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Non-profit

WhyHunger

Website:

whyhunger.org/
Location:

New York, NY
Tax ID:

13-2805575
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $7,869,621
Expenses: $6,765,053
Assets: $5,607,325
Type:

Anti-Poverty Group
Formation:

1975
Executive Director:

Jenique Jones
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $7,043,577
Expenses: $6,200,021
Assets: $4,248,989

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WhyHunger is a left-of-center organization that seeks to address poverty and hunger in the United States and abroad. 1 The organization aims to achieve its objective by providing research and financial support to community-focused organizations that provide food to low-income neighborhoods and organizations that seek to increase welfare spending, advocate race-based legal preferences, and support other race-based resources and opportunities. 2

Background

WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by musician Harry Chapin and radio host Bill Ayres. 3 The organization was originally intended to address issues related to hunger and access to food, but today the organization supports general left-of-center organizations and movements. 4

Financials

In 2022, WhyHunger reported $7,041,858 in contributions, 5 $7,043,577 in total revenue, 6 $6,200,021in expenditures, 7 and $4,248,989 in net assets. 8

Programming

Food Insecurity

WhyHunger seeks to shift the framing related to access to food and addressing hunger to discussions focused on the concept of “food insecurity.” Food insecurity is a concept which places an emphasis on the quality of nutrition and support provided to those in need of food in low-income communities. 9 As the organization states, today, while “hunger still kills,” it is “less often a result of chronic food deprivation,” but a symptom of malnutrition. 10

Race and Food

WhyHunger supports organizations that seek to introduce race-based preference into discussions related to access to food and hunger. 11 The organization states that while other organizations focus on sustaining and increasing funding for federal nutritional programs, WhyHunger emphasizes developing community organizations that seek “sweeping systemic changes” to address the root causes of poverty. 12

The president of the organization, Jenique Jones, has stated that the organization must do more to support Black organizations that seek to address root causes of poverty, including organizations that support Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. 13

Action Network

In 2022, WhyHunger provided financial contributions to a number of organizations that are not directly connected to addressing hunger and which focus on implementing race-based preferences or organizations designed to specifically support and provide resources to members of a specific racial or ethnic group. These organizations include the Center for Ideas, Equity, and Transformative Change ($175,000); Detroit Black Community Food Security Network ($50,000); Highlander Education and Research Center ($50,000), AfroResistance ($37,000); Black Farmers Fund ($31,700); Resist ($32,000); Black Sustainability ($30,000); the North Carolina Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project ($20,000); and Alliance for Global Justice ($20,000). 14

Leadership

Jenique Jones is the executive director of WhyHunger. 15 Prior to leading the organization in 2023, she was the vice president of operations and policy at City Harvest, the largest organization connecting individuals with resources to find food. 16 In addition to its primary objective, City Harvest also advocates before New York City, New York state, and the federal government on policies to increasing taxpayer-funded welfare spending. 17

References

  1. “Our Mission.”  WhyHunger. https://whyhunger.org/who we-are/our-mission/#:~:text=WhyHunger%20believes%20a%20world%20without,U.S.%20and%20around%20the%20world.
  2. “Our Mission.”  WhyHunger. https://whyhunger.org/who-we-are/our-mission/#:~:text=WhyHunger%20believes%20a%20world%20without,U.S.%20and%20around%20the%20world.
  3.  “History.” WhyHunger. https://whyhunger.org/who-we-are/history/
  4. “History.” WhyHunger. https://whyhunger.org/who-we-are/history/
  5.  Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). WhyHunger. Part I. Line 8. 2022.
  6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). WhyHunger. Part I. Line 12. 2022.
  7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). WhyHunger. Part I. Line 18. 2022.
  8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). WhyHunger. Part I. Line 22. 2022.
  9.  “A Path Forward: Innovations at the Intersection of Hunger & Health.” WhyHunger. 2015.
  10. “A Path Forward: Innovations at the Intersection of Hunger & Health.” WhyHunger. 2015.
  11.  “Rise Up! Organizing in Emergency Food Programs.” WhyHunger.  https://whyhunger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nourishing-Guide_EMAIL.pdf
  12. “Rise Up! Organizing in Emergency Food Programs.” WhyHunger.  https://whyhunger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nourishing-Guide_EMAIL.pdf
  13. “WhyHunger’s New Leader to Carry Out Its Uncommon Approach.” Foodbank News. September 26, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024.
    https://foodbanknews.org/whyhunger-to-carry-out-its-uncommon-approach-with-new-leader/#:~:text=Jenique%20Jones%20became%20the%20nonprofit%27s,Partnership%20for%20a%20Healthier%20America.
  14. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-Schedule I). WhyHunger. Part II. 2022.
  15. “Jenique Jones Named Executive Director of WhyHunger.” WhyHunger. June 27, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://whyhunger.org/jenique-jones-named-executive-director-of-whyhunger/whyhunger-press-releases/
  16. “Jenique Jones Named Executive Director of WhyHunger.” WhyHunger. June 27, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://whyhunger.org/jenique-jones-named-executive-director-of-whyhunger/whyhunger-press-releases/
  17. “Fund Food Security in the New York City Budget.” City Harvest. https://p2a.co/LAGpQ1d%20
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: June 1, 1975

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Dec Form 990 $7,869,621 $6,765,053 $5,607,325 $1,993,766 N $7,768,611 $0 $17,660 $385,911
    2020 Dec Form 990 $5,968,619 $5,186,726 $3,294,478 $810,036 N $5,935,693 $0 $18,070 $375,012
    2019 Dec Form 990 $3,014,463 $3,286,706 $1,891,375 $313,642 N $2,866,142 $0 $15,770 $725,818 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $3,426,466 $3,338,834 $2,084,752 $276,217 Y $3,377,073 $0 $11,042 $716,116 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,947,397 $2,958,115 $2,024,483 $224,147 N $2,882,257 $0 $10,720 $705,451 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $2,899,455 $2,879,911 $2,059,491 $316,042 N $2,717,384 $0 $8,065 $546,343 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,167,363 $2,016,561 $2,017,147 $300,414 N $1,916,609 $0 $5,020 $336,811 PDF
    2015 Mar Form 990 $3,408,152 $3,003,112 $1,976,653 $377,535 N $2,669,502 $346,679 $7,222 $373,844 PDF
    2014 Mar Form 990 $2,619,353 $3,194,533 $1,817,738 $630,653 N $1,891,844 $261,521 $6,524 $275,256 PDF
    2013 Mar Form 990 $3,003,131 $3,649,779 $2,130,817 $389,648 N $2,188,412 $250,000 $7,820 $260,814 PDF
    2012 Mar Form 990 $4,404,300 $3,098,208 $2,823,454 $456,287 N $3,466,426 $279,996 $4,050 $231,070 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    WhyHunger

    505 8TH AVE RM 1212
    New York, NY 10018-4539