Under Trisha Cunningham’s leadership, North Texas Food Bank just completed a three-year $500 million campaign called Nourish North Texas that included $150 million in funds, $300 million of donated food, and initial funding for an endowment with a $50 million target. “While still operating at a deficit because needs are higher than projected, we’ve met our goals,” she says.
Over the last six years, Cunningham and the team at the North Texas Food Bank have doubled annual access to meals from 69 million to 144 million while headcount increased only 15 percent, exceeding the 2025 goal of serving 92 million meals five years ahead of schedule. The nonprofit also increased annual operations from $129 million to $206 million and expanded its network of feeding partners from more than 200 to more than 500. Finally, Cunningham has grown operations capacity from 85,000 square feet to 230,000 square feet when the team opened the food banks’ new distribution and warehouse operations.
Birthplace: Murray, Kentucky
Education: Murray State University (BS)
First Job: “I mowed my grandmother’s yard. I didn’t get paid much but it was a great feeling to know I could do something that would help someone else when they needed it.”
Best Advice: “Someone once told me to think twice before turning down an opportunity. It’s OK to say ‘no’ but know that they may not come to you next time there is a chance to expand your scope”
Dinner Party: “I always like to learn about peoples ‘why’ and what they want to be their legacy. I have read Cynt Marshall’s book and would love to ask more about her journey as well as her evolving work with equity. While I have enjoyed dinner with her before, I love to listen and learn from Lyda Hill. She is also a lover of technology and making our community better through her investments.”
Destinations of Choice: “We love European River cruises. The smaller format is more personal from the service to getting to know the other passengers. And, you get to visit some wonderful historic places while staying in your floating hotel.”
Industry Change: “I would want more collaboration. In corporations, there is more competition but in nonprofits, we need to work together better to solve the tough problems. We have so many wonderful nonprofits that offer so many services our neighbors need but don’t know how to access. This takes a broader strategic alignment and resources beyond the core mission of any one organization but that is how we will truly lift up our community.”
Local Fare: “We have so many in the area and of course, I love all the restaurants that support our North Texas Food Bank events (including DFW Restaurant Week). My husband and I have followed French chef Gregory Moreaux for several years with his various restaurants (i.e. Gregory’s Bistro). He sold his public restaurants but now he and his wife Lydia focus on private chef’s table dinners. They do delicious 16-person dinners a few weekends a month in their home (and will do private chef events as well). Gregory has gotten my husband to try food he would have never eaten. I’ve never had anything bad but the chateaubriand, cassoulet, and lamb are some favorites.”
Guilty Pleasure: “I do enjoy a nice glass of wine and visiting wineries to hear their stories. My present to myself during the pandemic was a dual-zone wine cooler.”
Fun Fact: “I have a food intolerance to cilantro. Yes, that’s hard in Texas since Mexican is one of my four food groups. I can eat good salsa (without cilantro) like gazpacho. I have to choose my Mexican restaurants based on cilantro-free salsa.”
Go-to Adviser: “Lana Porter has been a professional and personal mentor for several years. We met as board members of Leadership Women, an international development program, but discovered we were both alums from Murray State University—just 14 years ahead of me. She was a women’s executive pioneer in technology and a successful entrepreneur. She will ask tough questions, is a confidant, and is one of my biggest encouragers. We all need people like Lana in our lives.”
First Car: “I drove a 1976 blue Buick Regal. My dad wanted me to drive a bigger car for safety reasons. I did hydroplane and went off a steep ditch and took out a fence row after I got it, so I think he had sound thinking.”
Pivotal Moment: “Two years ago, my mother got ill and realized she couldn’t live in Kentucky by herself. Therefore, I moved her near me to an independent living facility. This was a huge change for her and me as we navigated several health and cognitive challenges. With the help of some great technology solutions (Alexa reminders, an automated medicine dispenser, cameras, and more) I am trying to help her live independently in a safe environment for as long as possible. It takes quite a bit of extra time each week, but to be able to help her gives me greater satisfaction than wondering if she is OK.”
Must-read: “Give and Take by Adam Grant has always been a favorite as it correlates success and human behavior. Are you a giver, taker, or matcher? Successful givers put others first most of the time but balance that with their own interests. Their generosity forms relationships that open doors, they are collaborators and trusted.”
Spirit Animal: “Since I was a little girl, I have loved cats. They are independent, self-sufficient (can leave them for a long weekend easily), a little spicy, and can climb to great heights. Plus, they equalize you. You’re their human. They offer love and affection as long as you treat them right.”
Alternate Reality: “I spent 30 years at a global technology company, served on nonprofit boards for 20 years, and am now leading a major nonprofit (which I’m not planning to leave any time soon)—which is my ‘next profession.’ The only other thing I might explore at this point is corporate boards if my skills and interests aligned.”
Embarrassing Moment: “Most embarrassing would be when a male co-worker noticed my skirt wasn’t pulled down all the way when leaving the ladies’ room. God bless him for being brave enough to tell me that ‘I think something is not right back there!'”
Key Strategies: “I often speak to groups about being BOLD. In a nutshell, you have to believe in yourself/your team, be open to opportunities, lead (and know when to be Led), and deliver/differentiate.”
Future Forecast: “There is so much opportunity to continue to work on not only feeding those who are hungry but partnering with organizations that can help reduce food insecurity through their services. For example, one of the main reasons students drop out of Dallas College is they need to work to buy food. Knowing education is key to long-term financial stability, we are partnering on several programs to try to help students stay in school.”
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