Bring Your Skills to the Table: Help Food Shelves Work Better for Everyone
Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN) is looking for three passionate leaders to join our Board of Directors. If you care deeply about consistent and dignified food access for all and want to leverage your expertise where it matters most, we want to hear from you.
Who We Are
Since 2013, FFEN has partnered with 300+ food shelves across Minnesota and western Wisconsin to reimagine how they serve their communities. We’re not just a capacity-building nonprofit—we’re a catalyst for change in hunger relief. Through strategic consultation, data insights, professional development and peer-learning spaces, we help food shelves provide fresh, familiar foods and dignified experiences to every person who walks through their doors.
Our Mission: Support food shelves to optimize operations and effectively serve each community – building a more connected and equitable hunger relief system.
Our Vision: A hunger relief system trusted to predictably offer fresh, familiar food options and a dignified experience in all communities.
Learn more at www.ffen.org
What Drives Us
- Shopper-centered: We prioritize the voices and experiences of people accessing food shelves
- Relationship-focused: We listen deeply and build honest, reciprocal partnerships
- Context-aware: We honor each community’s unique needs and seek diverse perspectives
- Solution-oriented: We cultivate abundance thinking to spark creative, sustainable innovations
Who We’re Looking For
We need board members who will bring fresh perspectives and champion our work in new ways. While previous board experience is helpful, it is not required. We’re especially interested in candidates who offer:
- Financial expertise to further strengthen our fiscal oversight and future planning
- Human Resources expertise to support continued compliance and strategic staff engagement and retention
- Community representation reflecting the diversity of Minnesotans, particularly individuals facing food insecurity or those with experience in hunger relief
What You’ll Do
Time Commitment:
- 4-8 hours per month
- Attend six board meetings per year (currently: in-person, 3rd Monday evenings of even months)
- Serve on at least one committee (monthly online meetings with flexible scheduling)
- Participate in annual FFEN events
- Champion FFEN as an ambassador, including engaging in fundraising and donor stewardship
Term: Three years, renewable up to three terms
New to board service? We welcome you! We’ll provide support and training to help you succeed.
What You’ll Gain
- Make a real impact: Contribute to an organization that’s strengthening the sustainability of Minnesota’s food shelves
- Expand your knowledge: Understand the broader hunger relief ecosystem and innovative approaches to food insecurity
- Build your network: Connect with committed leaders from nonprofit, for-profit, and public sectors
- Develop your skills: Enhance your strategic leadership, organizational governance, and nonprofit finance and fundraising capabilities
Ready to Join Us?
Submit your application by Friday, October 30th:
- Current resume
- Letter of intent explaining why you want to serve on FFEN’s Board of Directors
Email to: info@ffen.org
Questions?
We welcome conversations about the organization and this opportunity:
- Kate Burggraff, Executive Director: kateburggraff@ffen.org
- Sara Ball, Board Secretary: saralynnball@gmail.com
