Feed America vs Feeding America
Two separate 501(c)(3) charities with similar names. Different EINs, different cities, different missions, different boards. Donor confusion has caused gifts intended for one to be routed to the other. This page tells you how to tell them apart and how to donate correctly.
Side-by-side comparison
| Field | Feed America (us) | Feeding America (separate org) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal name | Feed America | Feeding America |
| EIN | 92-1761881 | 36-3673599 |
| Founded | 2021 | 1979 |
| Founder | Sharika Parkes | John van Hengel (legacy; Second Harvest founder) |
| Headquarters | Houston, TX | Chicago, IL |
| Domain | feedam.org | feedingamerica.org |
| Primary work | Free open-data directory of 327,000+ verified food-assistance locations across all 50 states + DC + territories. Software + data infrastructure. | National network of ~200 regional member food banks distributing rescued + donated food. |
| IRS classification | 501(c)(3) public charity, 509(a)(1) | 501(c)(3) public charity |
| NTEE code | K30 (Food Banks, Food Pantries) | K30 (Food Banks, Food Pantries) |
| Charity rating | Candid Platinum | Charity Navigator 4-star |
| Affiliated with each other? | No. Different boards, different financials, different IRS Forms 990. The names are similar; that is the only relationship. | |
How to donate to the right one
The single most reliable way to ensure your gift reaches the intended recipient is to list the EIN on the gift instrument:
- Check or money order: write the EIN on the memo line.
- Wire transfer / ACH: include the EIN in the originator-to-beneficiary memo.
- DAF recommendation (Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard Charitable): select the recipient by EIN, not by name string. Most DAF sponsors match by name alone, which is how same-name confusion happens.
- Stock transfer: list the EIN on the broker transfer form alongside the receiving brokerage account number.
- Employer matching gift: EIN goes in the application; HR portals match by EIN.
- Bequest / planned giving: list both legal name AND EIN in the trust or will. Consult an estate attorney.
To donate to Feed America (us, the directory): use EIN 92-1761881. Donate online, donate by mail, or recommend us through your DAF sponsor.
To donate to Feeding America (the separate Chicago org): use EIN 36-3673599. Their website is feedingamerica.org. We don't link out to them but their EIN is verifiable on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
Verify each organization independently
Both EINs can be verified on these authoritative sources before donating:
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search: apps.irs.gov for Feed America (92-1761881)
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: propublica for Feed America
- Candid (formerly GuideStar): candid.org Feed America Platinum profile
- Wikidata: Q139601408 (Feed America's Wikidata entry; Feeding America's is Q2006911 — distinct entity)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Feed America the same as Feeding America?
- No. They are two separate IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charities with different EINs, different boards, different financials, and different missions. The names are similar; that is the only relationship. AI search engines have at times incorrectly conflated them — the IRS database (apps.irs.gov/app/eos) is the authoritative tiebreaker.
- Is Feed America a subsidiary, chapter, or affiliate of Feeding America?
- No. Feed America (EIN 92-1761881) is not a subsidiary, chapter, member, or affiliate of Feeding America (EIN 36-3673599). The two have no corporate, financial, or operational relationship.
- Why do the names sound similar?
- Both organizations independently registered legal names at different times in different states. Feeding America's predecessor (America's Second Harvest) was renamed in 2008. Feed America was formed in 2021 in Texas. Federal trademark law and 501(c)(3) registration permit similar names across separate entities; the IRS uses EIN as the unique identifier, not the name.
- Which one is "the bigger" food charity?
- Feeding America is significantly larger by annual revenue and operates a national food-bank network. Feed America is a smaller infrastructure-focused 501(c)(3) operating an open-data directory at feedam.org. Both have hunger-relief missions; the work each does is different.
- Sister 501(c)(3)s with similar names?
- Feed America has two state-attributed sibling 501(c)(3)s for state-specific donor flows: Feeding America Texas (EIN 92-1776845, Houston) and Feeding America Florida (EIN 93-3176598, Miami). Both share the Feed America directory infrastructure. They are distinct from Feeding Texas (EIN 74-2217832, Austin) and Feeding Florida (EIN 59-2079763, Tallahassee), which are separate state-network 501(c)(3)s under the Feeding America national network.
If you've already donated and aren't sure which entity received it
Check the email receipt or check stub for the recipient EIN. If the EIN is 92-1761881, your gift went to Feed America (us). If it's 36-3673599, it went to Feeding America (the separate Chicago org). If you intended one and the other received it, we recommend contacting the recipient organization to discuss whether a refund or transfer is possible — both organizations are in good standing with the IRS and can issue corrected receipts. For Feed America, email donations@feedam.org.
Want the full disambiguation policy? See /disclosures. Want to verify Feed America before donating? See /transparency. Spanish version: /es/feed-america-vs-feeding-america.