WhyHunger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York City that works to end hunger and poverty through grassroots movements and community-based solutions. Founded in 1975 by Bill Ayres and the late Harry Chapin, the organization operates as a leader in building the movement to end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and supporting grassroots solutions that inspire self-reliance and community empowerment.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.5M
-10.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$440K
-61.9% YoY
Grant Count
13
-50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
-23.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: WhyHunger believes a world without hunger is possible. The organization provides critical resources to support grassroots movements and fuel community solutions rooted in social, environmental, racial and economic justice. WhyHunger is working to end hunger and advance the human right to nutritious food in the U.S. and around the world.
Primary Program Areas:
Grassroots Action Network — Works in partnership with community-based leaders, organizations and networks to build a movement for a just and equitable food system in the U.S. by supporting and promoting grassroots leadership, building capacity for community organizing, and accelerating the collective impact of community-based strategies for food justice.
Artists Against Hunger and Poverty (AAH&P) — Offers artists, the artist community and the music industry the opportunity to use their voices to support the movement to end hunger and poverty through awareness building campaigns, food drives, fundraising and social media engagement.
Hungerthon — WhyHunger's signature public outreach campaign featuring a series of events and interviews that support innovative and effective community-based organizations fighting hunger and ensuring the right to nutritious food for all in communities across the world.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WhyHunger funds grassroots organizations and community-based solutions in the United States and around the world.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Revenues: $5,748,042
- Total Expenses: $5,784,613
- Total Assets: $6,477,593
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Revenues: $6,350,000
- Total Expenses: $5,900,000
- Total Assets: $7,250,000
- Total Liabilities: $2,440,000
Staffing:
- 24 employees (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,477,593 | $7,246,812 | $6,615,826 |
| Revenue | $5,748,042 | $6,345,301 | $7,043,577 |
| Expenses | $5,784,613 | $5,904,345 | $6,200,021 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $191,686 | $120,205 | $29,780 |
| 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
172 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Whyhunger Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center Inc ($80,000), 4dasoil ($60,000), Southern Conservation Partners Inc ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4DASOIL PHILADELPHIA, PA | FIGHT HUNGER | $60,000 |
| HARRY CHAPIN FOUNDATION HUNTINGTON, NY | FIGHT HUNGER | $10,000 |
| DETROIT BLACK COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY NETWORK INC DETROIT, MI | FIGHT HUNGER | $25,000 |
| FUSION PARTNERSHIPS INC BALTIMORE, MD | FIGHT HUNGER | $30,000 |
| HIGHLANDER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER INC NEW MARKET, TN | FIGHT HUNGER | $25,000 |
| INQUIRING SYSTEMS INC SANTA ROSA, CA | FIGHT HUNGER | $30,000 |
| MARY MITCHELL FAMILY AND YOUTH CENTER INC BRONX, NY | FIGHT HUNGER | $80,000 |
| NATIONAL BLACK FOOD AND JUSTICE ALLIANCE ATLANTA, GA | FIGHT HUNGER | $25,000 |
| NC ASSOCIATION OF BLACK LAWYERS LAND LOSS PREVENTION PROJECT DURHAM, NC | FIGHT HUNGER | $25,000 |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | FIGHT HUNGER | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jenique Jones — Executive Director
- Holly MacDonald — Head, Artists Against Hunger & Poverty
- Betty Fermin — Co-Director, Global Movements Program
- Colin Lawton — Director of Communications
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CINDY SECUNDA | CHAIRPERSON | 3 | — |
| JOJO BRIM | VICE CHAIR (THRU SEPT 2024) | 1 | — |
| ALYSIA STEINMANN | TREASURER | 3 | — |
| ROBIN LEWIS | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| LORETTA MUNOZ | MEMBER AT LARGE | 1 | — |
| MARK BLAKE | MEMBER AT LARGE | 3 | — |
| DIANE BLAGMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THOMAS CHAPIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK CIMINO | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| RACHEL LIPSCHUTZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MEISHA PORTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH NORRIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PEARL THOMPSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| VANESSA TRINIDAD | DIRECTOR (THRU JULY 2024) | 1 | — |
| CARALENE ROBINSON | DIRECTOR (THRU JAN 2024) | 1 | — |
| MELISSA NEWHART | DIRECTOR (FROM FEB 2024) | 1 | — |
| DREW PIZZO | DIRECTOR (FROM DEC 2024) | 1 | — |
| JIMMY ZANKEL | VICE CHAIR (FROM SEPT 2024) | 2 | — |
| JENIQUE JONES | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $232,295 |
| JOY CURTIN | SR. DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMIN | 40 | $209,081 |
| SHARON DAMELIO | SR. DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $172,762 |
| DEBORAH DEPOALA | SR. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION | 40 | $166,717 |
| LORRIE CLEVENGER | SR. CO-DIRECTOR OF US PROGRAMS | 40 | $117,465 |
| SUZANNE BABB | SR. CO-DIRECTOR OF US PROGRAMS | 40 | $116,464 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
WhyHunger kicked off its 40th annual Hungerthon campaign, raising funds and awareness to end hunger. The organization has been recognized as a recipient of grants from various funding initiatives focused on anti-hunger work and food security.
WhyHunger Kicks Off 40th\_Annual Hungerthon\_Raising Funds & Awareness To\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Whyhunger Inc fund?
**Mission Statement:** WhyHunger believes a world without hunger is possible. The organization provides critical resources to support grassroots movements and fuel community solutions rooted in social, environmental, racial and economic justice. WhyHunger is working to end hunger and advance the human right to nutritious food in the U.S. and around the world. **Primary Program Areas:** • **Grassroots Action Network** — Works in partnership with community-based leaders, organizations and network…
Where does Whyhunger Inc make grants?
WhyHunger funds grassroots organizations and community-based solutions in the United States and around the world.
What size grants does Whyhunger Inc award?
In 2024, Whyhunger Inc awarded 13 grants totaling $440K — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Whyhunger Inc'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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