ORGANIZATION: Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN)
WEBSITE: Foundation for Essential Needs | Reshaping the Minnesota Hunger Relief Sector
MISSION STATEMENT: FFEN supports food shelves to optimize operations and effectively serve each community, building a more connected and equitable hunger relief system.
ORGANIZATION’S CHALLENGE:
As a technical assistance provider to food shelves across Minnesota, FFEN would like to create a searchable platform for food shelf leaders allowing them to identify and connect with peers. Right now, FFEN facilitates these introductions (in addition to their programming), but find it difficult to manage because leaders know their needs best and it’s time-consuming to vet possibilities. In this project, FFEN is looking for tech support to create a roadmap for platform implementation, which includes reviewing and identifying the best tech solution, determining associated costs and outlining actionable steps toward this goal.
FFEN wants their searchable database to be a simple user experience and accessible on any type of device. They’d like users to be able to search for peers using criteria that interest them such as service size, geographic location and other shared characteristics. From there, the user would be able to generate a list of food shelf leaders that match the selected criteria. FFEN sees food shelf leaders opting into this system by creating a profile about themselves and their organization. With this information, they’d like leaders to be able to easily contact one another and share resources. As the administrators of this system, FFEN would like the ability to ask questions in this group and offer a way for users to subscribe to topics of interest. They’re also interested in monitoring engagement and tracking impact. Although it’s difficult to anticipate the number of potential users, there are about 450 food shelves across Minnesota and FFEN’s quarterly newsletter goes to about 600 food shelf leaders, food bank staff, and others engaged in the hunger relief network. FFEN isn’t sure if any of their current tech systems would be compatible for hosting this platform but currently use Tableau for creating food sourcing reports, WordPress for hosting their website, and Amazon Web Services as a cloud-based database. As of now, there’s no money budgeted for this platform, but FFEN feels with more knowledge on the options, they could obtain funding. With these priorities in mind, FFEN is eager to partner with tech experts to consider plausible platforms, budget implications and next steps.
With a searchable platform in place, FFEN can empower food shelf leaders to build connections with peers and further support this community.
POTENTIAL DELIVERABLE(S):
• Searchable platform tech solution
• Road map for implementation
REQUESTED VOLUNTEER SKILL SETS: Solution Architecture, User Design Experience (UX)
This spot is for the Project Lead Role - Project Leads help facilitate the meetings, guiding the team through the agendas, keeping folks on task and conversation flowing, inclusive of all voices. Project leads do not need to have expertise in all aspects of the challenge but rather have strong leadership and facilitation skills. They will also help schedule the scoping call.
