A LETTER FROM OUR CEO & BOARD CHAIR
Dear hunger-relief partners,
A grandmother in rural North Dakota recently shared her story with us. Her and her husband lived on a fixed income, which didn’t cover the necessities, so they both picked up part-time jobs. Even with the increased earnings, they still made difficult choices between buying groceries or paying for medication. They turned to their local food pantry, supplied by the Great Plains Food Bank, to help make ends meet. I wish I could tell you her story was unique, but it’s not. It’s one of many we hear every day—stories of resilience, sacrifice, and hope. Stories that remind us of the vital role we play in ensuring that no one goes hungry in our communities.
Over this last year, 151,191 children, older adults, and families turned to the Great Plains Food Bank and our network of partner food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens for food assistance. That is one in five individuals and one in four children who sought assistance because they didn’t know where their next meal would come from. This struggle goes beyond a lack of food; it’s about those difficult choices surrounded by stress and uncertainty that no one should have to face.
The Great Plains Food Bank continues to support our neighbors by distributing nearly 16 million pounds of food—equating to over 13.5 million meals. In 2024, programs like the kitchen coalition expanded to five communities and served nearly 40,000 pre-made meals, the mobile food pantry delivered over 739,000 pounds of food into rural areas, and nearly 5,300 children were served through our youth summer meals program. These are all testaments to our commitment to meet the rising need in our region.
Looking ahead, our team is dedicated to addressing both immediate needs and the root causes of hunger. We are taking the next steps with our Harvesting Hope campaign focused on building essential infrastructure to meet our neighbors’ needs with dignity and compassion, expanding the reach of and implementing new innovative direct service programs, and sustaining our work long-term by investing in our endowment fund. We are committed to transforming hunger relief to make certain that neighbors are nourished, communities are strong, and systems ensure no one is left behind. We can’t wait to share more details and invite you to join us.
We are proud of what we have accomplished together, and we know none of this would be possible without you. You are part of a movement that seeks to end hunger and bring hope to those who need it most. Thank you for your unwavering support, your compassion, and your belief in a future where everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.
For we will only end hunger, together.
Sincerely,
MELISSA SOBOLIK
Great Plain Food Bank
CEO
JASPER SCHNEIDER
Great Plains Food Bank Chair, Board of Directors
2024 BY THE NUMBERS
2024: FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT
| PUBLIC SUPPORT & REVENUE | FY24 | FY23 |
|---|---|---|
|
Private Contributions |
$5,238,796 |
$5,965,912 |
|
Government Contracts and Grants
|
$2,240,811 |
$1,457,355 |
|
United Way and Private Grants
|
$1,001,849 |
$1,398,737 |
|
Program Revenue |
$958,277 |
$1,283,094 |
|
Investments and Other Income |
$516,363 |
$323,947 |
|
USDA Commodity Food Value
|
$7,444,402 |
$3,960,956 |
|
Donated Food Value |
$18,685,364 |
$15,201,747 |
|
TOTAL PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE |
$36,085,862 |
$29,591,748 |
| EXPENSES | FY24 | FY23 |
|---|---|---|
|
Programs and Services
|
$34,291,742 |
$25,729,781 |
|
Fund Development
|
$1,206,087 |
$1,133,949 |
|
Management and General |
$521,297 |
$468,612 |
|
TOTAL EXPENSES |
$36,019,126 |
$27,332,342 |
| CHANGE IN NET ASSETS | $66,736 | $2,259,406 |
|---|---|---|
|
Net Assets at Beginning of Year
|
$15,689,190 |
$13,429,784 |
|
Net Assets at End of Year |
$15,755,926 |
$15,689,190 |
SOURCES OF FUNDING
53% Private Contributions
22% Government Contracts & Grants
10% United Way & Private Grants
10% Program Revenue
5% Investments & Other Income
EXPENSES*
95% Programs & Services
3.5% Fund Development
1.5% Administrative & General
*Includes the value of donated food distributed of $28,617,042.
Great Plains Food Bank’s auditors have expressed an unmodified opinion on our financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. 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.