About Maryland Food Bank
For more than 40 years, the Maryland Food Bank (“MFB”) has been at the forefront of the fight against hunger, ensuring that families, children, and seniors across the state have access to nutritious food and opportunities for a better future. MFB’s clear and compelling mission is: Feeding people, strengthening communities, and ending hunger for more Marylanders.
As a statewide leader in hunger relief, MFB does far more than distribute food—it works to address the root causes of food insecurity, creating pathways for long-term stability and advocating for a more equitable, resilient, and accessible food system. MFB is a proud partner food bank of Feeding America.
Rising Demand & the Reality of Food Insecurity in Maryland
In a country that wastes billions of pounds of food each year, more than 47 million Americans still struggle with food insecurity.
The COVID-19 pandemic devastated individuals and families, leading to a sharp rise in food insecurity. Since then, record inflation, soaring food costs, reduced federal assistance, and other factors have continued to drive demand even higher. Today, with 1 in 3 Marylanders facing hunger, demand is at record levels.
The need for the work of the Maryland Food Bank has never been more clear and important.
Innovative Programs Driving Change
MFB is pioneering new models of food distribution and workforce development to create lasting change:
- Technology & Data-Driven Solutions: Through ‘Operation Innovate’, MFB is modernizing food banking operations, making distribution more deliberate, thoughtful, efficient, and impactful.
- Mobile Markets & Pantry on the Go: Bringing fresh produce and healthy food options to under-resourced communities across the state.
- FoodWorks Culinary Training: A career-building program that has trained over 550 Marylanders in culinary, core, and life skills, helping them secure well-paying jobs.
- Advocacy & Policy Initiatives: Fighting for systemic solutions to hunger, ensuring that state and federal policies support food security efforts.
- Amplifying Neighbor Voice: Focused engagement with Neighbors to gain a deeper understanding of how our programs enhance service and partnership with communities.
Impact at Scale
MFB operates a robust food distribution network, working in partnership with nearly 800 community organizations to ensure that every Marylander in need has access to healthy, nutritious food. The scale and impact of MFB’s work in FY24 are staggering:
- 52 million pounds of food distributed, including 14.3 million pounds of fresh produce
- 43.5 million meals provided statewide, or 119,000 meals per day
- More than 1 million unique neighbors served
- 185 School Pantries, ensuring kids and families have access to food where they learn
- 67 FoodWorks graduates, gaining culinary training for sustainable careers, a 34% increase from FY23
These numbers reflect MFB’s commitment to meeting the immediate needs of food-insecure Marylanders while also building long-term solutions to break the cycle of hunger.
What’s Next?
As the Maryland Food Bank enters its next chapter, it stands on its strongest footing yet—with a talented and passionate team, a solid financial position, a trusted reputation, and an engaged network of supporters and volunteers. This strength provides an unparalleled opportunity to deepen its impact, ensuring that more Marylanders than ever before have access to nutritious food and the resources to build food-secure futures.
Looking ahead, MFB is committed to a strategic and intentional approach, focusing on maximizing its impact while maintaining the agility and innovation that have played a key role in its success to date. In its next phase, MFB aims to:
- Prioritize the most impactful initiatives, ensuring that every investment—of time, resources, and partnerships—drives measurable progress toward ending hunger.
- Sustain MFB’s reputation as an innovator, continuously seeking bold, data-driven solutions while strengthening operational efficiency and financial sustainability.
- Invest in breakthrough programs, such as workforce development, food access initiatives, and advocacy efforts, to address not just the symptoms of hunger, but its root causes.
MFB’s next chapter is focused on leveraging its strengths to deepen impact, transform hunger relief, and create a future where no Marylander goes hungry.
To learn more about Maryland Food Bank, please visit mdfoodbank.org. Read the 2024 Annual Report here.
The Opportunity
In 2025, the Maryland Food Bank will welcome its next leader as part of a planned succession for current President & CEO, Carmen Del Guercio, who has led MFB for eight years.
At this moment of tremendous opportunity, MFB is seeking a dynamic and mission-driven President & CEO to lead a healthy and highly respected organization into its next chapter of impact.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO will be responsible for MFB’s strategic vision, oversee its ~$100M annual budget, and lead a talented team of ~170, including three direct reports (Chief Operating Officer, Chief Finance Officer, and Chief Development Officer).
Key responsibilities of the President & CEO include, but are not limited to:
- Provide Visionary Leadership: Guide MFB’s strategic direction, ensuring long-term impact, innovation, and adaptability.
- Cultivate & Strengthen Partnerships: Build and sustain relationships with funders, corporate partners, government agencies, and community organizations to expand resources and impact.
- Serve as the MFB’s Chief Spokesperson & Advocate: Represent MFB to the public, media, and policymakers, advocating for policies that combat hunger and food insecurity.
- Drive Financial Stewardship & Sustainability: Lead budgeting, fundraising, and resource management to maintain financial stability, transparency, and long-term sustainability.
- Ensure Operational & Programmatic Excellence: Provide ultimate leadership and oversight for all aspects of MFB’s operations and programs, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and excellence across all functions.
- Lead & Develop a High-Performing Team: Recruit, retain, and empower a talented, mission-driven staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, trust, and results.
- Advance Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI): Embed EDI principles into all aspects of the organization’s work, ensuring an inclusive and equitable approach to hunger relief.
- Utilize Data & Metrics for Impact: Leverage data-driven decision-making to set goals, track success, and continuously improve programs and services.
- Oversee Governance & Board Collaboration: Partner with a strong and committed Board of Directors to ensure strong governance, strategic alignment, and mission fulfillment.
Candidate Profile
While it is understood that no candidate will offer every desired skill, quality, and characteristic, the following offers a detailed, aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile:
A Passion for the Mission with a Commitment to Equity and Systems Change
This leader will:
- Be deeply mission-driven, committed to ending hunger throughout Maryland.
- Keep MFB’s mission at the core of all decisions, ensuring the neighbors MFB serves remain the top priority.
- Lead with integrity, authenticity, and an unwavering belief in MFB’s work, inspiring action across diverse stakeholders.
- Embed equity and inclusion into MFB’s culture and operations, ensuring all Marylanders have dignified, equitable access to nutritious food.
- Recognize food insecurity as a nonpartisan issue, effectively working across political and community divides to drive systemic change.
A Strategic, Decisive, & Adaptable Leader
This leader will:
- Be a strategic thinker, capable of setting clear priorities, gaining buy-in across the organization, and making effective decisions in a complex and evolving landscape.
- Navigate uncertainty with confidence, responding proactively to policy shifts, funding fluctuations, and economic challenges.
- Balance ambition with execution, ensuring that MFB innovates while maintaining operational sustainability.
- Be data-driven, using insights to prioritize initiatives and maximize impact.
- Lead with clarity and focus, streamlining efforts to ensure the most critical programs receive the necessary resources and attention.
An Empathetic & Inclusive People Leader
This leader will:
- Be a servant leader who fosters a positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture.
- Be capable of bringing together a diverse team in meaningful ways, inspiring a shared commitment to the work and mission.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, and empowerment, ensuring team members feel valued, heard, and motivated to drive impact.
- Lead with emotional intelligence, effectively managing strong personalities and team dynamics.
An Engaging and Impactful External Leader & Fundraiser
This leader will:
- Thrive in the external-facing aspects of the role, serving as a passionate ambassador who engages a broad range of stakeholders, including donors, policymakers, community partners, and volunteers.
- Be a compelling storyteller and communicator, effectively conveying MFB’s impact and elevating its brand awareness.
- Inspire support and build lasting relationships, ensuring that donors, funders, and partners feel deeply connected to MFB’s mission.
- Have the ability to expand MFB’s fundraising capacity by securing major gifts, corporate partnerships, and institutional funding to sustain and grow its impact.
Operational & Financial Acumen
This leader will:
- Ideally, bring a strong understanding of finance, budgeting, and resource management to ensure fiscal sustainability.
- Balance growth and efficiency, expanding MFB’s impact while maintaining financial health.
- Have the ability to navigate complex operations—or demonstrate a strong willingness to learn—ideally with experience in food banking, large-scale nonprofits, or similarly complex organizations.
- Embrace technology and infrastructure improvements to enhance efficiency and innovation.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation for this role is expected to range from $330,000 to $350,000, with additional potential for a performance-based bonus. Final compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience. The position also includes a comprehensive benefits package, covering medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
Contact
Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Cheryl Stevens and Claire Hunt. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile [LINKED] or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.
Koya l DSG is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.