named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Advocacy & Policy
Conducts research and advocates for policy changes to strengthen federal and state nutrition programs and address root causes of hunger
AmeriCorps VISTA
Hosts national service members who support anti-hunger programs in communities across the country
Benefits Access
Provides direct assistance to low-income New Yorkers to enroll in SNAP and WIC; offers referrals to food pantries and emergency food programs
Hunger Free New York City
Division of Hunger Free America delivering direct services and outreach in NYC’s five boroughs
National Hunger Hotline
Operates a bilingual hotline (1-866-3-HUNGRY and 1-877-8-HAMBRE) to connect individuals with SNAP, WIC, and local food resources Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 5 activities
- Connecting individuals to local food resourcesRefers individuals to nearby food pantries, soup kitchens, and free meal sites through a "Find Food" tool and by distributing downloadable neighborhood guides listing food resources across all five NYC boroughs.
- Facilitating access to emergency meals during crisesSupports access to free meals for families and individuals through public schools and community sites during emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and assists with related benefit access such as P-EBT.
- Operating AmeriCorps VISTA program for hunger reliefHosts a national AmeriCorps VISTA program that deploys volunteers to support anti-hunger initiatives and capacity building in communities across the United States.
- Operating the National Hunger HotlineOperates a multilingual National Hunger Hotline (available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET) that connects individuals across all 50 states and U.S. territories with emergency food providers, local SNAP offices, WIC programs, and other government nutrition assistance programs.
- Recruiting and placing skilled volunteersConnects volunteers to skilled-based roles and other opportunities, including data verification for the USDA Hunger Hotline, food bank service, and grant application reviews, and facilitates volunteer engagement through events like the MLK Serve-A-Thon.
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Food Policy Advocacy & Nutrition Education 2 activities
- Advocating for federal and state nutrition policiesAdvances policies to end hunger in the United States, including opposing harmful provisions in the Farm Bill and budget cuts to WIC, and advocating for the protection and expansion of federal nutrition programs.
- Conducting research on hunger and nutrition policyConducts and publishes original research and reports on federal nutrition programs, child hunger, poverty, and challenges facing low-income Americans to inform policy advocacy.
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Public Benefits Navigation and Enrollment 1 activity
- Providing SNAP and WIC enrollment assistanceOffers direct, step-by-step application support for SNAP and WIC benefits to low-income individuals and families, with specialized services for New York City and Idaho residents, including help with P-EBT card activation and Medicaid access.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Providing job training for low-income residentsOffers paid job training programs to 200 unemployed, underemployed, or low-wage workers in Illinois and Maryland to improve work skills and increase wages.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Providing leadership and community organizing trainingOffers training in leadership, advocacy, and community organizing to empower community members to address hunger and poverty.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.47M
Contributions & grants$5.22M95%
Program service revenue$257K5%
Investment income$6770%
Other revenue$-1K
expenses
Total expenses$4.76M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$4.04M
Grants paid out$127K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.59M
Cash$875K
Investments$0
Liabilities$413K
Net assets$2.18M
Liquid reserves2.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +14.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOEL BERG | CEO | 40 | $171K |
| JULIE TEDFORD | CFO | 40 | $145K |
board members · 15
- DAN GLICKMAN — BOARD CHAIR
- ERIC BOST — TRUSTEE
- JESS FARDELLA — VICE CHAIR
- JULIA DUNCAN — TRUSTEE
- MAY WANG THROUGH 4324 — TRUSTEE
- MICHAEL STOLLER THROUGH 922024 — TRUSTEE
- PENNY JENNINGS — TRUSTEE
- PRIYA FIELDING-SINGH — TRUSTEE
- RAJ ASAVA — TRUSTEE
- TIFFINEY DAVIS THROUGH 9102024 — TRUSTEE
- TOAN PHAM — TREASURER
- TOBIN THOMAS — TRUSTEE
- VK KISHORE — TRUSTEE
- WHITLEY HASTY — TRUSTEE
- XIOMARA ROMAIN — TRUSTEE
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- Albertsons Companies Foundation Funder — Provided funding through the Innovation Spark Grant to support Hunger Free America's Social Services Job Training Program.
- AmeriCorps VISTA Partner — Sponsors and partners with Hunger Free America to run a national service program addressing hunger.
- Brooklyn Community Foundation Partner — Local foundation supporting Hunger Free America's work
- Costco Wholesale Brooklyn Partner — Corporate supporter contributing to Hunger Free America's efforts
- Federal Corporation for National and Community Service Government — Federal agency providing support through AmeriCorps VISTA and other programs
- Feeding America Network — Member of national food bank network
- Food Research & Action Center Partner — National anti-hunger organization partnered with Hunger Free America
- Goldman Sachs & Co Partner — Corporate supporter contributing to Hunger Free America's efforts
- Hunger Free America Network — Hunger Free NYC is the New York City affiliate of Hunger Free America.
- Hunger Free NYC Partner — Local partner organization providing support and services to low-income New Yorkers.
- MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger Partner — Jewish anti-hunger organization supporting Hunger Free America
- NBC4 Partner — Featured the MLK Serve-A-Thon in news coverage.
- New York City Coalition Against Hunger Network — Predecessor organization rebranded as Hunger Free America in 2016, continuing its mission with a national focus.
- New York City Council Government — Local government body providing funding through multiple departments
- New York Community Trust Partner — Community foundation supporting Hunger Free America
- New York State Assembly Government — State legislative body providing funding through Office of Children and Family Services
- New York State Senate Government — State legislative body providing funding through Office of Children and Family Services
- PepsiCo Foundation Partner — Foundation supporter contributing to Hunger Free America's efforts
- Prudential Financial Partner — Corporate supporter contributing to Hunger Free America's efforts
- REI Charitable Trust Partner — Foundation supporter contributing to Hunger Free America's efforts
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Partner — Foundation supporter contributing to Hunger Free America's efforts
- U.S. House of Representatives Government — Legislative body whose passage of the 2026 Farm Bill prompted advocacy response.
- U.S. Senate Government — Target of advocacy efforts to reverse the SNAP state cost-shift.
- US Department of Agriculture Government — Federal agency providing funding and program support through multiple channels
- USDA Government — Collaborates on the USDA Hunger Hotline by verifying and maintaining its information through volunteer efforts.
- USDA Government — Operates the USDA Hunger Hotline, which Hunger Free America promotes for SNAP enrollment and food resource referrals.
- USDA Government — Operates the USDA National Hunger Hotline on behalf of USDA.
- USDA Government — Refers individuals to USDA-administered programs including SNAP and WIC through the Hunger Hotline.
- United Way of New York City Partner — Local United Way chapter supporting Hunger Free America
- hunger non-profits across the country Partner — Provides volunteer recruitment support to hunger nonprofits nationwide
+ 1 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Benefits Access as Primary Interventionmethodology: benefits_access_assistanceBy helping individuals enroll in federal nutrition programs like SNAP, the organization addresses food insecurity directly and efficiently, because access to existing benefits is seen as the most scalable and immediate solution for low-income populations.
- Community-Led Organizing for Food Justicemethodology: community-organizingBy building leadership and organizing skills among community residents, the organization fosters grassroots power to advocate for food justice, because sustainable change is driven by empowered communities rather than top-down interventions.
- Integrated Service and Advocacymethodology: integrated_service_and_advocacyBy combining frontline service delivery with policy advocacy, the organization strengthens its policy positions with real-world insights and data, creating more effective and informed systemic change efforts. This dual approach ensures that advocacy is grounded in lived experience and service gaps, increasing its credibility and impact.
- Policy-First Approach to Hunger Eliminationmethodology: policy_over_charityBy focusing on systemic change through federal policy advocacy rather than charitable food aid alone, the organization aims to end hunger at scale, because sustainable solutions require government responsibility and structural reform rather than temporary relief.
- Strategic Volunteerism for Capacity Buildingmethodology: strategic_volunteerismBy deploying skilled volunteers and AmeriCorps VISTA members into high-impact roles, the organization strengthens the capacity of anti-hunger nonprofits through expertise and labor, because targeted volunteer engagement amplifies organizational effectiveness beyond what direct service alone can achieve.