The Hunger Project
A nonprofit organization that works with rural communities to pursue sustainable, locally led reductions in hunger and poverty.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Hunger Project (THP) is a California-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on the long-term reduction and eventual eradication of hunger. Established in 1977, it originally presented the end of world hunger as a time-bound global objective, initially targeting 1997. Its approach has evolved from early public education and advocacy toward community-led development programs that combine food security, health, education, gender equality, local governance, and income generation. Rather than operating primarily as a food-distribution charity, THP generally seeks to help rural communities build the institutions, skills, savings, and local leadership needed to address the causes of chronic hunger. In Africa, its central operating model is the Epicenter Strategy. Groups of approximately 10 to 15 villages organize around a community center and work with local authorities and community organizations. Depending on local circumstances, activities may include agricultural improvement, food processing, microfinance, savings and credit, adult literacy, primary health care, HIV/AIDS prevention, nutrition, and income-generating projects. The model is intended to transfer responsibility progressively to local institutions rather than maintain indefinite external support. The organization has also developed region-specific programs. In India, it supports the mobilization and training of elected women leaders in village-level panchayats. In Bangladesh, it trains local leaders on gender equality and community leadership, with follow-on initiatives addressing early marriage, dowry, maternal and child mortality, malnutrition, discrimination, illiteracy, and corruption. In Mexico and Peru, it works with communities facing economic marginalization, including Indigenous women; in Peru, it has partnered with the Center for Indigenous Peoples' Cultures of Peru, known as Chirapaq. Uganda illustrates THP's emphasis on linking financial access with food security. Its microfinance program, introduced there in 2009, combines training, savings, and small loans for people who traditionally lack access to formal banking. The initial Direct Credit phase uses a community-managed revolving loan fund. Where a community meets relevant criteria after several years, the operation may develop into a savings and credit cooperative, often referred to in the program materials as a rural bank. THP's role can include providing start-up capital, supporting management, and helping with regulatory reporting until the institution becomes self-sufficient. The Iganga Epicenter Rural Bank was recognized as the district's best savings and credit cooperative in 2009, according to the cited reference material. THP also promotes public awareness through World Hunger Day, launched in 2011 and observed annually on May 28. The campaign emphasizes sustainable solutions and community agency rather than hunger relief alone. Its fundraising network includes national organizations and offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The organization has faced scrutiny over its early association with Werner Erhard, Erhard Seminars Training, and related philosophies; THP states that those ties were severed in 1991. It has also been criticized for not achieving its original 1997 goal and for emphasizing education and advocacy over direct food provision during its early years. An independent randomized evaluation in Ghana, conducted with Innovations for Poverty Action in 2012, reported no measurable improvement in the studied socioeconomic indicators. These criticisms form part of the public discussion around THP's theory of change, but the organization continues to operate as an international community-development nonprofit.
History
The Hunger Project was founded in 1977 by Werner Erhard, with support from figures including Robert Works Fuller and singer John Denver. Its founding proposition was that world hunger could be ended through a coordinated global transformation in public understanding, political commitment, and practical action. The organization initially placed substantial emphasis on public education and advocacy, a choice that distinguished it from charities focused mainly on emergency feeding or commodity distribution. The early organization became associated with Erhard Seminars Training and with ideas connected to Erhard's work. That relationship later became a source of public criticism, and THP's ties to Erhard were severed in 1991. The organization also drew criticism because its original target date of 1997 passed without the promised end of world hunger, and because some development specialists viewed its early emphasis on consciousness-raising and advocacy as insufficiently direct. Over time, THP shifted toward integrated, locally managed development. Its programs increasingly addressed the multiple conditions that reinforce hunger: limited access to finance, weak agricultural productivity, inadequate health services, low literacy, gender inequality, and insufficient local institutional capacity. In Africa, this development produced the Epicenter Strategy, under which clusters of villages organize around community centers and gradually assume responsibility for economic, health, educational, and food-security activities. Uganda became an important example of the model's financial and agricultural components. In 2009, THP introduced a microfinance program combining training, savings, and credit. Communities managed revolving loan funds and could later establish savings and credit cooperatives once they met applicable requirements. The Iganga Epicenter Rural Bank received a district award as the best SACCO in 2009. THP also supported agricultural knowledge-sharing and access to disease-free, higher-yielding cassava varieties in response to constraints including cassava pests and disease. THP's work expanded across Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. In India, it concentrated on strengthening the leadership of elected women representatives. In Bangladesh, local leaders received training on gender and community mobilization, with campaigns addressing early marriage, dowry, malnutrition, maternal and child mortality, discrimination, illiteracy, and corruption. In Mexico and Peru, the organization worked with marginalized communities, particularly Indigenous women, including through cooperation with Chirapaq in Peru. In 2011, THP launched World Hunger Day, held each May 28, to raise public attention to lasting solutions to hunger. It also received high-profile fundraising exposure through Dionne Warwick's participation in The Celebrity Apprentice, although her departure occurred before the program generated a donation for THP. A separate philanthropic contribution described in The Power of Half involved a family donating approximately half of the proceeds from a home sale to support rural villagers in Ghana. The organization has continued to present community ownership and sustainable capacity as its central principles. At the same time, its impact claims have been subject to evaluation. A 2012 randomized controlled trial by Innovations for Poverty Action found no measurable improvement in the socioeconomic indicators assessed in the Ghanaian villages studied. The finding remains relevant to assessments of THP's integrated development strategy, but does not by itself describe every country program or later activity. As of the cited 2024 information, THP remained active in nine African countries, Bangladesh, India, Mexico, and Peru, with fundraising or support offices in several additional countries.
- 2024
Operations span Africa, South Asia, and Latin America
[1]The cited organizational profile lists active programs in nine African countries, Bangladesh, India, Mexico, and Peru, alongside fundraising and support offices in other countries.
- 2012
Ghana impact evaluation reports limited measured effects
[1]Innovations for Poverty Action's randomized evaluation reports no measurable improvement in the socioeconomic indicators studied in participating Ghanaian villages.
- 2011
World Hunger Day is launched
[1]THP establishes an annual May 28 campaign promoting awareness of sustainable solutions to hunger.
- 2009
Uganda microfinance program begins
[1]THP-Uganda launches a training, savings, and credit program intended to improve household income and food security among people without conventional banking access.
- 2009
Iganga Epicenter Rural Bank receives district recognition
[1]The Iganga Epicenter Rural Bank is named the district's best savings and credit cooperative by the relevant commercial authorities.
- 1991
Early ties to Werner Erhard are severed
[1]The organization's association with Werner Erhard and Erhard Seminars Training ends, although the earlier relationship remains part of public criticism of THP.
- 1981
Oxfam Canada adopts a critical position
[1]Oxfam Canada's board resolves not to endorse THP activities or accept funds from the project, reflecting criticism of its early approach.
- 1977
The Hunger Project is founded
[1]Werner Erhard establishes The Hunger Project with support from Robert Works Fuller, John Denver, and other early advocates.
Products and positioning
Nonprofit organization focused on sustainable, community-led development rather than short-term food distribution.
Community development model
Epicenter Strategy
THP's principal African operating model organizes clusters of roughly 10 to 15 villages around a shared community center. Local residents work with government and community organizations to develop food-security, agricultural, health, literacy, microfinance, food-processing, and income-generation activities. The intended progression is from external support toward community management and institutional self-reliance.
Microfinance and savings · 2009
Uganda Microfinance Program
Introduced in Uganda in 2009, this program combines financial training, savings, and small loans for people excluded from formal banking. A community-managed revolving fund supports an initial Direct Credit phase. Successful operations may later become savings and credit cooperatives, with THP reducing assistance once the institution becomes operationally self-sufficient.
Gender equality and governance
Women's Leadership Programs
In India, THP mobilizes and trains elected women representatives serving in village panchayats. Related work in Bangladesh trains local leaders to organize meetings, lead workshops, and campaign against gender discrimination, early marriage, dowry, maternal and child mortality, malnutrition, illiteracy, and corruption.
Awareness campaign · 2011
World Hunger Day
World Hunger Day is THP's annual international awareness initiative, observed on May 28. It presents hunger as a problem requiring durable social, economic, and political solutions and highlights the capacity of communities to lead their own development.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011World Hunger Day
International
An annual campaign launched to raise awareness of sustainable solutions to hunger and food insecurity.
Outcome. The observance continues annually on May 28.
- 2011The Celebrity Apprentice fundraising appearance
United States
Dionne Warwick represented THP during the eleventh season of The Celebrity Apprentice, providing television exposure for the charity.
Outcome. Warwick left the program before a donation was generated for THP.
Brand decisions
2009
Expand community finance in UgandaStrategyBackground
Rural households targeted by THP often lacked access to formal banking, limiting their ability to invest in agriculture and other income-generating activities.
Action taken
THP introduced a two-stage model combining direct community credit with the possible later creation of savings and credit cooperatives.
Aftermath
The Iganga Epicenter Rural Bank was recognized as the district's best SACCO in 2009, according to the cited reference.
Initial revolving loan fund. Approximately US$20,000 (2009 program description)
1991
End the formal association with Werner ErhardStrategyBackground
The Hunger Project's early history was closely associated with Werner Erhard, Erhard Seminars Training, and related philosophies, which attracted public criticism.
Action taken
The organization severed those ties and continued as an independent nonprofit.
Aftermath
The former relationship remained a recurring subject in discussions of THP's origins and accountability.
Recent events
- 2012
Innovations for Poverty Action evaluates THP programs in Ghana[1]
Other
A randomized controlled trial examined the long-term effects of THP's integrated community strategy on health, nutrition, income, women's roles, social cohesion, and education. The study reported no measurable improvement in the socioeconomic indicators examined in the villages studied.
- 2011
The Hunger Project launches World Hunger Day[1]
Campaign
THP introduced World Hunger Day as an international awareness campaign centered on sustainable responses to food insecurity. The observance takes place annually on May 28.
- 2011
Dionne Warwick represents The Hunger Project on The Celebrity Apprentice[1]
Campaign · Other
Singer Dionne Warwick represented the charity on the eleventh season of the U.S. television program The Celebrity Apprentice, but left the show before funds were generated for the organization.
- 1981
Public criticism of The Hunger Project's origins and early strategy[1]
Other
Critics questioned THP's early relationship with Werner Erhard and Erhard Seminars Training, its original ambition to end world hunger by 1997, and its emphasis on education and advocacy rather than direct food aid. Oxfam Canada's board resolved in 1981 not to endorse or accept funds from THP activities.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/the-hunger-project · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled