Plain-language glossary
Every Food Finder term in one place
If a word on the site is doing work, it's defined here. Skim, search the page, or link directly to a term.
- Neighbor
- Anyone on Food Finder. Every user is a neighbor first — Sharer and Finder are just the two roles a neighbor plays at different moments. Same person, different day.
- Finder
- A neighbor browsing food posted nearby and messaging Sharers to arrange a pickup. Finders pay the platform subscription (free during the founding period). The food itself is always free.
- Both
- A neighbor who both shares and finds. Most active neighbors land here — sharing one week, finding the next.
- Founding period
- The window while we're building the network — from launch until we reach 25,000 U.S. neighbors. During founding, everything on Food Finder is free for signed-in users. No card, no trial, no charge.
- Founding subscriber
- Any neighbor who signs up during the founding period. Founding subscribers lock in a lower lifetime price on paid Finder access when billing eventually begins — as long as they stay continuously subscribed.
- Founding Finder
- A Finder who signed up during the founding period. Locks in the founding Finder rate ($3.99/mo) for life vs. the standard rate ($4.99/mo) — provided the subscription stays continuous once billing begins.
- Founding Ambassador
- The top referral tier during the founding period. Neighbors who bring in 100+ qualified referrals earn Founding Ambassador status — a permanent badge and priority perks when new features ship.
- Referral tiers
- Recognition levels earned as your referrals qualify: Neighbor (5+), Connector (15+), Community Builder (30+), Movement Maker (50+), Founding Ambassador (100+). Tier badges unlock in real time; every 5 qualified referrals also banks 1 free Finder month.
- Qualified referral
- During the founding period, a referral qualifies once the invited neighbor signs up and stays active for 30 days. After founding, the standard rule is 90 days of continuous paid subscription.
- Unopened, not-expired
- The only food that belongs on Food Finder. Sealed packaging, no signs of tampering, and a use-by/best-by date in the future. No prepared meals, no leftovers, no cooked food.
- Pickup window
- The Sharer's chosen time range when an item is available for handoff. Conversations stay inside Food Finder until both sides agree on the meet.
- Handoff
- The in-person exchange of food. Neighbors choose a public, comfortable spot and follow the safety guidelines — Food Finder doesn't handle, transport, or guarantee food.
- Anchor statement
- The fixed disclosure surfaced at signup and on legal pages: Food Finder is a subscription-based platform that enables individuals to connect and share food. Food Finder does not facilitate transactions, handle food, or guarantee any aspect of user-provided offerings.
- Subscription-based platform
- Food Finder is the technology that connects neighbors. Finders pay a subscription for access to the platform; food is never bought, sold, tipped on, or paid for between neighbors.
- Block, mute, and report
- Built-in tools every neighbor can use on any other neighbor at any time. Reports go to the Food Finder moderation queue; blocks and mutes apply immediately and privately.