Join WhyHunger's 50th Anniversary Chapin Awards Gala on June 4th. LEARN MORE
Join WhyHunger's 50th Anniversary Chapin Awards Gala on June 4th. LEARN MORE
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OUR IMPACT

Impact that Lasts

In nearly five decades of innovation and evolution, we’ve invested in community-led solutions to protect the human right to food and equip people to nourish themselves.

Nourish People, Nourish the Planet

2024 Impacts

 
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1M PEOPLE CONNECTED

to healthy food and essential services in their communities.

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$1M Mobilized

in grants to social movements and community-based organizations.

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14 countries In Rapid Response

communities funded in the aftermath of a crisis.

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$8M Raised

thanks to the generosity of donors, funders, artists, and corporate partners.

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500+ COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

have access to and benefit from WhyHunger’s tools.

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715M IMPRESSIONS

including outlets like Variety, New York Post, Pix 11, The Source, Relix and more.

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6 SCHOOLS

resourced and coordinated our first-ever agroecology cohort to scale sustainable agriculture in 6 countries.

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25 COUNTRIES

funded, connected, and supported grassroots organizations around the globe.

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Our Footprint

Impacting Millions
With Nutritious Food & Food Sovereignty

Global Reach

Global Reach

In 2024, WhyHunger mobilized $1 million across 25 countries, supporting global social movements and grassroots organizations to tackle hunger and promote food justice worldwide.

Financial Mobilization

Financial Mobilization

In 2024, WhyHunger raised over $8 million, thanks to the generosity of donors, funders, artists, and corporations, fueling our mission to end hunger.

Hotline Numbers

Hotline Numbers

Our WhyHunger Hotline and Find Food services connected over 1,001,230 people to nutritious food and essential services in their communities in 2024.

Amplifying Voices

Amplifying Voices

WhyHunger partnered with over 120 artists, public figures, DJs, and other cultural creators to amplify voices, shift narratives and raise funds for nutritious food for all.

Emergency Response

Emergency Response

WhyHunger’s Rapid Response Fund supports communities in 14 countries, aiding grassroots partners in the aftermath of natural disasters and crises.

Food Connection

Food Connection

WhyHunger’s extensive network of food pantries, soup kitchens, and community programs ensures everyone has access to the nutritious food they need for a healthy life.

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A Legacy of Impact

Founding Mission (1975)

Founding Mission (1975)

WhyHunger was co-founded by Harry Chapin and Bill Ayres to address the root causes of hunger and poverty, emphasizing community empowerment and long-term solutions.
Policy Impact (1978+)

Policy Impact (1978+)

WhyHunger played a key role in establishing the Presidential Commission on World Hunger and the Congressional Hunger Caucus, with ongoing advocacy throughout its history.
Focus on the Grassroots (1980s)

Focus on the Grassroots (1980s)

WhyHunger has prioritized investing in grassroots leaders and organizations, providing training, technical assistance, and capacity-building.
Activating Artists & Hungerthon (1985s + )

Activating Artists & Hungerthon (1985s + )

Collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and the Artists Against Hunger & Poverty program began in 1985 and have raised over $xx million for anti-hunger initiatives. Later that year, WhyHunger launched its first ever Hungerthon, our annual campaign that raises money and awareness to end hunger in the U.S. by addressing its root causes.
National Hunger Hotline Established (1994)

National Hunger Hotline Established (1994)

WhyHunger advocated for the first National Hunger Hotline, created to connect millions of Americans to healthy food and emergency services in their community and ran by WhyHunger for decades.
Building Food Sovereignty (2000s)

Building Food Sovereignty (2000s)

WhyHunger joins other U.S. based organizations to start U.S. Food Sovereignty Alliance (USFSA) as a founding member. USFSA now boasts 42 member organizations (and growing) from around the U.S. working to end poverty, rebuild local food economies and assert democratic control over the food system.
Global Reach (2008-2010s)

Global Reach (2008-2010s)

Through the “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign, WhyHunger trained over 27,000 people in sustainable food-growing methods and delivered 9.7 million meals worldwide in partnership with Yoko Ono Lennon and Hard Rock International. This campaign evolved into our International Solidarity Fund, dedicated to supporting social movement organizations in creating resilient local food economies.
Right to Food (2016)

Right to Food (2016)

In 2016, we strengthened our framework around the right to food by collaborating with grassroots and national allies to transform the U.S. charitable hunger response into an equitable social justice movement that recognizes nutritious food as a human right.
Rapid Response (2017)

Rapid Response (2017)

In response to growing man-made and natural disasters around the world, WhyHunger formally activates our Rapid Response Fund, designed to provide immediate financial and logistical support to communities impacted by natural disasters, economic crises, or other emergencies that disrupt access to food.
WhyHunger advocates for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (2022)

WhyHunger advocates for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (2022)

WhyHunger celebrates a historic milestone for the food justice movement as the Biden Administration hosts the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in 50 years.
Amplified (2023)

Amplified (2023)

Celebrating the power of music to spark change, WhyHunger organizes its first ever Amplified! Hungerthon Kickoff Concert, uniting diverse artists to raise funds and awareness for community-based solutions to end hunger.

Food Sovereignty Initiatives

We advocate for food sovereignty for all, which protects the rights of communities to define their own food and agriculture systems. We invest in Black and Indigenous Food Sovereignty across the globe, supporting communities to grow their own food sustainably and resourcing infrastructure projects that help scale healthy food production, boost incomes, and recover ancestral and Indigenous foodways.

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Stories of Impact

Uprooting Injustice, Growing Solutions

We reshape our food systems by supporting grassroots initiatives and uprooting injustice.

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SAPNA

The apartment’s small kitchen steams with the flavorful scent of cumin, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, clove,…

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Programs

Justice-Driven

Programs

Discover our programs that promote food justice for all, expand agricultural practices that are better for the planet, and ensure access to nutritious food for millions. Learn how WhyHunger supports grassroots initiatives and innovative solutions for a hunger-free future.

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Donate

End Hunger,
Build a Better Future

Your generosity fuels our mission, empowers communities, and brings hope to those in need. Together, we can ensure everyone has access to nutritious food. Donate today and be part of the transformation.

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