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Food Research & Action Center

Public charity · Grantmaker Washington, DC EIN: 23-7200739 Website

The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) is a Washington, D.C.-based public charity that works to improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of people experiencing poverty-related hunger in the United States. It supports this work through advocacy, partnerships, research, technical assistance, training, public information campaigns, and grants tied to nutrition programs and policy solutions.

Key facts about Food Research & Action Center

In short: Food Research & Action Center gave $13.0M across 73 grants in 2024 (avg $178K), top state Nebraska. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
23-7200739
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$13,025,079
Grants made (2024)
73
Average grant
$178,426
Median grant
$122,270
New grantees (estimate)
23% first-time grantees (17 of 73, 2024)
Total assets
$12,293,335
Primary geography
Nebraska (10% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Deadline
The WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project’s 2024 subgrant applications were due September 6, 2024.

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$12.3M

-1.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$13.0M

+164.3% YoY

Grant Count

73

-1.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$178K

+167.9% YoY

Is Food Research & Action Center open to new grantees?

23%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 17 of 73 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $60K; repeat grants $214K. How we count

Medians: $25K first-time, $192K repeat.

  • 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 156% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

FRAC’s mission is to improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and bold and equitable policy solutions. Its program areas include early childhood nutrition, child nutrition, SNAP, and other work such as legislative advocacy, root causes and specific populations, communications, network engagement, and its D.C. and Maryland Hunger Solutions initiatives.

FRAC’s work includes research, public policy advocacy, training, technical assistance, materials, and regranting. It works to improve access to programs such as school breakfast and lunch, summer and after-school nutrition programs, SNAP, and WIC. Its WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project supports outreach strategies intended to increase WIC awareness and participation and reduce disparities in program delivery.

Among the organizations receiving FRAC grants in 2024 were UnidosUS, whose mission is to challenge barriers affecting Latinos through research, advocacy, programs, and a network of community-based affiliates; The Opportunity Alliance, which works to improve health, safety, and stability in Maine; and Tennessee Justice Center, which advocates for low-income Tennesseans on public policies affecting health and welfare.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, FRAC reported 73 grants totaling $13,025,079. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $941,763, with a median of $122,270. The largest awards included $941,763 to Cherokee Nation, $779,614 to the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, and $642,347 to the University of South Dakota. These grants were reported for federal nutrition implementation.

Review Cycle

The WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project’s 2024 subgrant applications were due September 6, 2024. The Social Impact and Equity Fund’s application period is closed.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Food Research & Action Center

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

FRAC describes its work as focused on the United States and works with local, state, and national groups and public agencies. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states and Washington, D.C.; the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska (10%), Oklahoma (7%), New Jersey (7%), California (6%), and South Dakota (5%).

Grant Distribution by State

48states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 73 itemized grants.

Cities

PhiladelphiaPortlandHonoluluLos AngelesChicagoBaltimoreWashingtonBostonPhoenixRichmondAnchorageAustinEnglewoodBethesdaNashvilleSeattleBakersfieldDenverHartfordLincoln

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M151 grants2020 83 grants2021 39 grants2022 74 grants2023 73 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2022) to $13.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 73 grants totaling $13.0M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Cherokee Nation: $942KCherokee Nation$942KGretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition: $780KGretchen Swanson Center forNutrition$780KUniversity of South Dakota: $642KUniversity of South Dakota$642KRhode Island Department of Health: $570KRhode Island Department ofHealth$570KUnidosUS: $503KUnidosUS$503KThe Opportunity Alliance: $461KThe Opportunity Alliance$461KBlue Valley Community Action Inc: $416KBlue Valley Community ActionInc$416KCommunity Progress Council: $407KCommunity Progress Council$407KTennessee Justice Center: $401KTennessee Justice Center$401KHawai'i Children's Action Network: $396KHawai'i Children's ActionNetwork$396K

The largest 2024 recipient was Cherokee Nation ($942K). Together the top 10 received $5.5M.

Grant Size Distribution

420 grants across all recorded years

221<$50K98$50–100K77$100–250K18$250–500K6$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 221 grants of 420 (53%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Cherokee Nation Tahlequah, OKFederal Nutrition Implementation$941,763
Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition Omaha, NEFederal Nutrition Implementation$779,614
University of South Dakota Vermillion, SDFederal Nutrition Implementation$642,347
Rhode Island Department of Health Providence, RIFederal Nutrition Implementation$569,927
UnidosUS Washington, DCFederal Nutrition Implementation$503,475
The Opportunity Alliance South Portland, MEFederal Nutrition Implementation$460,991
Blue Valley Community Action Inc Fairbury, NEFederal Nutrition Implementation$415,753
Community Progress Council York, PAFederal Nutrition Implementation$406,592
Tennessee Justice Center Nashville, TNFederal Nutrition Implementation$401,392
Hawai'i Children's Action Network Honolulu, HIFederal Nutrition Implementation$395,840

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2024 $12,293,335 $20,791,928 $21,482,914 $13,025,079
2023 $12,468,867 $16,570,514 $14,790,697 $4,927,754
2022 $7,133,214 $5,168,532 $9,541,456 $1,394,786
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$12,293,335$12,468,867$7,133,214
Revenue$20,791,928$16,570,514$5,168,532
Expenses$21,482,914$14,790,697$9,541,456
Net Investment Income$25,702$40,127$-39,948

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing listed Crystal Fitzsimons as Interim President and Luis Guardia as President through April 5, 2024. It listed Mayra E. Alvarez as Chair and Sherry Brennan as Secretary/Treasurer. Directors listed included Beth Johnson, Ellen Buchman, Eric Bost, Eric Rodriguez, Janie Hipp, and Jeff Davidoff.

Food Research & Action Center is led by Crystal Fitzsimons, Interim President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 9 of 22 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Crystal Fitzsimons

    Interim President

    Director School & Out of School → Director School & Out-Of-School, 2022

    Director School & Out-Of-School → Interim President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $163K (2020) → $180K (2024)

  • Luis Guardia

    President

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $243K (2020) → $132K (2024)

  • Mayra E. Alvarez

    Chair

    Director → Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Colleen Barton

    Director of Communications

    Director & Communications → Communications Director, 2021

    Communications Director → Director of Communications, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $170K (2020) → $180K (2024)

  • Alexandra Ashbrook

    Director of Early Child Nutrition

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $150K (2024)

  • Ata-Ul-Salaam Bhatti

    Director of Snap

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $134K (2024)

  • Polly Thibodeau

    Director of Development

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $138K (2024)

  • Beth Johnson

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Rodriguez

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Janie Simms Hipp

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeff Davidoff

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kellie Adesina

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kofi Essel

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ellen Buchman

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy Dalton

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Bost

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • LaQuinta Honeysucker

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melody Richard

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ellen Susan Teller

    Chief Govt Affairs Officer

    Director & Government Affairs → Chief Govt Affairs Officer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $179K (2020) → $187K (2024)

  • Kelly Horton

    Chief Program Officer

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $204K (2023) → $141K (2024)

  • Etienne Philbin

    Chief of Staff

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $163K (2024)

  • Sherry Brennan

    Secretary & Treasurer

    Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (16)
  • Former: Dan Glickman (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Molly Fogarty (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Ronald F. Pollack (2020–2023) — Secretary & Treasurer
  • Former: Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Darin Allen (2022–2023) — Director of Development
  • Former: Jalal Vardag (2023) — Finance Director
  • Former: Dave Carlin (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Ellen M Vollinger (2020–2022) — Snap Director
  • Former: John Gibson (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Judith H Whittlesey (2020–2022) — Chair
  • Former: Matthew E Melmed (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Barbara Western (2021–2022) — Chief Operating Officer
  • Former: Alison Goldberg (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Carolyn C. Cavicchio (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Geraldine Henchy (2021) — Director Nutrition Policy
  • Former: Patrick Youngblood (2020) — Director & Development

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Ellen Susan Teller — Chief Govt Affairs Officer: $187KEllen Susan TellerChief Govt Affairs Officer$187KCrystal Fitzsimons — Interim President: $180KCrystal FitzsimonsInterim President$180KColleen Barton — Director of Communications: $180KColleen BartonDirector of Communications$180KEtienne Philbin — Chief of Staff: $163KEtienne PhilbinChief of Staff$163KAlexandra Ashbrook — Director of Early Child Nutrition: $150KAlexandra AshbrookDirector of Early Child…$150KKelly Horton — Chief Program Officer (THROUGH 7/1/2024): $141KKelly HortonChief Program Officer (THROUGH…$141KPolly Thibodeau — Director of Development: $138KPolly ThibodeauDirector of Development$138KAta-Ul-Salaam Bhatti — Director of SNAP: $134KAta-Ul-Salaam BhattiDirector of SNAP$134KLuis Guardia — President (THROUGH 4/5/2024): $132KLuis GuardiaPresident (THROUGH 4/5/2024)$132K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $187K, to Ellen Susan Teller (Chief Govt Affairs Officer). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 1200 18Th St Nw, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 986-2200
Website: https://frac.org

Frequently asked questions about Food Research & Action Center

How much does Food Research & Action Center give each year?

Food Research & Action Center gave $13.0M across 73 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $4.9M across 74 grants.

What is Food Research & Action Center's typical grant size?

Food Research & Action Center's median grant in 2024 was $122,270, and its average grant was $178,426, across 73 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Food Research & Action Center that year got $60K on average.

Where does Food Research & Action Center give grants?

Food Research & Action Center's top state is Nebraska, with 10% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Oklahoma (7%) and New Jersey (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants), Portland, OR (3 grants), Philadelphia, PA (3 grants) and Honolulu, HI (2 grants).

Does Food Research & Action Center give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 73 grants with a stated purpose on Food Research & Action Center's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Federal Nutrition Implementation" (73 grants).

Who are Food Research & Action Center's largest grantees?

Food Research & Action Center's largest 2024 grantees include Cherokee Nation ($941,763), Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition ($779,614) and University of South Dakota ($642,347), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Food Research & Action Center?

Food Research & Action Center reported $12.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.8M.

What does Food Research & Action Center fund?

FRAC’s mission is to improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and bold and equitable policy solutions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Food Research & Action Center?

Food Research & Action Center has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check frac.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Food Research & Action Center's EIN?

Food Research & Action Center's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7200739. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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