This is part of our Summit Sponsor Series, which features articles written by sponsors of the ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit about the food waste work they are doing. All views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of ReFED.

1. What is the name of your organization and what do you do?

Our mission at The Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation is to move communities toward a more balanced sustainable relationship with the environment.

2. Why is addressing food waste important to your organization?

The environmental toll of food waste is significant. Producing, transporting, and ultimately discarding uneaten food generates greenhouse gas emissions and adds to the environmental pressures associated with farming. Beyond the environmental impact, food waste carries substantial costs for businesses, consumers, and society as a whole. Addressing this issue offers broad, system-wide economic benefits.

3. What are some ways that your organization works to reduce food waste? Any examples that you’d like to highlight?

Starting in 2014, we began hosting gatherings under a big tent at our farm in Connecticut, bringing together a diverse group of grantees and stakeholders—farmers, policy experts, and representatives from NGOs and government agencies—to discuss the growing issue of food waste. It quickly became clear that while many of these groups were working hard in their respective areas, they were often doing so in isolation. Yet, progress in one area could significantly influence outcomes in another. These cross-sector conversations highlighted the need for a unified strategy—one that could connect efforts, align priorities, and break down silos. In 2015, building on the Pathfinder analysis by Sarah Vared and Adam Rein at MissionPoint Partners, we began shaping the idea of a national roadmap focused on food waste reduction. That vision came to life in 2016 with the launch of ReFED’s roadmap.

4. Why is your organization sponsoring the 2025 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit?

The Summit brings the “big tent” concept to life by creating a space where a broad spectrum of stakeholders working across food waste and food systems can come together in person. It serves as a collaborative forum to share ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate collective action.

5. What is a fun fact about your organization?

We’re proud to be the founders of ReFED, which, through the hard work and commitment of Dana Gunders and the whole team, has grown into the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to ending food loss and waste across the U.S. food system. ReFED is demonstrating that food waste is a solvable problem—through a combination of philanthropic support, consumer awareness, and impact investing. Increasingly, climate funders are recognizing the critical role food waste solutions play in addressing environmental challenges. ReFED helps guide these efforts by educating stakeholders on where their investment dollars can make the greatest impact.