MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is an American nonprofit agency dedicated to preventing and alleviating hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds. MAZON, which means “food” or “sustenance” in Hebrew, practices and promotes a multi-faceted approach to hunger relief, recognizing the importance of responding to hungry peoples’ immediate need for nutrition and sustenance while also working to advance long-term solutions. This approach symbolizes its desire to embody twin Jewish ideals: tzedakah and tikkun olam.
Since its founding in 1985, MAZON has awarded grants totaling more than $53 million to organizations representing the entire spectrum of the nation’s anti-hunger network: from food banks, food pantries, home-delivered meal programs and kosher meal programs to advocacy groups working at the local, state and national level to expand participation in federal nutrition programs and champion responsible government policies that can prevent widespread hunger in the future.
MAZON's headquarters are located in Los Angeles, California.
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The founding of MAZON was inspired by the horrors of the Ethiopian famine of 1985, and was conceived by former Moment Magazine publisher Leonard Fein, who wanted to build a bridge between the Jewish community and millions of hungry people around the world.
According to Jewish tradition, rabbis did not allow celebrations to begin until the community’s poor and hungry people were seated and fed. Fein's notion was to incorporate this ancient tradition into modern day celebrations such as bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, anniversaries and other joyous occasions, to help feed those who are less fortunate. One way for people to symbolically follow this tradition is to donate at least 3 percent of the cost of the food at these events to MAZON, either directly or through MAZON's many partner synagogues.
MAZON, which means “food” or “sustenance” in Hebrew, practices and promotes a multi-faceted approach to hunger relief: by awarding financial grants to hundreds of anti-hunger organizations in the United States, Israel and selected developing nations; by engaging in advocacy on behalf of hungry people; and by developing and implementing programs to advance the field, especially with regard to improving nutrition and healthy food availability for low income communities.
In 1986, the first year of its grant making, MAZON distributed $20,000 in cash grants to four hunger-relief organizations. Over the last 25 years, MAZON has awarded grants totaling over $53 million.
In 2008, MAZON awarded grants to 381 grantees, including International Medical Corps, Feeding America, Bread for the World and the Lambi Fund of Haiti.
Currently, $0.07 of every dollar raised covers administrative overhead, with $0.93 supporting the mission. MAZON has received an "A" from the American Institute of Philanthropy, as meets all 20 Better Business Bureau standards for charity accountability.