The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation
The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation is a public charity based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Formed in 2018, it supports organizations and innovators working to address hunger and food waste in communities across the United States.
The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation at a glance
In short: The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation gave $6.1M across 141 grants in 2025 (avg $44K), top state Illinois. 34% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,148,836
- -16.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 141
- +110.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $43,609
- -60.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $21,714,003
- +11.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (39 of 114, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (15% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through an online application. Applications are reviewed quarterly. The website encourages eligible nonprofits and community organizations to apply; the 2024 filing also says grants may go to for-profit entities.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1100
Phone: (513) 762-4311
Website: https://thekrogercozerohungerzerowastefoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation
Who The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Feeding America ($493K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
810 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 555 grants of 810 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it works with national and local organizations and innovators across the country. Its 2024 filing states a preference for organizations based in Kroger communities or projects that could benefit those communities.
In 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Illinois (15%), California (12%), Washington, D.C. (10%), Georgia (10%), and Ohio (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 141 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 39 of 114 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $66K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $30K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6.1M (2025) to $17.9M (2022). In 2025 it made 141 grants totaling $6.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $432,910 |
| World Wildlife Fund Inc Washington, DC | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $390,932 |
| The Milken Institute Santa Monica, CA | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $300,000 |
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $250,000 |
| The Recycling Partnership Inc College Park, GA | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $250,000 |
| US Hunger Longwood, FL | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $200,000 |
| Sunshine Division Portland, OR | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $170,000 |
| Center for Circular Economy LLC New York, NY | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $167,000 |
| Food Bank of the Rockies Denver, CO | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $152,637 |
| Mrelief Chicago, IL | Organization's Charitable Purpose | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,714,003 | $8,825,113 | $6,603,934 | $6,148,836 | 141 | $642,795 |
| 2024 | $19,492,824 | $8,577,535 | $7,816,935 | $7,322,452 | 67 | $619,505 |
| 2023 | $18,732,224 | $19,098,786 | $11,811,340 | $9,167,166 | 150 | $46,556 |
| 2022 | $11,444,778 | $15,207,931 | $18,630,061 | $17,895,848 | 133 | — |
| 2021 | $14,866,908 | $29,035,198 | $16,986,851 | $16,480,201 | 319 | — |
| 2020 | $2,830,130 | $13,129,744 | $10,230,468 | $9,828,182 | 266 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to help end hunger and waste in communities across the U.S. Its grants support programs that provide meals to families experiencing hunger, improve access to fresh and healthy food, and advance sustainability and solutions that reduce waste and food waste.
The foundation describes its approach as enabling collective action, catalyzing innovation, and creating a more equitable food system. Its website highlights support for food-bank transportation, mobile pantries, SNAP access and enrollment, school breakfast, services for people experiencing homelessness, nutrition education, and access to healthier foods. Its Innovation Fund has supported entrepreneurs working on food loss and waste solutions; two open calls directed $6.6 million to 17 companies.
Grantees illustrate the range of work supported. Feeding America describes its mission as advancing equitable access to nutritious food through partnerships with food banks and communities. mRelief works to make SNAP screening and enrollment accessible by mobile phone and text. The World Wildlife Fund says its mission is to conserve nature and reduce threats to the diversity of life on Earth; the foundation says it has supported WWF’s work on regenerative agriculture and native grasslands.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 141 grants totaling $6,148,836. Grant amounts ranged from $5,079 to $432,910, with a median of $15,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $432,910 to Feeding America, $390,932 to the World Wildlife Fund, $300,000 to the Milken Institute, $250,000 to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and $250,000 to The Recycling Partnership. Other notable awards included $200,000 to US Hunger, $170,000 to Sunshine Division, $152,637 to Food Bank of the Rockies, and $150,000 each to mRelief, Food Lifeline, and Oregon Food Bank.
The foundation’s website invites nonprofits and community organizations aligned with its mission to apply. Its filing says it awards grants to both for-profit and nonprofit entities, with final selections reviewed by the board, staff, and advisory council.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2025 filing lists Denise Osterhues as president and director; Keith Dailey as vice president and director; Milen Mahadevan as secretary and director; and Patty Leesemann as interim executive director. It also lists Victor Smith, Lisa Zwack, Ryan Verbecken, and Juan De Paoli as directors. The filing lists Jamie Carr as assistant secretary and Emily Hartmann as a former director.
The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation is led by Patty Leesemann, Executive Director & Interim since 2025 (on filings since 2023); 2 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Patty Leesemann
Executive Director & Interim
Executive Director → Executive Director & Interim Treasurer, 2024
Executive Director & Interim Treasurer → Executive Director & Interim, 2025
On filings since 2023
16 hrs/week
$226K (2025)
Denise Osterhues
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Keith Dailey
Vice President & Director
Vice President → Vice President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Milen Mahadevan
Secretary & Director
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Victor Smith
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Juan De Paoli
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Lisa Zwack
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Ryan Verbecken
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Jamie Carr
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2024
15 hrs/week
$162K (2025)
Emily Hartmann
Former Director
Director → Former Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Ali Berman (2023–2024) — Former Assistant Secretary
- Former: Mike Schlotman (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Sunny Reelhorn Parr (2020–2023) — Immediate Past Executive Director
- Former: Kate Ward (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Liz Ferneding (2020–2021) — Former Director-
- Former: Mark Purtilar (2020–2021) — Former Director-
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $226K, to Patty Leesemann (Executive Director / Inter). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation
How much does The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation give each year?
The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation gave $6.1M across 141 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.3M across 67 grants.
What is The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation's typical grant size?
The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $43,609, across 141 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation give grants?
The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 15% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (12%) and District of Columbia (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (17 grants), Chicago, IL (6 grants), Portland, OR (6 grants) and Seattle, WA (5 grants).
Who are The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation's largest grantees?
The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Feeding America ($492,910 across 2 grants), World Wildlife Fund Inc ($440,932 across 2 grants) and The Milken Institute ($300,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation?
The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation reported $21.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.8M.
What does The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to help end hunger and waste in communities across the U.S. Its grants support programs that provide meals to families experiencing hunger, improve access to fresh and healthy food, and advance sustainability and solutions that reduce waste and food waste. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through an online application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation's EIN?
The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0898036. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 27, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation funds
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-kroger-co-zero-hunger-zero-waste-foundation-morg_353c01b1d3004eebb1cc7670dc7b3e9e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_830898036_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-kroger-co-zero-hunger-zero-waste-foundation-morg_353c01b1d3004eebb1cc7670dc7b3e9e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation'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.
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