Food Rescue Hero™
Platform
Your food recovery. Our technology.
01
Purpose-built by a food rescue organization, for food rescue organizations.
Food Rescue Hero understands firsthand the challenges of growing your food rescue operations manually and offers solutions to streamline your processes. Our platform empowers partners to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness without the need for additional staff—simply put, grow your impact, not your payroll.
Read more about Operating Efficiency & Effectiveness
Food Rescue Hero streamlines processes and mitigates operational pain points to amplify your impact and help you scale seamlessly. Designed to tackle the daily challenges and bottlenecks of food recovery, Food Rescue Hero is a living platform developed over a decade of growing and scaling active food recovery operations. With this powerful tool, your organization can amplify your impact, streamline processes, and mitigate operational pain points, all while seamlessly scaling your mission to reduce food waste and fight hunger. Food Rescue Hero is the premier platform choice for food recovery organizations.
Key Components
- Automating Tasks: Crowdsourcing volunteers takes the hassle out of finding someone to complete a rescue, whether it’s for a one time donation, a recurring route, or a one time substitute for a claimed regular rescue. This entire process is automated to take this off your staff’s plate.
- Efficiency & Effectiveness: Consistency of service to food donors makes our partners preferred partners. This will help you get more food donors because you can meet their operational needs and requirements. Never receive a donation that is too large. By using the FRH platform, overhead costs are reduced.
- Automatic reporting & Built-in Data: The FRH web app provides you with all the information you need to make informed decisions regarding managing your resources. Training and onboarding volunteers is now a hands-off process. Your donors and partners allocate their resources successfully towards food recovery, transportation, and distribution.
- Process Improvement: Plan new goals and initiatives to scale through the use of the FRH platform. Larger volumes of food, increased volunteers, and more communities served are all possible through scaling with FRH.
- Productive Staff: Your team has more time to tackle priorities. Time and resources saved through FRH increases team operating capabilities.
- Reduced Stress & Peace of Mind: You have the ability to grow and scale without adding lots of staff. Because of the reduction in overhead, you can do more without needing more help.
02
A user-friendly app for both volunteers & dispatchers
Designed for people of all ages and skill levels, our platform enables volunteers to engage instantly and make a meaningful impact. The app has been extensively user-tested to ensure a smooth experience, even for the most tech-wary users. With a simple onboarding process, volunteers are encouraged to return after their first rescue, fostering long-term engagement.
Read more about User Experience
A reliable and satisfying user experience is critical to the volunteers and partners of the Food Rescue Hero network. It lessens frustration, promotes retention and prevents attrition, streamlines your operations and saves you time, and eliminates time gaps between uptake and use.
Key Components
- Volunteers: FRH ensures a positive and easy volunteer experience. Volunteers have as few barriers as possible and maximum accessibility. This promotes volunteer retention and more accurate data because volunteers will enjoy using the app. Furthermore, volunteers can see their own impact on the Impact screen, as well as the collective Impact of the Food Rescue Hero Network. Volunteers feel good about what they’re doing and understand they’re part of creating huge impact. Volunteers are encouraged to invite friends and share their experience at several points throughout the rescue, turning your volunteers into recruiters for your organization!
- Partners: We put as much thought and time into developing a system that’s easy for our partners to use as it is for our volunteers to use. The result is a tool that’s easy to use and that promotes operational efficiency. Color coded statuses, food safety time flags, information flags when something is added to a donation, and more, all allow staff to quickly assess what needs attention so you can focus your staff time where it’s needed. Creating a rescue is simple and doesn’t stall operations when getting an ad-hoc donation. The complicated tasks of creating rescues, even multi-stop, and identifying distribution partners and finding volunteers, is made fast and painless. All of this means you can increase your rescue volume without the same corresponding staff cost increase, as it will decrease frustration and increase satisfaction for your current operations team.
- Data: Dispatchers are able to be hands-off while still providing real time information on your operations as volunteers enter data in real-time during rescues. No more chasing volunteers for data! You have an accurate, up-to-the-minute picture of food donations and distributions at all times.
- Support: The Knowledgebase and Food Rescue Hero University is easily accessible and easy to use. We offer lots of support that is directly provided by the FRH team. Training new employees on how to use the platform is the easiest part of onboarding them.
- Best Practices: Our tools, the FRH team, and our Food Rescue Hero partner network provide access to best practices for all parts of your operations. From supporting you on how to use the web and mobile app, to recruiting food donors, to approaching issues in the field, you don’t have to go it alone. Our tools and our network are there to support you, whether you are just starting your food rescue journey or you’ve been doing it for 30 years.
03
A barrier-free & flexible volunteer experience
With zero barriers to entry, anyone can become a volunteer—just download the app and go. This ease of access reduces attrition and fosters long-term engagement, ensuring a steady and reliable volunteer base. By previewing food rescue routes in the app, volunteers can lend a hand whenever it works best in their schedule!
Read more about Volunteer Engagement & Motivation
Volunteers are a vital part of any food rescue organization, and our platform provides the necessary tools to recruit, onboard, and sustain their involvement. By enabling volunteers to track their individual and collective impact, FRH creates sustained intrinsic motivation and satisfaction. A larger, engaged volunteer pool not only streamlines operations and prevents burnout but also strengthens funding opportunities, as increased participation can attract additional resources and potential donors for future growth.
Key Components
- Zero barriers: There are no barriers to volunteering. Volunteers can easily download the app, see available rescues, and quickly start making an impact. This means less attrition of volunteers.
- Intrinsic motivation: Food rescuing as a volunteer is impactful and creates committed and passionate volunteers.
- Increased Volunteer Pool: Increasing your volunteer pool means reducing burnout. Get more out of your volunteers by asking them to do less. Crowdsourcing volunteers is effective and made easy.
- Increased Funding: The more volunteers you get, the more you continue to get. Funding is increased because of increased volunteers, and a bigger funding pool can translate into future individual donors.
04
You aren't in this alone.
Access exclusive resources & support by an industry leader and expansive network.
Food Rescue Hero is more than just a technology platform—we are a true partner in the food recovery world. Deeply embedded in the industry, we gather and synthesize best practices, operational strategies, troubleshooting solutions, and emerging trends to support our partner network.
Read more about our Framework for Success
We take our partner’s success seriously. Accessible, reliable and consistent communication and support, as well as training on best practices and strategies for food rescue are a core part of our platform, not just an add on. We’ve created a wide array of resources for use by our Food Rescue Hero Network and continue to work with our network to expand and improve the resources we offer.
As a partner, you gain unlimited access to valuable resources, including Food Rescue Hero University, the Knowledgebase, public webinars, our virtual Food Rescue Conference, and the annual in-person Partner Conference. Beyond resources, you also become part of a thriving community, connecting with other food rescue organizations to inform strategic and operational decision-making. Whether you’re new to food rescue or a seasoned pro, our platform fosters collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning to help everyone succeed. Together, we ensure that food recovery continues to evolve as a critical force in reducing food waste and addressing food and nutrition insecurity.
Key Components
- Free resources: Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been doing it forever, FRH provides opportunities for evolving best practices. You have easy access to continuous learning. Together, as a community, we take what we learn and grow and evolve how we create impact. From how-to guides to templates for marketing and other essential functions, we listen to how we can best support the network.
- Community: You aren’t in this alone. Together, we’re learning, building, and sharing to create and evolve the food rescue space. The Food Rescue Hero community gives you access to a whole network of organizations who’ve “been there, done that,” or who are facing the same challenges right now, or who could learn from YOUR experience. No one should have to reinvent the wheel in order to move forward!
- Access to network: Together we succeed. Use the resources that our other partners have created for your own success, and share your resources with them. There is vast room for growth and increased impact in the free and unlimited access to the entire FRH network.
- Transforming food rescue: Food Rescue Hero is shaping a new field in food recovery, combining technology with community action to streamline food rescue and reduce waste. By automating tasks and engaging local volunteers through our platform, we’re transforming food rescue into a scalable, impactful movement.
05
Seamless onboarding allows you to be fully operational in as little as 30 days.
Whether you’re running an existing organization or starting from scratch, Food Rescue Hero’s onboarding process ensures a smooth and efficient transition. Basic partners can be fully operational within 30 days, while Premium partners can launch within 60 days, with ongoing support to help scale sustainably over time.
Read more about Onboarding & Scaling
We know an easy onboarding process is important to you, and it’s equally as important to us. Whether you are adopting the Food Rescue Hero platform onto existing operations, or you are starting from scratch, we make sure that our partners are armed with all the tools they need to be successful right out of the gate.
Our comprehensive onboarding equips you with all the tools and guidance needed to start rescuing food quickly and efficiently. Straightforward and understandable timelines, resources, and learning materials are provided to you as soon as you become a partner. You’ll gain a clear understanding of our processes, your responsibilities, and best practices for seamless collaboration with volunteers, donors, and partners. Designed for adaptability, our system allows you to match schedules and preferences while minimizing delays.
Additionally, once you’re up and running, the support doesn’t stop there. Our team is dedicated to continuing to work with you throughout your journey, ensuring you’re utilizing the platform and our resources, and getting the most we have to offer you as a Food Rescue Hero partner. With real-time data, reporting tools, and continuous support, you’ll be set up for long-term success—keeping your community engaged and your operations running smoothly.
Key Components
- Smooth transition – For organizations with daily operations, we help your team plan and execute a smooth transition of your operations. We know this is a big job. We are experienced in helping partners smoothly and effectively execute this transition.
- Engagement – Our onboarding process ensures rapid engagement with volunteers, donors, and partner organizations. Together we create a welcoming and inclusive environment, which encourages continued engagement, collaboration, and support for your food rescue initiatives.
- Communication – As a Food Rescue Hero partner, we help you make the most of what we have to offer. The connection and community that is created by your volunteers, donors, and partner organizations is forged through communicating and collaborating together.
- Scaling – Fast onboarding means faster and sustainable scaling.
- Ongoing Support – The Food Rescue hero team is here to help, always. There is no stopping point or end date to the assistance and support you are provided with during your time as a partner.
06
Clear, accessible, real-time data at your fingertips.
Food Rescue Hero’s platform equips food rescue organizations with real-time data and powerful reporting tools to tackle common challenges like managing volunteers, tracking rescues, and scaling operations. With easy-to-use analytics, you can identify volunteer shortages, track missed rescues, and ensure food is distributed fairly across communities.
The business intelligence gained from the platform empowers you to make informed decisions with ease, setting your organization apart and ensuring long-term success.
Read more about Business Intelligence
Our innovative reporting capabilities provide actionable insights into key areas such as top volunteers, donation trends, and the environmental impact of your rescues—helping you operate efficiently and grow sustainably. Clear, real-time, and easily accessible data provides you with the ability to make informed decisions regarding managing and scaling your food rescue organization that will benefit your donors, volunteers, and partners.
Key Components
- Rich & Real-Time Data: Pinpoint areas without enough volunteers, evaluate equity of donation distribution, and recognize seasonal trends in real time.
- Value to food donors: Effective data collection and real time reporting capabilities mean you can provide donors with the data they need to demonstrate their impact on sustainability and food security in the community.
- Goals & Initiatives: Scale sustainably with the data and metrics that the FRH platform provides you with.
07
A network influencing global policies in food waste, food access, and system change.
Food Rescue Hero helps food rescue organizations drive change beyond their local efforts, creating ripple effects that extend into the larger global fight against food waste and hunger.
By streamlining food recovery, our platform addresses challenges like inefficient food distribution and the limitations of traditional donation models. Together with our partners, we advocate for stronger food recovery policies at state and national levels, making it easier for organizations to access more food donors and resources.
Read more about Extended Impact
The Food Rescue Hero network is leading the transformation of how we address food waste and hunger. Scaling food recovery, our partner network demonstrates the impact of investing in food recovery and actively leads efforts at state and Federal levels to create a supportive framework for the food recovery industry. Our visibility in the media also helps raise awareness about food rescue, attracting more attention and support for the cause.
By working collectively, we not only reduce waste and fight hunger more effectively but also contribute to systemic change that impacts communities far beyond our immediate reach.
Key Components
- Influencing change: FRH partners are at the forefront, with others, pushing larger system change, illustrating how what we do is different from the existing charitable food system hub and spoke model
- Advocacy: We are working together as a coalition to advocate and lobby for food recovery efforts at state and national levels.
- Media: FRH is regularly featured as industry leaders in events and media. FRH supports finding those industry partners.
08
Transforming local food systems towards more equity and justice.
Food Rescue Hero and its partner network are active participants in the fight for food justice and a dignified food system for all. We recognize that these principles must be foundational in our operations, ensuring that rescued food is distributed fairly and respectfully.
Our platform helps organizations provide fresh, nutritious meals that meet recipients’ dietary and cultural needs, addressing inconsistent food quality and reducing the stigma often associated with food assistance.
Read more about Impacting Food Justice
To scale food rescue is to transform local food systems. We reject the notion that you have to pick your battles or choose between doing what’s good for the earth and what’s good for people. Food Rescue Hero approaches food rescue as an opportunity to do more. More for the climate, more for the community, and more to transform systems of inequity to those coming closer to just and equitable food systems.
Food Justice is central to our approach and we enthusiastically look for opportunities to do better and be better with the help of all our stakeholders. Reliable and equitable access to, and distribution of, healthy and fresh food is a critical informer of Food Rescue Hero’s mission and operations. Food Rescue Hero believes food recovery can and should play a vital role in moving us towards food justice and sovereignty and continues to seek opportunities to build that reality.
By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, we empower both recipients and volunteers, strengthening community bonds. Food Rescue Hero is committed to helping our partners do what’s right for their communities, providing the tools and support needed to drive meaningful change. Together, we are part of a growing food justice movement, proving that one transformative act—rescuing food—can address multiple critical challenges and create lasting impact.
Key Components
- Respect and Empowerment: Providing nutritious and accessible food respects the inherent worth and dignity of those facing food insecurity. It empowers them to make choices about the food they receive.
- Nutritional Needs: Food justice ensures that recipients have access to nutritious, balanced meals that meet their dietary preferences, health needs, and cultural preferences. It supports their physical health, mental well-being, and overall nutritional status.
- Inclusivity: Food justice promotes inclusivity by acknowledging and accommodating diverse dietary preferences, restrictions, and cultural traditions. It ensures that food rescue efforts are inclusive and respectful of the varied backgrounds and needs of recipients.
- Community Support: Food justice fosters a sense of community support and solidarity among recipients, volunteers, and food rescue organizations. It promotes mutual respect, empathy, and collaboration in addressing food insecurity and supporting vulnerable individuals and families.
- Environmental Justice: communities facing food insecurity are almost always facing the worst impacts of climate change. Removing short lived climate pollutants such as food waste promises to have a rapid positive impact on the climate.
09
Saving the planet, one food rescue at a time.
Food Rescue Hero and its partners are actively contributing to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of reducing food waste by 50%. Our platform enables cities, counties, and organizations to efficiently rescue surplus food and redistribute it to those in need.
Recognizing that reducing food waste is a critical step in addressing climate change, we are committed to making a measurable impact alongside our partners. Through daily operations in the food rescue space, we turn sustainability goals into tangible action, ensuring that good food is never wasted.
Read more about Contributing to 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
We help cities, counties, and organizations ramp up so that they can measurably decrease their food waste in pursuit of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal to reduce food waste by 50%.
Key Components
- Decreasing food waste – Food Rescue Hero partners are decreasing food waste by rescuing surplus and unwanted food from donors
- Mitigating emissions – Food Rescue Hero partners are mitigating emissions that would have otherwise been created by additional food that is being rescued from donors
- Contributing to SDGs – Food Rescue Hero partners are directly contributing to the SDG goal of reducing food waste through their daily operations in food rescue and redistribution
- Clear, tangible impact (reporting that can translate into direct annual reports) – In the Food Rescue Hero web app partners can easily, quickly, and clearly obtain data regarding their carbon emissions mitigated as a result of food rescue and redistribution. This data can be incorporated into annual and donor reports.
- Part of a larger global effort – the work being done by Food Rescue Hero and its partners is part of a larger global effort to contribute to SDG 2030 goal
Plans for every size food rescue organization.
Basic
$0 startup fee
$500/mo
< 500,000 metro size
✔ One-time & recurring rescues
✔ Online donation form
✔ Technical support
✔ Data exports
✔ Volunteer food safety training
✔ Recipient suggestions
✔ CO2 mitigation calculation
✔ Food Rescue University
✔ Partner Network access
✔ Exclusive resources
Plus
$0 startup fee
Starting at
$1,000/mo
Everything in PLUS
+
✔ Robust Data Visualization & Exporting
Premium
$50,000 startup fee
Starting at
$1,250/mo
after first year
Everything in PLUS
+
✔ Custom private-labeled app
✔ Exclusive Tailored 1:1 Coaching
✔ Transfer Existing Data
Add-ons
Advanced Data Reporting & Analytics
Starting at $25/mo
Home Delivery
$250/mo
Interested in learning more?
Book a demo with Sedona, our Business Development Manager (aka your go-to resource)!
Focusing on the complex and variable dynamics of retail food recovery, Food Rescue Hero automates the time-consuming tasks to coordinate operations seamlessly. The app alerts volunteer drivers about surplus food nearby and guides each donation pick up and delivery, every step of the way. As of the end of 2024, Food Rescue Hero has coordinated more than 190 million pounds of perfectly good food from getting wasted and redirected to the people who need it.
Our model merges technology, civic engagement, and public-private partnerships to introduce a new transport and distribution model that transforms surplus food into a resource and changes the way we approach food access.
And we are seeing sustainable, scalable and measurable impact.
The Food Rescue Hero Platform works with and is supported by a global network of technology leaders:
