Food Research & Action Center
The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) is a public charity based in Washington, DC, formed in 1972. It works to improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of people experiencing poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, research, technical assistance, and policy solutions.
Food Research & Action Center at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $13,025,079
- +164.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 73
- -1.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $178,426
- +167.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $122,270
- Total assets
- $12,293,335
- -1.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (17 of 73, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (10% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Food Research & Action Center
- Contact
Mailing address: 1200 18Th St Nw, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 986-2200
Website: https://frac.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Food Research & Action Center
Who Food Research & Action Center funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cherokee Nation ($942K). Together the top 10 received $5.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
420 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 221 grants of 420 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
FRAC describes its work as addressing hunger in the United States and says it supports a nationwide network of advocates, service providers, food banks, program administrators, participants, and policymakers. Its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients across multiple states; the largest stated shares by recipient state were Nebraska (10%), Oklahoma (7%), New Jersey (7%), California (6%), and South Dakota (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 73 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
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.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Nation Tahlequah, OK | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $941,763 |
| Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition Omaha, NE | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $779,614 |
| University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $642,347 |
| Rhode Island Department of Health Providence, RI | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $569,927 |
| UnidosUS Washington, DC | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $503,475 |
| The Opportunity Alliance South Portland, ME | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $460,991 |
| Blue Valley Community Action Inc Fairbury, NE | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $415,753 |
| Community Progress Council York, PA | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $406,592 |
| Tennessee Justice Center Nashville, TN | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $401,392 |
| Hawai'i Children's Action Network Honolulu, HI | Federal Nutrition Implementation | $395,840 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,293,335 | $20,791,928 | $21,482,914 | $13,025,079 | 73 | $25,702 |
| 2023 | $12,468,867 | $16,570,514 | $14,790,697 | $4,927,754 | 74 | $40,127 |
| 2022 | $7,133,214 | $5,168,532 | $9,541,456 | $1,394,786 | 39 | $-39,948 |
| 2021 | $11,081,726 | $13,011,283 | $12,288,670 | $5,078,331 | 83 | $10,290 |
| 2020 | $10,986,880 | $18,678,704 | $14,168,324 | $7,487,915 | 151 | $881 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
FRAC states that its 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 strategic goals include strengthening federal nutrition programs, improving their implementation, supporting policies that reduce poverty and other root causes of hunger, reducing the racial hunger gap, and building support for effective anti-hunger policies.
Its stated program areas include early childhood nutrition, child nutrition, and SNAP. FRAC describes work in these areas through research, public policy advocacy, training, technical assistance, materials, and regranting. Its website also describes a WIC outreach initiative intended to support strategies to increase awareness and participation.
Recipients of FRAC grants in 2024 included organizations with varied missions. CHN Nebraska describes itself as an independent research institution working to improve diet and physical activity behaviors among youth and families. UnidosUS says it builds a stronger America by creating opportunities for Latinos. The Opportunity Alliance says it supports people across Maine with programs and resources to improve health, safety, and stability. Blue Valley Community Action describes its mission as overcoming poverty and strengthening communities, while Community Progress Council says it helps individuals and families move toward self-sufficiency and advocates for community growth. The Tennessee Justice Center says it advocates for low-income Tennesseans on public policies affecting their health and welfare.
Grantmaking
FRAC reported 73 grants totaling $13,025,079 in filing year 2024. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $941,763, with a median of $122,270. The listed grants were for federal nutrition implementation.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $941,763 to Cherokee Nation, $779,614 to the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, $642,347 to the University of South Dakota, $569,927 to the Rhode Island Department of Health, and $503,475 to UnidosUS. Other large awards included $460,991 to The Opportunity Alliance, $415,753 to Blue Valley Community Action, and $401,392 to the Tennessee Justice Center.
FRAC’s 2024 WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project announcement described approximately $14.8 million in subgrants for WIC state and local agencies, including Indian Tribal Organizations, and nonprofit entities and organizations. The announced funding was intended to support outreach strategies to increase WIC awareness, participation, and benefit redemption and reduce disparities in program delivery. The application deadline was September 6, 2024, a past deadline. An earlier round’s request for applications listed a March 23, 2023 deadline, also past. FRAC’s website states that applications for its Social Impact and Equity Fund are closed; that initiative offered four grants of $25,000 each.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Crystal Fitzsimons as Interim President and Luis Guardia as President through April 5, 2024. It lists Mayra E. Alvarez as Chair and Sherry Brennan as Secretary/Treasurer. Directors listed were 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
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.
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 states that its 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 October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Food Research & Action Center funds
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Food Research & Action Center's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Food Research & Action Center funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/food-research-and-action-center-morg_9350e4b732a2417dae5e2d59972ff4c6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237200739_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Food Research \& Action Center funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/food-research-and-action-center-morg_9350e4b732a2417dae5e2d59972ff4c6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Food Research & Action Center's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Food Research & Action Center down — hundreds of funders to go?