2024 in numbers + stories

Up 12% from 2023 (16.4M). Driven by: increased food procurement, expanded school + summer programs, new partner organizations, increased fundraising. Highest annual total in our 36-year history.

Specific people served (counted once regardless of repeat visits). Up 8% from 2023. Reflects broadening reach + more recipients accessing food assistance during continued cost-of-living pressure.

Our service reach across Multnomah/Washington/Clackamas counties. ~8.5% of residents accessed food assistance through our network last year. Higher in some neighborhoods (~15-20%) lower in others.

Up from 820 in 2023. New partners: 35 (mostly community organizations + neighborhood-level programs). Discontinued partnerships: 5 (capacity issues, organizational changes). Net +30 partners.

Children disproportionately represented. School + summer programs especially impactful. Long-term implications: childhood food insecurity has lasting effects on health + development + academic performance.

Senior population significantly served. Senior nutrition program (60+) reached 18,000+ seniors. Home delivery via Meals on Wheels coordination reached 8,000+ housebound seniors.

4,200 kids took home weekend backpacks last year (Sep-May academic year). Coordinated with PPS + BSD + GSD school district counselors. Discrete + dignified access. Critical for kids in food-insecure households.

Summer program filled gap when school meals stop. 18,000+ meals served at libraries + parks + community centers. Free for all kids regardless of household income (federal program). Especially valuable for kids who rely on school meals.

Specific senior food boxes + Meals on Wheels coordination + senior center partnerships. 18,000 seniors received support last year. Particularly valuable for seniors with chronic disease management + aging-in-place.

8,500 newly-arrived refugees + immigrants supported. Cultural-appropriate foods + integrated programs. Partnered with IRCO + Catholic Charities + Lutheran Community Services. New arrivals from Afghanistan + Ukraine + Venezuela + others.

96 students completed our culinary training program. ~85% job placement rate within 3 months. Average starting wage: $19.50/hour. Specific path out of food insecurity for participants. Strong partnership with Portland-area food service employers.

200+ workplace teams volunteered. ~3,200 corporate volunteer hours. ~$2.1M corporate giving + matching gifts. Workplace partnerships consistently strong support.

Up 14% from 2023. Driven by: increased fundraising ($28M, up 16%), increased grants ($12M, up 8%), increased food rescue ($9M value, up 22%), government commodity programs ($7M, up 6%). Healthy revenue diversification.

Total programs + fundraising + administration. Difference: $4M added to operating reserves. Total reserves: $14M (3 months operating expenses). Healthy reserve position.

Up from 87% in 2023. Industry-leading. Most US food banks 75-85% direct programs. Riverbend continues to prioritize program spending over overhead.

Donor acquisition + retention + communication. Annual report production. Events + galas. Slightly below industry average for major regional food banks.

Executive leadership + finance + HR + legal + IT infrastructure + general office costs. Lower than industry average. We’re lean on overhead.

Audited annually by Moss Adams CPA firm (Portland-based). Audit report unqualified (clean) for 12 years running. GAAP-compliant. Published within 60 days of fiscal year end.

Highest rating from Charity Navigator. Maintained for 12 consecutive years. Rare — only 8% of rated charities maintain this level. Latest: charitynavigator.org/riverbend-food-bank.

GuideStar (Candid) rates charities on transparency. Platinum = top tier (12% of rated charities). Annual update of profile + financial documentation + impact reporting.

BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. 20 standards across governance, finances, fundraising. We meet all 20. Renewable annually.

Largest US hunger-relief network. Riverbend is full network member since 1990. Network membership requires meeting capacity + accountability + program standards.

Statewide Oregon network. Riverbend is one of 4 regional banks in network. Coordination on procurement + advocacy + sister-bank support.

USDA-approved implementing partner for federal commodity programs. Required for receipt of federal commodity foods. Stringent compliance + reporting standards.

1989: 7 churches launched Riverbend. ~$50k initial budget. Now: 850 partners, $56M revenue, 18.4M meals, 4,200 volunteers. Largest food bank serving Portland-area. Steady multi-decade growth.

Decade growth: 65k → 85k unduplicated individuals. Steady growth reflects population growth + cost-of-living pressure + increasing willingness to seek assistance. Trajectory continues upward.

Decade growth: 2,800 → 4,200 volunteers. 220,000+ hours/year. Significant growth in workplace volunteer programs + community engagement. Volunteer base is growing.

Decade growth: $32M → $56M revenue. ~75% growth in 10 years. Driven by major gift program + monthly recurring growth + corporate partnerships + planned giving. Stable + diversified.

Cost per meal has been remarkably stable: $1.20-$1.40 last decade despite inflation. Bulk procurement + food rescue partnerships + government commodities keep cost low. Specific to our business model efficiency.

Decade growth: 2.4M lbs → 6.8M lbs food rescued from grocery stores + restaurants + farms. Driven by expanded fleet + driver volunteers + tech platforms (Replate). Largest segment of food procurement now.

Target: 22 million meals distributed by 2027 (up from 18.4M). Driven by: continued procurement growth, expanded partner network, new specialty programs (medically-tailored meals, refugee programs).

Capital campaign for warehouse expansion + cold storage + fleet modernization. Target $15M over 18 months. Will increase capacity + efficiency + ability to serve more families.

East Multnomah County + rural Washington County underserved. Adding partner network density + mobile pantry programs in these areas. Direct response to community needs.

Expand: medically-tailored meals (chronic disease patients), refugee + immigrant family programs (continued growth), workforce development (capacity to serve more participants).

Upgrade donor management platform. Improve volunteer scheduling + communication. Recipient privacy + data protection. Specific investments through 2025-2026.

Federal SNAP + WIC + school nutrition program advocacy. Oregon state hunger-relief funding advocacy. Local Portland-area policy engagement (housing + healthcare access).