A LETTER FROM OUR CEO & BOARD CHAIR
Dear hunger-relief partners,
I’m sure we all vividly recall the struggles faced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For us here at the Great Plains Food Bank, the need for food assistance increased by 45 percent (in 2020) as more people than ever were in need. As we navigated these challenges, we were hopeful that this was a one-time occurrence, and we would return to pre-COVID levels quickly. That, however, wasn’t the case. In 2023 we served the most people ever in our 40-year history as an organization; higher than during the pandemic.
Last year, 156,479 children, older adults, and families turned to the Great Plains Food Bank and our network of feeding programs for food assistance. That’s one in five individuals and one in three children across North Dakota turning to us because they were unsure where their next meal was coming from. Despite food donations decreasing to levels not seen since 2016, we were able to supply them with nearly 11.2 million meals. We were only able to meet the increased demand because of you. Thank you!
In 2023, we celebrated our 40th anniversary, looking back over the decades of impact we have had and looking forward to the incredible work and future ahead of us. Our work has evolved from feeding people to ending hunger and as an organization we look and operate differently than we did 20 years ago, even differently than two years ago.
With our eyes on the future, we are excited to share that we are launching a bold campaign to help achieve our vision of a hunger-free North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota. This transformational campaign will 1) bolster existing and innovative new direct service programs, ensuring every person has the nutrition they need to thrive, 2) sustain our work long-term by investing in our endowment fund, 3) replace, update and increase our statewide fleet of trucks, and 4) design and build a state-of-the-art facility that meets the growing and changing needs of the organization, through adequate and efficient space, and a facility that fosters the creativity and workforce needed for innovative new hunger solutions. We can’t wait to share more details of this campaign and how you can be a part of it!
There is so much incredible work being done at the Great Plains Food Bank and we are so proud of where we have come and where we are headed. On behalf of all of us at the Great Plains Food Bank, we know we wouldn’t be where we are without you. You are a key partner in this work and it’s only because of your support that we are moving closer to ending hunger today, tomorrow, and for good. For that, we are forever grateful.
As our most loyal partners in hunger-relief, please don’t hesitate to reach out via phone (701.232.6219), email (msobolik@greatplainsfoodbank.org) or in person.
We will only end hunger, together.
Sincerely,
MELISSA SOBOLIK
Great Plain Food Bank
CEO
KATHLEEN SCHNEIDER
Great Plains Food Bank
Chair, Board of Directors
2023: FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT
| PUBLIC SUPPORT & REVENUE | FY23 | FY22 |
|---|---|---|
|
Private Contributions |
$5,965,912 |
$5,066,723 |
|
Government Contracts and Grants
|
$1,457,355 |
$626,393 |
|
United Way and Private Grants
|
$1,398,737 |
$934,337 |
|
Program Revenue |
$1,283,094 |
$758,641 |
|
Investments and Other Income |
$323,947 |
$(239,491) |
|
USDA Commodity Food Value
|
$3,960,956 |
$5,389,005 |
|
Donated Food Value |
$15,201,747 |
$15,908,255 |
|
TOTAL PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE |
$29,591,748 |
$28,443,863 |
| EXPENSES | FY23 | FY22 |
|---|---|---|
|
Programs and Services
|
$25,729,781 |
$28,559,104 |
|
Fund Development
|
$1,133,949 |
$979,950 |
|
Management and General |
$468,612 |
$457,393 |
|
TOTAL EXPENSES |
$27,332,342 |
$29,996,447 |
| CHANGE IN NET ASSETS | FY23 | FY22 |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in net assets |
$2,259,406 |
$(1,552,584) |
|
Net Assets at Beginning of Year
|
$13,429,784 |
$14,982,368 |
|
Net Assets at End of Year |
$15,689,190 |
$13,429,784 |
SOURCES OF FUNDING
57% Private Contributions
14% Government Contracts & Grants
13% United Way & Private Grants
12% Program Revenue
3% Investments & Other Income
EXPENSES*
94% Programs and Services
4% Fund Development
2% Administrative & General
*Includes the value of donated food distributed of $20,675,556.
Great Plains Food Bank’s auditors have expressed an unmodified opinion on our financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Those financial statements, which are available on the Great Plains Food Bank’s website, include associated notes that are essential to understanding the information presented here.
THANK YOU
Every investment you make to support our mission is an investment in your neighbor. We are committed to thoughtfully stewarding your donations to provide hunger-relief and build food secure communities across North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota.
OUR PROGRAMS
Throughout the year, the Great Plains Food Bank operated nine direct service programs across North Dakota and Clay County, Minn., to combat hunger for children, seniors and those living in rural communities. These programs were integral in our ability to provide more than 12.6 million meals to 121,440 individuals.
MOBILE FOOD PANTRY
Bringing trucks full of fresh food to locations throughout North Dakota and Clay County, Minn., our mobile food pantry held distributions at 72 different sites and locations in 2021 providing more than 1.13 million meals.
BACKPACK PROGRAM
Providing meals, milk, juice and snacks to children to help them make it through the weekend, our backpack program provided 139,027 backpacks to 5,096 kids in 138 communities.
YOUTH SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM
Providing boxed meals during the summer months when school lunches are not available, the youth summer meals program provided 34,157 meals to 1,069 children.
SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM
A total of 32 food pantries are now serving 72 different schools in 20 communities through the Great Plains Food Bank School Pantry Program. The program provided 196,638 meals last year.
SENIOR FOOD PACK PROGRAM
Helping low-income seniors throughout North Dakota, the senior food pack program helped 1,026 seniors in 35 communities in 2021.