At the Regional Food Bank, data is much more than numbers on a dashboard—it’s a critical tool that helps us get food to the people who need it most, when and where they need it. By combining internal data like agency order history, with external data like Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap, we can identify underserved geographies and populations and ensure our resources are distributed as equitably as possible. This data-driven approach allows us to target communities with the greatest unmet need.

[This is a map created in Maptitude that shows the number of neighbors experiencing Food Insecurity at the census block level (Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap, 2023). The squiggly shapes around our Thanksgiving distribution sites shown here estimate a 20-minute drive time to the site.]

Analytics also play a key role in reducing waste and maximizing the impact of every donated pound. Our business intelligence dashboards track inventory levels, expiration dates, and demand so we can move food quickly and minimize spoilage. Historical data helps us plan smarter, ensuring food flows efficiently from donors to partner agencies.

[We are developing new dashboards using Power BI to allow us to analyze trends in real time. In this dashboard, we can see year over year donations by source.]

Data also supports accountability and long-term planning. We produce metrics for grant reporting and fundraising, model scenarios, analyze our distributions, and evaluate outcomes across initiatives. Most importantly, real-time executive dashboards allow leadership to make faster, more confident decisions, ensuring we remain responsive as community needs evolve.