Following a long and successful career, All Faiths Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank announced today that she plans to retire by the end of 2023. In her 11 years at All Faiths, Frank has led the organization to boldly rethink and re-envision the food bank to ensure that ending hunger extends beyond the traditional “food in – food out” model and targets underlying causes to end hunger before it begins. Working alongside the Board of Directors and senior leadership team, she launched a new mission and rebranding of the organization in 2018.
In partnership with visionary funders, she helped create the foundation for All Faiths’ exemplary fundraising program, including the Campaign Against Summer Hunger, which provides food to students and their siblings during the summer months when schools are closed. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Campaign, which has raised over $14 million and feeds more than 35,000 children every summer.
“The Campaign Against Summer Hunger is one of my proudest organizational achievements as CEO,” said Frank.
She has directed All Faiths with intense focus and determination throughout a global pandemic, devastating hurricanes, and record levels of need. [See below for further achievements.] Frank’s leadership has earned All Faiths Food Bank national and local recognition as a pioneer and model in the program areas of hunger and health, evaluation, and rural hunger.
The organization’s executive committee has begun the process of interviewing executive search firms to recruit qualified and experienced candidates; the search committee will be headed by former food bank chair, Benjamin Hanan. Frank will remain CEO through the recruitment process and transition, and will consult as needed.
Hanan expects to announce the hiring of the recruitment firm and the launch of a national search within the next month.
“The transition has been well-planned,” said Hanan. “Our goal is to find a CEO who will continue to inspire program growth and advance our vision for ending hunger. In partnership with our committed board and senior leadership team, we will ensure that the new CEO enhances the food bank’s impact, reputation, assets, and visibility.”
“We do not take for granted the trust that the community has in us, the result of decades of effective service, fiscal responsibility, and compassion for our neighbors,” added board chair Terri Vitale. “Through Sandra’s dynamic, thoughtful leadership, the food bank has never been stronger. We are committed to continuing the organization’s legacy of success and working together to achieve its goal of ending hunger – forever.”
While Frank has been considering retirement since 2020, a triple-header of crises – the pandemic, the resulting economic impacts, and Hurricane Ian – caused her to pause her plans. In late 2022, with strong professional and volunteer leadership in place and the organization’s new strategic plan being implemented, she decided it was time to begin preparing for her next chapter.
“For the past 11 years, it has been my great honor and privilege to lead this incredible organization, and the decision to step down is not one I’ve taken lightly,” said Frank. “My top priority is to make sure that All Faiths Food Bank and its new leader are set up for success. We have built an expert and dedicated board and an outstanding senior leadership team; our new strategic plan provides the road map that will guide the organization to continued growth and effective, compassionate service to the community.”
To learn more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.
About All Faiths Food Bank
All Faiths Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties, providing millions of meals each year in collaboration with nearly 200 agencies and programs throughout the community. All Faiths works not only to end hunger today but also strives to end hunger – forever – by helping families and individuals gain long-term food security, enjoy better health outcomes, and achieve self-sufficiency. All Faiths is rated 4 stars by Charity Navigator and is a member of the Feeding America and Feeding Florida networks. For more information visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.
ADDITIONAL NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Over her tenure, revenues have increased by 360% and the organization has provided enough food for more than 111,175,000 meals.
• Along with generous donors and a committed board and leadership team, directed the expansion of the Sarasota campus and championed the purchase of adjoining property to accommodate significant facility growth over the next five years.
• Together with donors, opened the DeSoto County Food and Resource Center, a national model for addressing hunger and providing social services in rural communities; based on the pilot’s success and substantiated by assessments, the facility and services are expanding in 2023.
• With guidance from Feeding America, Frank set All Faiths apart by being one of the early food banks to initiate program assessment and evaluation.
• Faced with historic demand during the pandemic and supported by a generous community, Frank led a heroic All Faiths team to immediately redesign and pivot the logistics to dramatically increase food distribution.