The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC at 11 Dupont Circle NW Suite 500. Founded in 1970, FRAC works to improve the health, nutrition, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · 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
Mission & Focus Areas
FRAC's mission is to combat childhood hunger and improve nutrition, food security, and economic security in the United States. The organization focuses on three primary program areas:
Early Childhood Nutrition: Through research, public policy advocacy, technical assistance, training, and distribution of materials to local, state, and national organizations, FRAC works to reduce hunger and improve nutrition among infants and preschoolers, thereby improving food security, economic security, health, development, school readiness, and overall well-being.
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): FRAC works with national, state, and local groups to protect and improve SNAP benefits for people with low incomes. The organization provides research, public policy advocacy, training, technical assistance, regranting, and dissemination of information to assist in getting SNAP to eligible families with children, immigrants, older adults, unemployed persons, and other people struggling to make ends meet.
Child Nutrition: FRAC seeks to reduce childhood hunger, improve nutrition, and enhance food security and economic security through advocacy for programs such as School Breakfast, School Lunch, the Summer Food Program, and After School Nutrition Programs.
Grantmaking
FRAC administers grant programs and subgrant opportunities:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
FRAC operates nationally across the United States, working with local, state, and national organizations and public agencies. Recent activity indicates focus on 38 states plus the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Revenue: $20,791,928
- Total Expenses: $21,482,914
- Total Assets: $12,293,335
2023:
- Revenue: $16.6M
- Expenses: $14.8M
- Total Assets: $12.5M
- Total Liabilities: $5.71M
Staffing:
- Employees: 55 (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $25,702 | $40,127 | $-39,948 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
239 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Food Research & Action Center
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cherokee Nation ($941,763), Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition ($779,614), University of South Dakota ($642,347).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GRETCHEN SWANSON CENTER FOR NUTRITION Omaha, NE | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $779,614 |
| UnidosUS Washington, DC | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $503,475 |
| Trustee of Indiana University Bloomington, IN | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $122,917 |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY & HEALTH SYSTEM Baltimore, MD | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $122,914 |
| City of San Antonio - COSA Metro Health San Antonio, TX | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $116,107 |
| The Food Group Minnesota Inc New Hope, MN | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $103,989 |
| Feeding Kentucky Frankfort, KY | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $74,906 |
| Cherokee Nation Tahlequah, OK | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $941,763 |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $195,004 |
| City of Dallas Dallas, TX | FEDERAL NUTRITION IMPLEMENTATION | $193,474 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Crystal Fitzsimons: President
- Colleen Barton: Communications Director
- Etienne Melcher Philbin: Chief of Staff
- Nancy Dalton: Board Member
- Lamonika N Jones: Director, State Initiatives
- Patrick Youngblood: Development Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRYSTAL FITZSIMONS | Interim President | 40 | $180,429 |
| Luis Guardia | President (THROUGH 4/5/2024) | 40 | $132,492 |
| MAYRA E ALVAREZ | Chair | 2 | — |
| SHERRY BRENNAN | Secretary/Treasurer | 1 | — |
| BETH JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ELLEN BUCHMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| Eric Bost | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ERIC RODRIGUEZ | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| Janie Hipp | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JEFF DAVIDOFF | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KELLIE ADESINA | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KOFI ESSEL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LaQuinta Honeysucker | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| Melody Richard | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| NANCY DALTON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| Etienne Philbin | Chief of Staff | 40 | $163,021 |
| Kelly Horton | Chief Program Officer (THROUGH 7/1/2024) | 40 | $140,567 |
| Alexandra Ashbrook | Director of Early Child Nutrition | 40 | $150,144 |
| Ata-Ul-Salaam Bhatti | Director of SNAP | 40 | $134,207 |
| COLLEEN BARTON | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $180,366 |
| ELLEN SUSAN TELLER | CHIEF GOVT AFFAIRS OFFICER | 40 | $187,336 |
| Polly Thibodeau | Director of Development | 40 | $138,291 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Summer EBT Expansion (January 2026):** More than 21 million children in 38 states and the District of Columbia are set to benefit from Summer EBT in 2026.
More Than 21 Million Children in 38 States, District of Columbia, to Benefit**WIC Outreach Funding (2024):** Close to $15 million in funding made available for innovative outreach connecting families to WIC, with subgrant applications due September 6.
Close to $15 Million in Funding Available for Innovative Outreach ...**Child Nutrition Grants (December 2023):** FRAC and USDA announced $1.1 million in grants to increase equitable access to healthy meals for children during school, after school, child care, and summer programs.
Food Research & Action Center and USDA Announce $1.1 Million in Grants to**Equitable Access Research (August 2023):** FRAC announced a Request for Proposals for research on equitable access to child nutrition programs.
Food Research & Action Center and USDA Announce $1.1 Million in Grants toSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Food Research & Action Center fund?
FRAC's mission is to combat childhood hunger and improve nutrition, food security, and economic security in the United States. The organization focuses on three primary program areas: **Early Childhood Nutrition:** Through research, public policy advocacy, technical assistance, training, and distribution of materials to local, state, and national organizations, FRAC works to reduce hunger and improve nutrition among infants and preschoolers, thereby improving food security, economic security, h…
How do I apply for a grant from Food Research & Action Center?
FRAC administers grant programs and subgrant opportunities: • In 2024, FRAC and USDA announced $1.1 million in grants to increase equitable access to healthy meals for children during school, after school, child care, and summer programs. • FRAC made available close to $15 million in funding for innovative outreach that connects more families to WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), with subgrant applications requested. • FRAC announced a Request for Proposals for research on equitable access to …
Where does Food Research & Action Center make grants?
FRAC operates nationally across the United States, working with local, state, and national organizations and public agencies. Recent activity indicates focus on 38 states plus the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Food Research & Action Center award?
In 2024, Food Research & Action Center awarded 73 grants totaling $13.0M — an average of about $178K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Food Research & Action Center's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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