PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Nourish NY

Point Sur Consulting is well-equipped to help organizations manage large-scale grants from state or federal agencies.

The Nourish NY program was proof positive that Point Sur could manage a grant of any size. Over 7 rounds of funding, $100 million of state funds being managed, several successful audits, and hundreds of agencies served, you can rest assured that Point Sur can handle any sized project put in our hands. Read on to learn more about our engagement in the grant.

$100M

STATE FUNDS MANAGED

100+

FOOD BANKS & PANTRIES SERVED

1.25M

POUNDS OF FOOD SECURED

7

ROUNDS OF FUNDING

Overview: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York State launched the Nourish NY initiative to address two pressing issues: food insecurity and the economic struggles facing local farmers. The Food Bank for New York City, one of the largest food distribution organizations in the state, was a key player in ensuring the success of this program.

Point Sur Consulting was selected to provide fiscal and program management expertise, with our team spearheading the operations necessary for a smooth execution of the program. We played a critical role in facilitating partnerships between food pantries, subsidiary food banks, and New York State farms.

Key Accomplishments:

  • Efficient Reimbursement System - processed millions of dollars in reimbursements across multiple agencies without delay, allowing them to maintain steady food distribution throughout the pandemic

  • Tailored Support for Partners - segmented partners into three categories based on their administrative capacity, we were able to provide the right level of oversight and support, ensuring accountability and proper fund usage

  • Operational Continuity for FBNYC - ensured that FBNYC’s warehouse and operations continued to function smoothly, by working as an extension of their internal team

Results:

  • Point Sur worked the project continuously for 3 years until it was wrapped into another program by the state.

  • Our client continued receiving funding rounds due to the ongoing success of the program’s operations.

  • We interfaced with several departments of the State of New York to improve efficiencies and correct flaws in the system, occasionally presenting to the Department of Agriculture leadership.

Challenges

Complex Reimbursement System: The program involved multiple food pantries and smaller food banks across the city. Each organization needed to purchase products directly from New York farms, and reimbursements required detailed tracking and accurate financial reporting.

High Volume of Transactions: With hundreds of partners and a tight timeline, the processing of reimbursements and fund allocations needed to be both timely and precise to avoid delays in food distribution.

Diverse Partner Needs: Nourish NY served a wide range of organizations, from large, well-established food banks to smaller agencies that required more direct oversight and guidance.

Coordination Across Partners: Many of the smaller food banks lacked the administrative infrastructure to handle complex financial reporting, making external support vital.

Our Approach

Point Sur Consulting’s approach included both fiscal management and program management to ensure smooth operation:

  1. Fiscal Management: As fiscal managers, we handled the processing of reimbursements for all participating agencies, ensuring compliance with Nourish NY guidelines. We worked closely with larger food banks to handle their reimbursements quickly and efficiently, while providing detailed oversight for smaller agencies that needed more hands-on support.

  2. Program Management: A dedicated program manager interfaced with partners across all categories to ensure funds were being spent according to program guidelines.

    • We coordinated FBNYC’s warehouse purchasing efforts, including selection of participating agencies based on a proprietary algorithm of agency health and operations.

    • We also managed the allocation of purchasing accounts for the greatest quantity of small food pantries (churches and neighborhood associations).

  3. Ongoing Oversight: Through regular check-ins and open communication, our program manager ensured that all partners stayed on track with spending, while also addressing any challenges they faced along the way.