Department Summaries
Administration
The Administration Department is responsible for the safe
and efficient day-to-day operation of the office. The department
purchases, maintains and updates all office equipment (excluding computers) and
supplies. Administration renders in-house training on office equipment
including the phone system, copiers, fax machines and postage machine. They are
also responsible for the coordination of and monitoring of off-site
storage and are the primary contact with the building management.
Communication
The Communication Department is responsible for educating
the public to the problems and solutions to hunger, and America’s Second
Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network’s leadership role in hunger-relief,
through media relations, publications, the web site and other forms of
communications.
The strategy, through key messages, is to communicate to the corporate, legislative and consumer audiences the demand, simultaneous to promoting the competence and integrity of America’s Second Harvest, The Nation’s Food Bank Network, its network of members and donors, in working to solve hunger.
The Communication Department includes the Member Management Institute (MMI) which provides network education and training services through conferences, workshops and resources materials. The MMI coordinates conferences in the areas of operations, agency relations, resource development, public policy and programs. The MMI staff are also responsible for the National Conference.
Finance
The Finance Department is responsible for the financial
management and planning for the organization which includes budgeting, cash
management, forecasting, business services, planning, and the National
Conference. It carries out all daily, monthly and annual accounting
functions which include processing accounts payable and accounts receivable,
producing monthly financial statements, preparing for the annual audit and
completing the IRS Form 990.
In addition, the Finance Department maintains and updates the Accounting and Travel Policies, as well as monitors compliance to them.
The department also serves as a resource to America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network's members regarding financial and accounting issues.
Food Sourcing
America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network
solicits donations of surplus food and grocery products from the nation’s food
and grocery industry. The Food Sourcing department approaches food and
grocery manufacturers, distributors, retailers, growers as well as companies in
the food service, natural, ethnic, private label and personal care
industries.
These donations consist primarily of product that might otherwise go to waste were it not for the effective distribution channel provided by the America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network members. What does the food and grocery industry do when too much shampoo is made, green beans are cut too short, or grapefruit juice is the wrong color? These items can be donated to America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network.
America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network encourages companies to donate excess inventory, as well as products that do not meet precise company standards, are approaching code dates or require packaging or labeling changes. Over 500 companies supply America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network with product donations. We can handle any size donation from a pallet to 300 trailer loads. Each donation has the potential to reach many members in our system.
Successful partnerships have also been established with a number of food and grocery trade associations including the Grocery Manufacturer’s of America, Food Marketing Institute, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association and Chemical Specialties Manufacturing Association. These relationships provide general endorsements, promotional opportunities, as well as in-depth information on industry trends.
The Human Resources Department manages staffing, employee relations, employee benefits and compensation for America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network. The department also serves, as a resource to America’s Second Harvest members regarding various personnel issues.
The Logistics Department is in constant contact with product donors across the country, coordinating donations, maintaining relationships and responding to donor needs. Once a donation is secured, Logistics is hard at work to place the donation where it is needed the most.
America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network allocates the donations on a broad and equitable basis according to need, which is determined by population and poverty statistics for each member service area. The products are picked up directly from the donors and shipped to the designated members.
The Logistics Department becomes particularly important when dealing with donations of several truckloads or more of a single product. Such amounts are beyond the capacity of a single food bank to distribute, and require the involvement of several members.
An important aspect of the distribution process is the ability to provide donors detailed receipts of their donations from a central computer system. The information not only provides a record of the contribution, but also allows for additional tracking and accounting of the donation.
Member Services
One of the reasons America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s
Food Bank Network has grown to be the largest charitable food source in the
country is due to the consistently high standards of each of the members in the
network. To maintain this efficient and effective network requires the
attention of the Member Services Department.
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Field Services
The typical America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network Member has approximately 31,000 square feet of warehouse space to provide food and grocery products to more than 277 local social service agencies. Through regular on-site monitoring, the department ensures that all members meet industry and government standards for food handling and storage, assuring that every donation safely reaches those in need.
Department staff plays a key role in maintaining member relationships within the network. They help to negotiate the occasional conflicts that develop between members, as all parties seek a mutually agreeable solution.
The department provides a variety of support services designed to improve member administration/management. From personal consultation on improving general operations to training materials on salvage programs and inventory systems, every effort is made to share best practices and the most innovative methods throughout the network. -
Programs
The Program Department is responsible for administering the various programs America's Second Harvest supports. These include Kids Cafes, which provide after-school nourishing meals to low-income children; Community Kitchens, which combines job training and nutrition education with meal preparation for community agencies; and Disaster Relief, which supports A2H members and Relief partners such as the American Red Cross in times disaster.
The department provides a variety of support services designed to improve member administration/management. From personal consultation on improving general operations to training materials on salvage programs and inventory systems, every effort is made to share the most innovative methods throughout the network.
The National Member Council is the representative body of the
network of America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network
Members. The purpose of the National Council is to initiate,
study and develop recommendations on issues and policies affecting
the network of America's Second Harvest members. The National Council was formed to
provide a meaningful and effective method of insuring that the Board of Directors, CEO, staff, and members
maintain collaborative and productive working relationships.
The National Council conducts its work through meeting five times a
year and through its Committee structure (Task Forces, Service
Planning Committees and Work Groups).
The National Council membership is
made up of the chairs of each of the regions (East, Central and
Western), an additional representative from each region, two nationally elected
representative from independent Food-Rescue Organization Members, two nationally
elected representatives for each member size category (Small, Medium and Large)
and three national office staff who are non-voting members, appointed by the CEO.
Philanthropic
Programs
Although the members share the
cost of supporting America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network, a
significant portion of the operating budget is obtained by Philanthropy through
the generosity of corporations, foundations and individuals.
Appeals take the form of grant proposals, direct mail and corporate-sponsored cause-marketing projects. Whether the donation is in the form of a foundation grant, personal check or proceeds from a cause-marketing project, the funds help support one of the most efficient charities in the country. For every $1 that America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network spends, approximately 34 pounds of food and groceries are channeled to members.
The financial resources obtained by Philanthropy support programs to carry out the mission of America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network. From the ongoing needs of those living in poverty to the unexpected needs of those affected by a natural disaster, America’s Second Harvest, The Nation’s Food Bank Network uses funds to channel food and grocery products to hungry people throughout America.
The Philanthropic Programs Department also provides funds directly to members as a result of special projects. Currently, members receive a portion of direct mail revenue, cause marketing revenue, special project grants and free transportation on certain types of food. On average, members receive over $1 million per year from funds raised at the national office.
Functions of the Public Policy and Research Department are broken down into three primary activity areas: Public Policy, which includes public policy advocacy, government relations and lobbying, and hunger and poverty policy analysis; Research, which includes social behavior research (Hunger Studies 1993 and 1997), and public policy research (i.e. analysis of impacts of welfare reform); and External Affairs, which includes support for the President/CEO in matters regarding public policy, participation and coalition building with other Non Governmental Organizations, support for other America’s Second Harvest, The Nation’s Food Bank Network departments in external matters, complimentary work on public communications, and public education efforts.
Technology
The Technology area provides
systems support and direction for both the national office and network
members. In the case of the national office, key areas include server and
workstation support and configuration, Internet access, and the database
environment.
