Whyhunger Inc
WhyHunger Inc is a New York, New York-based public charity that supports grassroots movements and community solutions to hunger. Its work includes connecting people with nutritious food, funding and resourcing community-led efforts to address hunger’s root causes, and amplifying the voices of people most affected.
Whyhunger Inc at a glance
In short: Whyhunger Inc gave $470K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), top state New York. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $470,000
- +6.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +38.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,111
- -22.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $5,488,401
- -15.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (4 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (24% 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 Whyhunger Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 629-8850
Website: https://whyhunger.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Whyhunger Inc
Who Whyhunger Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center Inc ($63K). Together the top 10 received $340K.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 147 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WhyHunger’s programs support grassroots organizations and social movements across the United States and internationally. Its programs page describes work in the U.S. and 24 countries; its 2025 impact reporting says its support funded and strengthened movements in 25 countries. In its 2025 grants, the largest shares by recipient state were New York (24%), North Carolina (13%), Massachusetts (11%), Pennsylvania (11%), and Michigan (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Whyhunger Inc open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 18 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $28K 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 $440K (2024) to $2.5M (2021). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $470K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center Inc Bronx, NY | Fight Hunger | $62,500 |
| 4DA Soil Philadelphia, PA | Fight Hunger | $50,000 |
| Resist Inc Boston, MA | Fight Hunger | $32,500 |
| Afroresistance Inc Bronx, NY | Fight Hunger | $30,000 |
| Highlander Research and Education Center Inc New Market, TN | Fight Hunger | $30,000 |
| Inquiring Systems Inc Santa Rosa, CA | Fight Hunger | $30,000 |
| NC Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project Durham, NC | Fight Hunger | $30,000 |
| Southern Conservation Partners Inc Raleigh, NC | Fight Hunger | $30,000 |
| Detroit Black Community Food Security Network Inc Detroit, MI | Fight Hunger | $25,000 |
| Black Church Food Security Network Gwynn Oak, MD | Fight Hunger | $20,000 |
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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 | $5,488,401 | $6,275,046 | $6,846,932 | $470,000 | 18 | $170,105 |
| 2024 | $6,477,593 | $5,748,042 | $5,784,613 | $440,000 | 13 | $191,686 |
| 2023 | $7,246,812 | $6,345,301 | $5,904,345 | $1,155,075 | 26 | $120,205 |
| 2022 | $6,615,826 | $7,043,577 | $6,200,021 | $1,779,827 | 33 | $29,780 |
| 2021 | $5,607,325 | $7,869,621 | $6,765,053 | $2,479,400 | 57 | $95,142 |
| 2020 | $3,294,478 | $5,968,619 | $5,186,726 | $1,176,589 | 50 | $32,527 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
WhyHunger says it believes a world without hunger is possible and works to advance the human right to nutritious food in the U.S. and around the world. It provides resources to grassroots movements and community solutions rooted in social, environmental, racial, and economic justice. Its stated approach emphasizes community control of food systems and long-term changes to the systems and policies that contribute to hunger.
The organization describes its Global Movements Program as supporting social movements and networks working toward food sovereignty and rights to food, land, water, and sustainable livelihoods. Its Grassroots Action Network partners with U.S. community-based leaders, organizations, and networks to build capacity for organizing and food justice. Its Nourish Network works with emergency food providers, food-access organizations, community health groups, and other allies to make the charitable response to hunger more equitable and inclusive.
Grantees listed in the 2025 filing include organizations with varied stated missions. For example, the National Black Food and Justice Alliance describes itself as a coalition of Black-led organizations building Black leadership and food sovereignty; AfroResistance says it educates and organizes for human rights, democracy, and racial justice throughout the Americas; and the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives says it provides technical assistance, training, and financial programs for small farmers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, WhyHunger reported 18 itemized grants totaling $470,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $62,500, with a median of $22,500. The largest grants included $62,500 to Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center in the Bronx, $50,000 to 4DA Soil in Philadelphia, and $32,500 to Resist in Boston; each was listed for the purpose “FIGHT HUNGER.” Other grants included $30,000 to AfroResistance, Highlander Research and Education Center, Inquiring Systems, the NC Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project, and Southern Conservation Partners.
The organization’s filing says prospective grantees must submit a proposal and project budget for review against its goals and mission. Selected grantees sign an agreement requiring interim and final narrative and financial reports, use of funds as specified in the approved budget, and return of funds used for purposes outside the agreement. The agreement also prohibits using funds to support or oppose legislation or a political candidacy and requires project start and end dates.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cindy Secunda as chairperson; Jimmy Zankel as vice chair through May 2025; Alysia Steinmann as treasurer; Robin Lewis as secretary; and Loretta Munoz and Mark Blake as members at large. It also lists Diane Blagman, Mark Cimino, Rachel Lipschutz, and Meisha Porter as directors.
Whyhunger Inc is led by Jenique Jones, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 8 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jenique Jones
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $236K (2025)
Cindy Secunda
Chairperson
Director → Member at Large, 2022
Member at Large → Chairperson, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joy Curtin
Senior Director of Finance & Administrator
Senior Director of Finance → Senior Director of Finance & Administrator, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$154K (2020) → $211K (2025)
Sharon Damelio
Senior Director of Development
Director of Development → Senior Director of Development, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$103K (2020) → $189K (2025)
Deborah Depoala
Senior Director of Communications
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$140K (2021) → $174K (2025)
Suzanne Babb
Senior Director of Programs
Senior Co-Director of Us Programs → Senior Director of Programs, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$113K (2022) → $118K (2025)
Lorisia Clevenger
Senior Director of Programs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$118K (2025)
Diane Blagman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Norris
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pearl Thompson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Cimino
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meisha Porter
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Lipschutz
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Drew Pizzo
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Newhart
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claire Marble
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Holly Macdonald
Head of Aahp
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
John Cape
Vice President of Programs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$157K (2025)
Alysia Steinmann
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Loretta Munoz
Member at Large
Director → Member at Large, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Blake
Member at Large
Director → Member at Large, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Lewis
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jimmy Zankel
Vice Chair
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (33)
- Former: Vanessa Trinidad (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Caralene Robinson (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Jojo Brim (2021–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Lorrie Clevenger (2022–2024) — Senior Co-Director of Us Programs
- Former: Thomas Chapin (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Caren Berlin (2020–2023) — Chairperson
- Former: Harvey Nagler (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ken Lesnick (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Rob Barnett (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Scott Haugenes (2020–2023) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Avi Savar (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Brian Resnick (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Alan C. Handell (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Emma Weisberg (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Geoffrey Eaton (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Chapin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Joe D'urso (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Noreen Springstead (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Patrick Sullivan (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert Wolk (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Wendy Heipt (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Katie Schroeder (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Alison Cohen (2020–2021) — Senior Director of Programs
- Former: Amy Baker (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Andrew Bauer (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David Miller (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Seth Saltzman (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Deborah Grunbaum (2020) — Senior Director of Communications
- Former: Fred Beteille (2020) — Director
- Former: Judy Tint (2020) — Director
- Former: Karen Washington (2020) — Director
- Former: Paul C. Kurland (2020) — Director
- Former: Tom Chapin (2020) — 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 $236K, to Jenique Jones (Executive Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Whyhunger Inc
How much does Whyhunger Inc give each year?
Whyhunger Inc gave $470K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $440K across 13 grants.
What is Whyhunger Inc's typical grant size?
Whyhunger Inc's median grant in 2025 was $22,500, and its average grant was $26,111, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Whyhunger Inc that year got $23K on average.
Where does Whyhunger Inc give grants?
Whyhunger Inc's top state is New York, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were North Carolina (13%) and Massachusetts (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bronx, NY (2 grants) and Detroit, MI (2 grants).
Does Whyhunger Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Whyhunger Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fight Hunger" (18 grants).
Who are Whyhunger Inc's largest grantees?
Whyhunger Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center Inc ($62,500), 4DA Soil ($50,000) and Resist Inc ($32,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Whyhunger Inc?
Whyhunger Inc reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.3M.
What does Whyhunger Inc fund?
WhyHunger says it believes a world without hunger is possible and works to advance the human right to nutritious food in the U.S. and around the world. It provides resources to grassroots movements and community solutions rooted in social, environmental, racial, and economic justice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Whyhunger Inc?
Whyhunger Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check whyhunger.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Whyhunger Inc's EIN?
Whyhunger Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2805575. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 June 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 25, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Whyhunger Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Whyhunger Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/whyhunger-inc-morg_7d34b74b7fbc429c953182b12b52f5bf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_132805575_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Whyhunger Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/whyhunger-inc-morg_7d34b74b7fbc429c953182b12b52f5bf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Whyhunger Inc'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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