Food for Thought: An Interview With Emelie Irving, Executive Director, Southeast Texas Food Bank

In 2004, when Irving realized the organization desperately needed to start active fundraising, it took a Herculean effort for her to convince board members that spending money to make money was the way to go. They just didn't get it, thinking mainly that asking for donations would offend people and reflect badly on the organization. Then, of course, there was the cost. Board members were terrified that not only would the organization lose money, but that the food bank wouldn't even recoup its losses.