Looking to become more neighbor-centered, but don’t want to start from scratch?
Let us help you reach your goals faster with our neighbor-centered services. We partner with food banks across the country to create customized plans for meeting the diverse needs of neighbors.
What does a partnership with us look like?
We desire to honor each neighbor’s time
Each neighbor’s time is valuable, we take every opportunity to use information they give us to improve your offerings.
We include your network of partners in the process
The SWIM Network Assessment© is a tool completed by over 1,000 agencies from 6 food banks that provides insights into the readiness and willingness of agencies to implement neighbor centered practices.
We work with you vs. handing you a cookie-cutter product
You will be involved every step of the way to align neighbor needs and your organizational plans and strategies.
When we can't be onsite with you, we prioritize regular touch-base meetings to ensure we stay on track and aware of any changes at your food bank.
Avoid missing an opportunity to put your neighbors and network at the center of your plans with SWIM.
How we collaborate with food banks, like you!
Neighbor Engagements
We believe in starting with neighbors. We gather input from neighbors through focus groups and surveys. Together, we’ll develop new ways of using the information we collect daily from neighbors to increase equitable access, help answer critical questions, and activate change.
Service Area Assessment
The SWIM team reviews data from: the Census and American Community Survey (ACS), Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap, state and local governments, the food bank, and its network partners in your Service Area.
We identify areas with the highest levels of food insecurity, assess geographic and racial/ethnic disparities, and pinpoint counties where food distribution is disproportionately low.
Creating a full picture of how to support neighbors with our SWIM Network Assessment©.
Driven by neighbor voice and service area assessment. Customized from needs identified in neighbor engagements. Our tested SWIM Network Assessment provides insight into the readiness and willingness of agencies to implement neighbor-centered practices.
Operational Plan
Our team works closely with your team and other stakeholders to create a Food Bank Network Operation Plan. The plan combines insights from the SWIM Network Assessment©, Service Area Assessment, Neighbor Engagements, and optional Program Evaluation.
Research & Evaluation
Our team analyzes available data and then fills the gaps with custom assessments and vigorous research to help you understand your network and develop strategies that can move from data to action.
Share with your leadership team how our offerings
help you reach Feeding America’s new requirements.
Agency Cohorts
Our team partners with you to launch a cohort with your network. From background support to co-facilitator, our level of involvement is determined by you.
Planning & Strategy
Our trusted process creates strategic clarity for your future goals. Together, we brainstorm, discover, and explore; then we sort, refine, narrow, and finally—choose.
Since SWIM’s founding, we are proud that food security has been one of our core issues.
Ready to get started?
Schedule a free consultation.