irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0CHAMPION: CHAMPION RELATES TO COMMUNICATING AND SUPPORTING SPECIALTY FOOD'S IMPORTANCE, SHOWCASING MARKET-READY INNOVATION FOR DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL AUDIENCES, AND CREATING MEMBER VALUE PROPOSITION FOR BOTH MAKERS AND BUYERS.
- #2 $0NURTURE: NURTURE RELATES TO PROVIDING CONTENT AND OUTREACH TO PROMOTE MEMBERS' VALUE AND RECOGNITION, ESTABLISHING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND DELIVERING VALUE RELEVANT RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS TO ASSURE PREPAREDNESS.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
CHAMPION
Communicates and supports the importance of specialty food, showcases market-ready innovation for domestic and global audiences, and creates member value for makers and buyers.
Fancy Food Show
Major industry trade event connecting specialty food makers and buyers to showcase products, foster business relationships, and highlight innovation.
NURTURE
Provides content and outreach to promote members' value and recognition, establishes educational programs, and delivers research and programs to ensure industry preparedness.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Administers sofi Awards to recognize excellence in specialty foodsManages and presents the sofi Awards annually to honor outstanding achievements in specialty food and beverage, continuing a tradition established in 1972.
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Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
- Facilitates member collaboration and leadership developmentOffers volunteer leadership opportunities and fosters collaboration through alliances with partner organizations to strengthen the professional community within the specialty food industry.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Organizes trade shows and industry eventsProduces and operates major industry events including the Summer Fancy Food Show, Winter FancyFaire, and other tradeshows that connect thousands of specialty food makers, buyers, brokers, and distributors for product discovery and business development.
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Industry Research and Benchmarking 1 activity
- Produces research and insights for the specialty food industryConducts and delivers research reports and relevant programs that support member preparedness and promote growth in the specialty food industry.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Provides member education and professional development resourcesOffers year-round educational programming including expert-led webinars, strategic insights, and educational sessions at tradeshows on topics such as food safety and sales strategy to support the growth of specialty food businesses.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Integrates acquired organizations and expands community reachCompleted the integration of the Good Food Foundation, bringing former members into its community to broaden support and connectivity within the specialty food sector.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$36.10M
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$29.01M80%
Investment income$7.08M20%
Other revenue$14K
expenses
Total expenses$28.28M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$9.68M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$90.58M
Cash$9.61M
Investments$78.14M
Liabilities$14.53M
Net assets$76.04M
Liquid reserves37.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +28.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 25
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM LYNCH | PRESIDENT | 40 | $919K |
| LYSA TEAL | SVP, FINANCE & PLANNING | 40 | $485K |
| PHIL ROBINSON | SVP, MEMBER DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $408K |
| LEANA SALAMAH | SVP, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $360K |
| DELIA MURPHY | VP, RELATIONS | 40 | $262K |
| NANCY WEISS | DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTING & CONTROLLER | 40 | $239K |
| LAURA LOZADA | VP, OPERATIONS THRU 07/22/24 | 40 | $226K |
| ANTHONY BAVARO | DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS | 40 | $222K |
| MICHELLE MCDONALD | DIR., MEMBER & BUYER RELATIONS | 40 | $207K |
| TRESSA KENNEDY | DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS | 40 | $204K |
| ANTHONY LEON | VP, TECHNOLOGY THRU 07/22/24 | 40 | $196K |
| GRETCHEN VANESSELSTYN | DIR., EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS | 40 | $191K |
| JONATHAN E PRUDEN | PAST CHAIR | 2 | $7K |
| DWIGHT RICHMOND | TREASURER | 2 | $7K |
| VICTORIA HO | DIRECTOR | 2 | $7K |
| JILL GIACOMINI BASCH | DIRECTOR | 2 | $7K |
| MIKE REICH | DIRECTOR | 2 | $7K |
| SCOTT JENSEN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $7K |
| JULIE BUSHA | DIRECTOR | 2 | $7K |
| NONA YEANHONG LIM | CHAIR | 2 | $7K |
| SARAH Z MASONI | DIRECTOR | 2 | $7K |
| SARAH WALLACE | SECRETARY | 2 | $6K |
| PIERRE A ABUSHACRA | VICE CHAIR | 2 | $5K |
| EMILIO MIGNUCCI | DIRECTOR THRU 06/30/2024 | 2 | $4K |
| ELIZABETH A HALEY | DIRECTOR THRU 06/30/2024 | 2 | $4K |
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- Alliance Organizations Coalition — Network of organizations collaborating with SFA to advance shared goals in the specialty food industry
- Good Food Foundation Partner — Integrated the Good Food Foundation into SFA, welcoming its crafters and retailers into the SFA member community.
- Over 3,800 specialty food companies Network — Membership base of specialty food producers and buyers engaged in the organization's programs and marketplace initiatives.
- Tressa Kennedy Partner — Director, Member Operations serving as contact for volunteer leadership inquiries.
- consumer brands Partner — Engages consumer brands in creating educational content for industry professionals.
- retailers Partner — Collaborates with retailers to develop educational sessions for the specialty food industry.
- solution providers Partner — Includes solution providers in the development of educational sessions for the specialty food community.
- thought leaders Partner — Works with thought leaders to deliver insightful programming at SFA tradeshows.
strategies · 3
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.
- Member-Driven Capacity Building and Industry Representationmethodology: member_capacity_buildingBy delivering targeted education, research, and outreach, and by representing diverse business types across the specialty food sector, the organization strengthens member capacity and industry sustainability because shared knowledge and collective advocacy enhance long-term sector preparedness and market relevance.
- Networked Collaboration and Marketplace Facilitationmethodology: marketplace_facilitationBy convening producers and buyers through large-scale trade events and collaborating with Alliance Organizations, the organization expands the reach of specialty foods because these platforms enable product discovery, business development, and collective impact that individual actors cannot achieve alone.
- Values-Based Community Building and Governancemethodology: values_based_governanceBy fostering an inclusive community grounded in innovation, diversity, and servant leadership—and institutionalizing these values through member-driven governance and leadership selection—the organization strengthens engagement and trust because shared values and participatory structures increase ownership and long-term commitment.