Our mission is driven by so many hunger fighters – our staff, our partners, our supporters and donors, our legislative advocates, and, of course, our Board of Directors. This is why we’re so excited to announce that Jill Steele is our incoming Board Chair.
Prior to being appointed Board Chair, Jill has already made an incredible impact as a board member at The Food Bank. Jill first served on the board from 2012 – 2018, then a second term in Oct. 2020 as the Strategic Planning Chair, where she oversaw the Strategic Planning Committee – the team that recently unveiled the Food Bank’s three-year strategic plan. She has also served as a member of the Development Committee, where she gave invaluable feedback on fundraising and marketing.
When asked about her vision as Board Chair, Steele highlights the strategic plan and her desire to “implement our strategic plan to empower the 260+ agencies we work with, improve health outcomes through even more nutritious food, and better leverage data and technology to enhance our efficiency”.
Jill is also focused on promoting service and encouraging more volunteerism among the Board and within the community. She says, “The Food Bank not only serves as a steady safety net for the most vulnerable populations in our community, its work is critical during times of crisis, like rising food costs and wildfire season. This important work is why I am honored to serve as Board Chair. In a thriving community like the Bay Area, no one should go hungry, and everyone should have access to nutritious foods. The Food Bank does incredible work and I am proud to play a part in the efforts to execute our strategic plan – and fight food insecurity in our community.”
The strategic plan is a proactive, multi-pronged roadmap designed to significantly close the hunger gap in Contra Costa and Solano counties over the next three years. The execution of the plan is built on key priorities that will help achieve expanded capacity, positive health outcomes and systemic change.
On top of her commitment to the Food Bank mission, Jill brings her vast experience in leadership, strategy, and management. Currently, she is the Senior Vice President of Strategy and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) for the consulting firm Prophet in San Francisco, where she is responsible for leading long-term strategy, as well as leading the firm’s internal and external ESG efforts. She earned her BS in International Business, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgetown University, and completed the Harvard Business School Sustainable Business Strategy Certificate.
“Jill brings an incredible amount of experience, passion and knowledge to the Board. As an active and impactful member of the Board over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Jill on a number of board projects through some of the most challenging times in our history. As we continue to adapt to increased community needs, I’m confident that her leadership will help us continue expanding our services, and take us one step closer in delivering our mission to lead the fight to end hunger,” said Food Bank President and CEO Joel Sjostrom.
