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REFED INC

EIN 83-1579781 CHICAGO, IL

Revenue 2024
$13,222,438
Expenses 2024
$8,630,104

Program services were 77.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
K99
Classification
1000
Street
122 S MICHIGAN AVE STE 1390 # L74

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

REFED CATALYZES THE FOOD SYSTEM TOWARD EVIDENCE-BASED ACTION TO STOP WASTING FOOD FOR THE CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE, AND THE ECONOMY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

REFED IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO ENDING FOOD LOSS AND WASTE ACROSS THE U.S. FOOD SYSTEM BY ADVANCING EVIDENCE-BASED ACTION TO STOP FOOD WASTE. OUR VISION IS A SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENT, AND INCLUSIVE FOOD SYSTEM THAT MAKES THE BEST USE OF THE FOOD WE GROW.

  • CAPITAL & INNOVATION PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:REFED'S CAPITAL & INNOVATION DIVISION CONTINUED TO FUND AND UNLOCK ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCING SOLUTIONS TO FOOD WASTE THROUGH THE CATALYTIC GRANT FUND. TO DATE THE FUND HAS UNLOCKED AT LEAST $30M IN FUNDING FOR ITS PORTFOLIO OF GRANTEES REPRESENTING A 15X IMPACT OF REFED'S INITIAL GRANT INVESTMENT. IN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH CAPITAL PROVIDERS AND THOSE SEEKING CAPITAL, REFED CURATED 17 CONNECTIONS LEADING TO FUNDING. MORE BROADLY, WE IDENTIFIED AND PROMOTED 132 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES VALUED AT OVER $240M THROUGH DEAL FLOW REPORTS.

    Expenses $2,457,234 · Grants $1,161,346

  • DATA & INSIGHTS PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:REFED'S INSIGHTS ENGINE HAS NOW REACHED OVER 195,000 UNIQUE VISITORS AND THE ORGANIZATION HAS DOCUMENTED NEARLY 3,000 MEANINGFUL USE CASES OF STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGING WITH AND APPLYING THE DATA AND INSIGHTS SHARED WITHIN. REFED ALSO MIGRATED ITS DATA COLLECTION CAPABILITIES TO A WEB-BASED APPLICATION IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE FOOD BUSINESS DATA REPORTING, ENHANCE SECURITY CAPABILITIES, AND INCREASE DATA PROCESSING EFFICIENCIES. REFED ALSO ADVANCED NEW RESEARCH TO ENHANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD WASTE AND RELATED SOLUTIONS IN METHANE EMISSION FACTORS, PRODUCTION LOSSES IN BEEF AND DAIRY, ENHANCED SOLUTION MODELING IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, AND WHOLE SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSES OF BEEF, YOGURT, POTATOES, STRAWBERRIES, PLUMS, AND BANANAS.

    Expenses $1,956,370

  • BUSINESS INITIATIVES PROGRAM SERVICES ACCOMPLISHMENTS:REFED NOTABLY EXPANDED THE MEMBERSHIP AND ACTIVITIES OF THE U.S. FOOD WASTE PACT, A NATIONAL VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT DESIGNED TO HELP WASTE-GENERATING BUSINESSES ACROSS THE FOOD SYSTEM TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS. MEMBERSHIP NOW INCLUDES FOOD BUSINESSES FROM RETAIL, FOOD SERVICE, MANUFACTURING, AND QSR SECTORS, INCLUDING REPRESENTING OVER 60% OF THE U.S. RETAIL MARKET SHARE AS MEASURED BY RETAIL SALES. REFED ALSO CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CLIENT-FACING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUAL FOOD BUSINESSES, HELPING TO ALIGN FOOD WASTE REDUCTION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES. IN TOTAL, REFED ENGAGED 46 BUSINESSES ACROSS THE YEAR.

    Expenses $1,885,722 · Grants $75,000 · Revenue $398,215

  • OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:REFED'S THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND MOVEMENT BUILDING EFFORTS HAVE HELPED TO BUILD AN ENGAGED AUDIENCE OF NEARLY 27,000 STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE FOOD SYSTEM. THE ANNUAL FOOD WASTE SOLUTIONS SUMMIT WELCOMED 727 ATTENDEES, ITS LARGEST AUDIENCE TO-DATE. REFED ALSO HOSTED 7 WEBINARS AND ENGAGED IN 36 ADDITIONAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. OUR MEDIA REACH INCLUDED 429 MEDIA MENTIONS AND AN OVERALL REACH OF 5 BILLION.

    Expenses $420,722

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • PAMELA MURPHY

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • EMILY MA

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • STEVEN SWARTZ

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SHASHANK MOHAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • IDA POSNER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JEFFREY RHODES

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • EDUARDO ROMERO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • CHARLES C SAVITT

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • YALMAZ SIDDIQUI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • KATHERINE SILVERTHORNE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JACK PESTELLO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • WENDY SLUSSER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JANINE GUILLOT

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DANA GUNDERS RIVERO

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $297,550
    From this org
    $258,107
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,443
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $258,107
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,744
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,699
    Filer's total
    $297,550

  • SHAWN SHEPHERD

    VP, OPERATIONS & FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $206,796
    From this org
    $187,603
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,193
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $184,103
    Bonus
    $3,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,576
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,617
    Filer's total
    $206,796

  • ASCH HARWOOD

    VP, DATA & INSIGHTS

    Total calculated
    $218,462
    From this org
    $168,736
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $49,726
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $165,236
    Bonus
    $3,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,314
    Nontaxable benefits
    $42,412
    Filer's total
    $218,462

  • ALEXANDRIA COARI

    VP, CAPITAL, INNOVATION & GLOBAL INITIATIVES

    Total calculated
    $196,645
    From this org
    $178,738
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,907
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $175,238
    Bonus
    $3,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,149
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,758
    Filer's total
    $196,645

  • JACQUELINE SUGGITT

    VP, BUSINESS INITIATIVES & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

    Total calculated
    $148,246
    From this org
    $132,200
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,046
    Hours/week
    40

  • DINA SINCLAIR

    DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING

    Total calculated
    $139,968
    From this org
    $135,708
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,260
    Hours/week
    40

  • TRAVIS WRIGHT

    VP, PRODUCT

    Total calculated
    $136,778
    From this org
    $127,332
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,446
    Hours/week
    40

  • KATHLEEN FRANKLIN

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

    Total calculated
    $166,423
    From this org
    $138,097
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,326
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $134,597
    Bonus
    $3,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,783
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,543
    Filer's total
    $166,423

  • JEFFREY COSTANTINO

    COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $168,002
    From this org
    $148,582
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,420
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $145,082
    Bonus
    $3,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,737
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,683
    Filer's total
    $168,002

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $13,222,438
    Expenses
    $8,630,104
    Contributions
    $12,528,491
    Grants paid
    $1,236,346
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $12,394,783
    Expenses
    $6,268,073
    Contributions
    $12,033,022
    Grants paid
    $766,750
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $5,483,716
    Expenses
    $4,840,302
    Contributions
    $5,277,223
    Grants paid
    $265,000

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,044,504
    Expenses
    $2,920,683
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,245,213

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $8,527,595
    Expenses
    $6,828,707
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,525,220

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $4,376,307
    Expenses
    $3,468,379
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,591,533

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

  • AFTERLIFE AG

    $300,000

    2024 TO SUPPORT THEIR CAPACITY TO PROCESS MEAT, SEAFOOD, AND DAIRY WASTE WITH BETTER EQUIPMENT, IMPROVE YIELDS WITH ADDITIONAL AUTOMATION, AND GROW NEW TYPES OF MUSHROOMS SUCH AS MAITAKE AND ROYAL TRUMPETS.

  • CENTER FOR ECOTECHNOLOGY

    $250,000

    2024 TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM TO ENABLE LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO RESTAURANTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

  • FOOD RESCUE US

    $200,000

    2024 TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A DATA-SHARING FEATURE WITHIN THEIR EXISTING FOOD RESCUE WEB-BASED APP TO BOLSTER RESTAURANT FOOD DONATIONS BY CREATING A DEDICATED API ENDPOINT THAT WILL INTEGRATE WITH THE POS AND/OR INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS COMMONLY USED BY RESTAURANT PARTNERS.

  • TRANSPARENT PATH SPC

    $187,750

    2023 SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL FOOD WASTE REDUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AND PROCESSES

  • WISELY

    $160,000

    2023 SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION AND LAUNCH OF ITS FOOD WASTE REDUCTION SMART FOOD STORAGE CONTAINER

  • UC AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES

    $150,000

    2023 SUPPORT ITS RESEARCH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT LEVEL OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD WASTE REDUCTION KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, BARRIERS, MOTIVATORS, AND PRACTICES OF CONSUMERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN FEDERALLY FUNDED NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMS

  • GROWING PLACES GARDEN PROJECT

    $119,000

    2023 SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS FRESH CHEF KIT PROTOTYPE AND COMPOSTING AT NCMAS NEW REGIONAL FOOD CENTER

  • CONNECTEDFRESH COMPANY

    $100,000

    2024 TO SUPPORT THE ENHANCEMENT AND EXPANSION OF ITS 24/7 MONITORING SOLUTIONS TO INCLUDE ADVANCED INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AND WASTE TRACKING.

  • EARTHDAY365 DBA GREEN DINING ALLIANCE

    $100,000

    2024 TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FOOD WASTE TRACK AS PART OF THEIR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THROUGH WHICH RESTAURANTS WILL RECEIVE DIRECT SUPPORT FROM A FOOD WASTE COACH.

  • FOOD RECOVERY NETWORK

    $100,000

    2022 EXPANSION OF THE FOOD RECOVERY NETWORK

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 29 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.