No Kid Hungry is a national campaign of Share Our Strength, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to end childhood hunger in the United States. Here you’ll find answers to common questions about our work, our ratings and finances, donating, free meals for kids, and getting involved.
Last updated: November 2026
About the organization
What is No Kid Hungry?
No Kid Hungry is a national campaign of the nonprofit Share Our Strength that’s working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States. Through grantmaking and advocacy, No Kid Hungry creates systemic and long-term changes to end childhood hunger by working with schools, community organizations, and policymakers to make sure children get the healthy food they need, during the school year and in the summer.
Who runs No Kid Hungry, and how is it related to Share Our Strength?
In 1984, siblings Billy and Debbie Shore, founded the D.C.-based nonprofit Share Our Strength. After years of successfully investing in local nonprofits and helping find the best approaches to eradicating poverty and hunger, Share Our Strength launched the No Kid Hungry campaign in 2010. In 2022, Anne Filipic became Chief Executive Officer of Share Our Strength, which runs No Kid Hungry.
When was No Kid Hungry started, and what is its mission?
Share Our Strength launched the No Kid Hungry campaign in 2010. The mission is to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive.
What does “no kid hungry” mean? How do you measure progress?
It means every child can get the meals they need, at school, at home, and n the summer . Progress is tracked through participation in federal nutrition programs (such as school breakfast and summer meals) and the number of meals served by partners. Read more about our impact.
How many children does child hunger affect in the U.S.?
According to the latest estimates, 1 in 5 kids in the United States is living with hunger. That's 14 million children. No Kid Hungry works to reach these children through programs that already exist, like school meals, summer meals, SNAP and WIC.
Where does No Kid Hungry work?
No Kid Hungry works and partners with schools, community groups, and government leaders across all 50 states.
Trust and legitimacy
Is No Kid Hungry a legitimate charity?
Yes. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984.
Is No Kid Hungry a good charity to donate to?
Yes. No Kid Hungry, a campaign of Share Our Strength, is highly rated by independent charity evaluators. Charity Navigator gives Share Our Strength its top rating of four out of four stars, and Candid has awarded its Platinum Seal of Transparency, its highest level. We also publish our annual report, audited financial statements, and IRS Form 990 on our Financial Information page, so you can see exactly how donations are spent before you give. You can review the evaluators’ assessments of our finances, governance and transparency yourself:
Is No Kid Hungry a 501(c)(3), and are donations tax-deductible?
Share Our Strength – the nonprofit that runs the No Kid Hungry Campaign – is a 501(c)(3) organization, and gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our federal tax identification number is 52-1367538. All online donations will automatically trigger an email receipt. Consult a tax advisor about your situation.
How much of my donation goes to programs versus fundraising and overhead?
In our 2025 fiscal year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), Share Our Strength – the nonprofit that runs the No Kid Hungry campaign – spent 59% of its $110 million in total expenses on programs. Another 34% went to fundraising and 7% to management and general activities.
Program spending includes grants to schools for supplies and equipment, staff working in communities, awareness campaigns that help families find meals, research and pilot projects, and advocacy for laws that help feed more kids. Fundraising and management costs make it possible to raise the funds that support this work. You can review the details in our Financial Information page, annual report, Form 990, and audited financial statements.
What is No Kid Hungry’s rating on Charity Navigator, Candid, or similar evaluators?
No Kid Hungry is consistently rated highly by independent evaluators. Share Our Strength, the organization that runs the campaign, has a four-out-of-four-star rating from Charity Navigator, with all four of its rating areas completed: leadership and planning, accountability and finance, impact and measurement, and culture and compensation. Candid (GuideStar) has awarded Share Our Strength its Platinum Seal of Transparency, its highest level.
How are executives compensated?
Share Our Strength’s executive compensation is publicly reported. Pay for officers, directors, and the highest-compensated employees is disclosed in our annual IRS Form 990, which you can read on our Financial Information page alongside our audited financial statements and annual report.
Donating
How does my donation help kids?
Donations fund grants to schools and community groups, training and technical help for school meal programs, summer meal programs, and advocacy for policies that strengthen programs like school meals, SNAP, and WIC.
How does No Kid Hungry turn $1 into 10 meals?
We know that your support can return 10 meals for every $1 spent. It’s not a rule – dollars go further in some communities than in others. Our promise to you is that we invest every dollar carefully, trying to get the maximum return on that investment. Learn more about what your dollar can do.
Does No Kid Hungry provide food directly, or fund other organizations?
No Kid Hungry funds and supports local partners such as schools, food banks, and community groups that serve children, and works on policy changes so existing programs reach more kids.
Can my company or workplace partner with No Kid Hungry?
Yes. Companies can partner through cause marketing, employee giving, matching gifts and events. Learn more on our Corporate Partners page.
Getting help
Where can my child get free meals near me?
Free summer meal sites are active when school is out. When they’re available varies by region since school calendars and local programs differ. Each year, No Kid Hungry publishes the USDA’s map of active summer meal locations once it begins to be populated, which is usually in mid-May. Learn more about summer resources.
Does No Kid Hungry provide food directly, or fund other organizations?
No Kid Hungry funds and supports local partners such as schools, food banks, and community groups that serve children, and works on policy changes so existing programs reach more kids. It doesn’t operate a food pantry itself.
How do I apply for SNAP, WIC, or free and reduced-price school meals?
Applications are handled by your state or local agency or your child’s school. Learn more about these programs and find out if you qualify.
Programs and approach
What is school breakfast, and why does it matter?
School breakfast is a federally supported meal program that schools can offer before the school day. It helps kids focus and learn, and No Kid Hungry works with schools to expand participation, such as serving breakfast in the classroom. Eating breakfast has a real, powerful effect on kids. Research shows that kids who eat breakfast are more focused, score significantly higher on tests, and miss less days of school. That means those kids are more likely to graduate.
What are summer meals and after-school meals programs?
Summer meals provide free meals to kids when school is out, and after-school meals provide meals or snacks in after-school programs.
What does No Kid Hungry fund, and how are grants awarded?
Grants have supported items like kitchen equipment, program startup, and local meal efforts, including over $100 million in emergency grants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about the impact of our grant work.
Does No Kid Hungry advocate for policy changes, and which ones?
Yes. No Kid Hungry works with elected officials at the state and federal level to strengthen school meals, summer meals, and benefits programs like SNAP and WIC. Learn more about our advocacy work and how you can help.
Getting involved
How can I volunteer or fundraise?
You can fundraise through events and campaigns like Run for No Kid Hungry, Bake Sale, Friendsgiving, corporate fundraisers, or start your own fundraiser for your birthday or celebration. Learn more about how to fundraise for No Kid Hungry.