named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Food Assistance Network (CFAN)
Streamlined referral system connecting people to food and basic needs services; improves client experience and coordinates resource sharing among stakeholders
Food Express
Delivers food orders purchased at the Regional Food Bank directly to member pantries; serves as a critical logistics service for pantries unable to transport large quantities
Food Shuttle
Rescues "day-old" food from local retailers and delivers it to pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens to reduce waste and increase access
Food Warehouse Funding
Provides member pantries with spending accounts at the Regional Food Bank to purchase food; includes emergency funding and 24-hour delivery when pantries are at risk of running out
Holiday Meals
Provides funds and grocery store gift certificates during the holiday season to allow clients dignity of choice in meal planning
Infant Needs
Purchases and delivers infant formula and diapers monthly to member pantries to prevent nutritional deficiencies in babies
Member Education
Offers workshops and training for pantry staff and volunteers on nutrition, grant writing, and other capacity-building topics
Volunteer Placement
Recruits, interviews, and places volunteers in member pantries, special events, and the organization’s office
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 5 activities
- Distributing food through a coalition of member pantriesOperates a coalition of 75 food pantries across Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties to provide food assistance, distributing food sufficient for at least nine meals per month per household member and serving over 104,000 individuals in 2024. Each dollar donated equates to 6.25 pounds of food distributed.
- Funding, purchasing, and delivering food to member pantriesSupports member food pantries by funding food purchases, operating spending accounts at the Regional Food Bank, purchasing food and grocery store gift certificates, and delivering food orders directly to pantries. Provides emergency food funding with delivery within 24 hours.
- Operating a Food as Medicine programCoordinates food distribution as a clinical intervention through a Food as Medicine program, integrating nutrition support into healthcare settings to address diet-related health conditions.
- Providing operational and emergency support to member pantriesProvides staffing, crisis response, advocacy, grant writing assistance, financial aid, and other operational and emergency support to member food pantries to strengthen their capacity and sustainability.
- Rescuing and redistributing surplus foodRescues day-old food from local retailers and redistributes it to food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens to reduce food waste and increase access to nutritious food.
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Food Policy Advocacy & Nutrition Education 1 activity
- Advocating for food-insecure populationsEngages in advocacy activities at the local and national level, including participation by the Executive Director in advocacy efforts in Washington D.C., to advance policies addressing hunger and food insecurity.
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Intake and Referral Coordination 1 activity
- Establishing referral networks and coordinating servicesEstablishes a streamlined referral network to connect individuals to food assistance and basic needs services, and facilitates information sharing and collective impact activities among stakeholders to reduce food insecurity.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Organizing food and fundraising campaignsOrganizes campaigns such as the "Fill the Truck Challenge" to raise funds for food procurement and hosts an annual fundraising event featuring a Chefs' Challenge, silent auction, and awards ceremony to support operations.
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Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
- Providing capacity-building and coordination for member pantriesProvides a forum for member food pantries to engage in networking, coordination of services, education, and training to strengthen their effectiveness and collective impact.
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Diaper and Baby Supply Distribution 1 activity
- Providing specialized food and supplies for infants and familiesSupplements food bank offerings through specialized programs including monthly or on-demand delivery of infant formula and diapers, and leads initiatives such as the Capital Region Baby Formula Task Force to improve access to infant nutrition.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Recruiting and placing volunteersRecruits, interviews, and places volunteers in member pantries, special events, and the organization's office to meet volunteer needs and support program delivery.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$3.09M
Contributions & grants$2.86M93%
Program service revenue$5K0%
Investment income$20K1%
Other revenue$203K
expenses
Total expenses$3.30M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$1.53M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.18M
Cash$1.06M
Investments$583K
Liabilities$645K
Net assets$1.53M
Liquid reserves6.0 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue -2.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NATASHA PERNICKA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $123K |
board members · 17
- ALEXANDRA BECKER — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- ANGELO CALBONE — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- CONNIE MADIGAN — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- DARNELL NESBIT — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- DR ANGELA PEARSON — PRESIDENT
- JACK SWEENEY — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- JACQUELINE MONTGOMERY — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- JO ANN LESAGE NELSON — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- JOHN PASICZNYK — TREASURER
- NANCY HARRINGTON — VICE PRESIDENT
- SAMANTHA ADKISSON — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- SARAH TRELA — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- STACEY THAYER — SECRETARY
- STACEY TRAYNHAM — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- TARYN DAVILA — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- THALIA MELENDEZ — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- THOMAS GALLAGHER — BOARD OF DIRECTOR
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- Bonacio Construction Partner — Employer of board member William Willard, indicating organizational affiliation
- Broadview FCU Partner — Employer of board member Sarah Trela, indicating organizational affiliation
- CDPHP Partner — Corporate sponsor supporting the organization.
- CDTA Partner — Employer of board member Emily DeVito, indicating organizational affiliation
- Capital Area Council of Churches Network — Founding affiliate through its Urban Ministries Fellowship committee.
- Capital Region Baby Formula Task Force Partner — Collaborative initiative formed to improve access to infant formula in the region.
- Caridades Católica Partner — Provides Spanish-language assistance through its Centro para la Colaboración con la Comunidad.
- Cohen Vaughan LLP Partner — Employer of board member Susan Biggins Owens, indicating organizational affiliation
- Communications Strategist Partner — Professional affiliation of board member Jo Ann LeSage Nelson, indicating organizational connection
- Community Food Assistance Network Network — Member of the Community Food Assistance Network (CFAN), a unified network of food pantries and basic needs services.
- Curtis LeClair Partner — Outreach and Engagement Manager facilitating community events.
- Ellis Medicine Partner — Employer of board member Jacqueline Montgomery, indicating organizational affiliation
- FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE CAPITAL DISTRICT INC Network — Member of a regional food pantry network operating under the name TFP.
- Feeding America Network — Member of the Feeding America national network, which provides data on food insecurity in the region.
- First Church Food Pantry Partner — Employer of board member Lynne Fuierer, indicating organizational affiliation
- Food bank located in Albany Partner — Partner organization from which member food pantries acquire food, supported by delivery and funding services from The Food Pantries for the Capital District.
- Franklin Plaza Partner — Host venue for the annual Harvest Evening Celebration.
- MVP Health Care Partner — Employer of board member Randi Heitzman, indicating organizational affiliation
- MVP Health Care Partner — Partner organization supporting the food pantry coalition's work.
- Member Food Pantries Partner — Network of local food pantries receiving funding, food, and logistical support
- OD Synergistics Consulting, LLC Partner — Employer of past president Dr. Angela Pearson, indicating organizational affiliation
- Office of the State Comptroller Government — Employer of board member Thalia Melendez, indicating government affiliation
- Pittstown Food Pantry Partner — Employer of board member Connie Madigan, indicating organizational affiliation
- Regional Food Bank Partner — Provides spending accounts for food purchases and receives food deliveries for member pantries.
- Unity House Partner — Employer of board member Keosha Elam, indicating organizational affiliation
- Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP Partner — Employer of board member Alexandra Becker, indicating organizational affiliation
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Coalition-Based Network Modelmethodology: coalition_modelBy operating as a centralized support coalition, we strengthen a network of local food pantries to increase efficiency, scale, and community impact, because shared infrastructure and coordination reduce duplication and enhance resource delivery.
- Dignity and Client Choicemethodology: dignity-of-choiceBy providing grocery store gift certificates, we promote dignity and personal choice in food selection, because autonomy increases engagement, reduces stigma, and better meets individual dietary and cultural needs.
- Food-Is-Medicine Integrationmethodology: food-is-medicineBy integrating food distribution with healthcare systems, we treat nutrition as a clinical intervention to improve health outcomes, because addressing dietary needs prevents and manages chronic disease.
- Geospatial Needs Assessmentmethodology: geospatial needs assessmentBy using asset mapping and census data, we identify and address geographic gaps in food access, because understanding spatial barriers like transportation and stigma enables targeted interventions that improve equity and reach.