ReFED – Kelly Donahoe – 2024

SummaryKelly developed a framework for development of a content curriculum and distribution model for the ReFED Business Services team.GoalsReFED is a nonprofit working to end food loss and waste by advancing data-driven solutions. ReFED Business Services team is searching for ways to better accelerate companies’ food waste reduction initiatives, action, and goal setting through more democratized one-to-many solutions. ReFED enlisted Kelly to help determine the appropriate audience and targeted development of pilot solutions based on the current barriers across the food sector.SolutionsKelly pinpointed a need to help food sector businesses earlier in their food waste journey and largely focused on engaging with those that have yet to make formal commitments to food waste reduction. While work with the USFWP and PCFWC has been instrumental to progress that has already been made, ReFED needs to engage with businesses and business professionals who need more foundational tools and skill sets to start thinking about food waste to truly scale change within the sector. To provide recommendations Kelly analyzed past stakeholder interviews conducted by the ReFED team as well as a consulting agency, conducted desk research on other non-profit learning offerings, and deployed a survey along with three qualitative interview follow-ups. Kelly developed a measurement approach for success both for the individual one-to-many pilot and solution as well as the next steps for three topics for content development of core sessions to be run as part of the pilot offering.Potential ImpactKelly’s project laid the groundwork for a successful pilot of one-to-many offering in the latter half of 2024 and for ReFED to increase its engagement with new businesses looking to start applying tools to food waste reduction as well as deepening impact and breadth of connections with businesses by reaching new functional audiences. Curriculum will help to expand the number of businesses that ReFED is engaged with and to help address common themes of barriers in the space: data and measurement, food policy and policy levers, and Technology and Tools.