Decision Brief
Riverside Family Services, Board of Directors
The challenge
Which one focus should we fully resource next year to serve the most families well? Our budget is flat, but demand is up. We can fully resource one new focus, not three.
The decision
Direct food access.
Why we chose it
Direct food access scored highest for impact on families and speed to launch, and it drew the clearest agreement in the room. Within it, the idea of a mobile pantry had the most energy, so we will run a second PriorityLab session to develop creative solutions for direct food access.
What we considered
The group's ideas were organized into three themes, then weighed together.
Direct food access
ChosenExpand weekend meals, launch a mobile pantry, add grab-and-go pickup, open a second distribution site, extend pantry hours.
Strengths: highest impact for families, fastest to launch. Watch-outs: some options need added volunteer capacity.
Wraparound support
Hire a part-time case worker, add benefits enrollment help, offer job-readiness workshops, partner with a mental health provider.
Strengths: deep, lasting impact per family. Watch-outs: higher cost, slower to stand up, stretches current staff.
Expand reach through partnerships
Partner with the school district, grow volunteer training, co-locate with a clinic, build a referral network.
Strengths: extends reach at low direct cost. Watch-outs: impact depends on partners, and a longer timeline.
How we weighed it
The board scored the three themes against impact on families, cost to run, staff capacity, and speed to launch, then voted in two rounds. Direct food access rose to the top: strong impact, quick to start, and the clearest agreement across the group.
Who shaped this decision
Staff and partner leads contributed the ideas from the ground. Seven board members weighed the options and recorded the ranking. The board chair made the final call. Everyone who shaped it can see how it came together.
Stakeholders informed. The board deliberated. The chair decided.
Next steps
- Executive director to share this brief with the full team and frame the second session.
- Program lead to pull current pantry and meal data: families reached, cost per family, volunteer hours.
- Confirm who contributes to the second session, including frontline staff and key partners.
- Schedule the second PriorityLab session, focused on creative solutions for direct food access.

