network of food banks addressing hunger through food distribution, advocacy, and member support. Comparable in anti-hunger mission and works with Capital Area Food Bank, which partners with MoCo Food Council.
• FRAC (Food Research & Action Center): National nonprofit focused on hunger, poverty, and nutrition policy research and advocacy, particularly federal nutrition programs. Comparable mission in anti-hunger policy work and SNAP-related advocacy, operating at a national scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2xw4MOx9yQ-LtBVYS45SVg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mocofoodcouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montgomery-county-food-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/mocofoodcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Montgomery County Food Council