Meghan Steed Garvey Email and Phone Number

GrowGood, Inc. is a nonprofit employment social enterprise that uses urban agriculture as a vehicle for social change.GrowGood operates at 1.5 acre regenerative farm in Bell, CA, adjacent to The Salvation Army Bell Shelter, one of the largest homeless shelters in the United States.Our core programs include:(1) Food Distribution: On a weekly basis we donate produce to the neighboring Bell Shelter Kitchen, as well as weekly produce bags for Permanent Supportive Housing Residents. We also sell produce to our mission-aligned partners including markets who accept SNAP/EBT and restaurants who support our work through awareness campaigns. (2) Workforce Development: Our 300-hour Urban Agriculture Training Program is for individuals with multiple barriers to employment including homelessness/housing instability, justice-involvement, co-occurring disorders, and age. Through the program, individuals are able to select a career pathway, and gain more specialized skills and experience in specific areas such as: enterprise/sales, general operations, greenhouse, landscaping/gardening. (3) Wellness Programming: We have created a comprehensive wellness program, Food for Life, that uses the farm as a facilitator in healing. The nature-based mindfulness classes help individuals heal from the impacts of trauma, and reduce depression, anxiety, and anger. GrowGood has been recognized as one of L.A.’s most promising and innovative organizations affecting social change.

The mission of First Step Staffing (FSS) is to empower individuals on the path out of homelessness and poverty through employment. Founded in 2007, FSS has helped thousands of people experiencing homelessness, recently released from prison, and struggling veterans secure employment and earn the income necessary to sustain stable housing. FSS has locations throughout the US in: Atlanta (headquarters), Philadelphia, Orlando, Nashville, NJ, and Southern California.

Advise public agencies, nonprofits (startup, mid-size and large), foundations, and mission-driven businesses. Contract as a specialized consultant for nonprofit consulting firms.Functional areas of expertise: strategic and operational planning, fund development,public/private partnerships, board engagement, grant writing and grant management, and marketing & communications.Recent projects have included:* Developed a comprehensive communications and engagement plan for a small business looking to expand to new markets.* Provided guidance and interim support to an operating foundation as they underwent an organizational restructure. Managed the programs during the interim. Successfully recruited 2 full-time staff for the new structure. * Assisted the founder of a small operating foundation in establishing a strategic plan and identifying tangible goals and outcomes.* Consulted with a variety of nonprofits and consulting firms as a grant writer, researcher, and copy writer.

Grant writing, grant management, budget planning, operational support.

Fund Development and Strategy Specialist, and Grant Writer for HTA Clients. Built sustainable fund development and communication strategies for clients, which included: capital, individual, corporate, and private giving campaigns; customized marketing plans to increase brand awareness and maximize fund development efforts; engagement strategies, fundraising/volunteer events; targeted grant writing/research; and strategic evaluation systems to assess impact.

Director of Development overseeing all aspects of fund development: creation of Fund Development Strategic Plan, individual and institutional fundraising, corporate partnerships, other revenue streams, marketing & communications, events.

Responsible for partnership development with US-based organizations on behalf of global British Council programs in the areas of Arts, Education & Society, and English.Inaugural Executive Director of the Friends of British Council.

Created events and programs benefiting the city of San Francisco, including The San Francisco Marathon, The SF Marathon Training Program and Youth Run4Fun Running Program. Grew The San Francisco Marathon from 13,000 to 21,000 participants through marketing, media and public relations outreach.Developed a series of successful cause-related marketing programs including: * Development of The SF Marathon & Half Marathon Training Program* Launched the Youth Run4Fun Running Program to serve inner-city youth, and operated the program during its first year working with the SF Boys and Girls Club* Created Train for Free and Race for Free fundraising options to benefit Youth Run4Fun generating over $200,000 for YR4F and raised over $1 million for 15 other non-profit organizations affiliated with the race through Cause to Run* Started Green Initiative to “Green” the events; worked with other events to create industry and event certification standards; quoted in NY Times Article “Saving the Earth, One Road Race at a Time”* Partnered with two other California events to create the California Dreamin’ Racing Series* Created and implemented a loyalty program for repeat runners* Redesigned branding and marketing materials (logo, website, collateral, advertisements).

Major gifts fundraiser for Athletic Department; development marketing and outreach; fundraising events.

Fundraiser and alumni director for GWU Law School

Marketing Manager; created marketing schedule; assisted with sponsorship sales; managed sponsor relationships.