Food pantry software
Free food pantry software
your volunteers will actually use
GivBase replaces paper sign-in sheets and spreadsheets with a fast, private check-in system built for volunteer-run food pantries. Check people in by client number or name, keep an accurate visit history, and produce your monthly numbers in one click.
Check-in that keeps the line moving
Built for distribution day: busy, crowded, and staffed by volunteers who may be using it for the first time.
Seconds per household
Look people up by client number or name and check them in with a tap. Their last visit and eligibility show right away.
Register new clients fast
Just a name and household size to get someone checked in. Optional questions can wait or be skipped.
Duplicates caught
GivBase warns when a new registration looks like someone already in your system, so the same family isn’t entered twice.
Proxy pickups
Record when one person picks up for another household, so both are counted correctly.
Everything a pantry needs in one place
Visit history and frequency limits
See each household’s visits and set how often they can receive food.
Appointments and printable schedules
Schedule clients for upcoming distributions and print a sign-in sheet with household size and space to record bags.
More than food
Track clothing closet and Laundry Love programs alongside your food pantry, each with its own counts.
Catch up on past days
Missed entering a session? Log past visits for any recent date.
Bring your existing list
Import your current clients from a spreadsheet so you don’t start from scratch.
TEFAP built in
For TEFAP pantries: applicant self-declaration at intake using your state’s Self-Declaration Receipt. See TEFAP software for details.
Made for volunteers and the people you serve
No training needed
Volunteers understand it in seconds. It works in any web browser on a phone, tablet, or computer — nothing to install.
Volunteer mode
Hand a device to a volunteer and lock it to check-in, with a PIN to unlock settings and reports.
English and Spanish
Switch languages with one tap.
Private by design
Phone numbers are encrypted, dates of birth are never stored, and each pantry’s data is kept separate from every other pantry.
Text your clients
Optional text messages for pickup reminders and closures, using prepaid credits.
One-click reports
Monthly and yearly totals of households and individuals served, plus a full Excel export.
Frequently asked questions
Is GivBase really free?
Yes, for qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations. There’s no credit card or contract. Optional text messaging uses prepaid credits.
Do we need to install anything?
No. GivBase runs in a web browser on any phone, tablet, or computer.
How long does setup take?
Most pantries are set up in under an hour: create your pantry, invite volunteers with a link, and optionally import your existing client list.
Can we import our current client list?
Yes. You can import clients from a spreadsheet during setup or later from Settings.
Does it work for TEFAP pantries?
Yes. The applicant reads your state’s TEFAP Self-Declaration Receipt and confirms out loud that they qualify, and GivBase records the answer on every visit.
Is client information private?
Phone numbers are encrypted, dates of birth are never stored, and each pantry can only see its own clients.
Give your volunteers a better check-in
Set up in under an hour. Free for qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations.
Start free