NES JJ

What is Network Engagement Services (NES)?

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is committed to empowering partners in our diverse feeding network to achieve their missions of meeting urgent needs and creating lasting change in their communities. Through Network Engagement Services (NES), NTFB will collaborate with network partners and their staff to identify needs and offer targeted resources and trainings that will assist our partners in strengthening their fundraising, marketing, advocacy, and volunteer efforts.

Fundraising

Volunteerism

Marketing

Advocacy

Who should participate in NES?

Our services are geared toward agency staff in executive leadership, fundraising, marketing, advocacy, and volunteer management roles. NTFB will enhance collaboration, learning, and growth among partners through trainings, resources, in-person and virtual discussions, and toolkits/newsletters that will be distributed via email or our learning platform, Agency University. To learn more, watch the video below or keep scrolling.

Partner Volunteer Network

This is a group for anyone interested in learning and collaborating within our network about volunteer management (i.e. how to recruit and retain more volunteers). Our next meeting will be on April 4! You can register to join the network by clicking the button below. 

Interest Form

Advocacy and Government Relations

At NTFB, we have a lot of focus on advocacy and government relations, including two paid staff members who stay up to date on all food or hunger-related policies that may affect our service area. On April and May 3, we will be hosting a webinar with Congressional Management Foundation to explore advocacy and how it can be useful for your organization. Sign up for our April webinar here!

You can read more about our work by clicking the orange advocacy button above, or click the button below and sign up to receive our advocacy newsletter.

Advocacy Newsletter

Storytelling and Branding

Powerful storytelling captures the attention of your reader and can inspire giving. Storytelling can be especially important during the holidays and can assist you with making asks AND thanking your donors. Learn more about the importance of storytelling through our emerging coursework and craft your own story by downloading our toolkit on Agency University.

Agency University

Other Suggestions

If you have any suggestions for our team, please click the suggestions button or contact Kennedy Bower at kennedy.bower@ntfb.org.

Suggestions

Learning Opportunities with NES:

If you are interested in participating in any of the above, please contact NES Manager, Kennedy Bower, at kennedy.bower@ntfb.org for more information.

Learning Opportunities with Others:

Featured Webinars*

Other Helpful Links


*Webinars listed are offered by external parties and have not been endorsed or fully vetted by NTFB.

Agency Spotlight: Christian Community Action (CCA)

Cca Pantry

Christian Community Action (CCA) has been serving the Lewisville area since 1973 and became an NTFB partner in September 1990. In addition to its neighbor choice food pantry, the agency provides financial assistance, a Kids Eat Free summer feeding program, back to school backpack supplies, a Christmas Cheer gift program, a Golden Angels elderly program, GED/ESL classes, vocational skills, computer skills, financial literacy and job fairs. In its 30+ year partnership with the NTFB, CCA has always been willing to collaborate with the Food Bank. CCA hosts a flex hub for Denton County, has piloted many NTFB initiatives, such as our container pantry program, and Trent Smith, its Director of Operations, is an active member on our Partner Agency Council.

This year, CCA is working with NTFB on Network Engagement Services (NES) and serving as a pilot to craft a new strategic development plan for the organization. CCA has some significant goals for their upcoming 50th anniversary, including building out a new mid-level and major-level giving program, hiring at least two more development team members and increasing their overall fundraising by at least 10%. Its CEO, Gilbert Montez, and his team have offered to provide their honest feedback and influence to help the Food Bank evaluate this process to ensure we improve when working with other partners in the future.

We are so grateful that Christian Community Action is always willing to try new things in order to improve and to assist NTFB and our network partners. We are excited to be able to offer them this opportunity! Congratulations, CCA!