Data and Research

The Research and Data Team leads a portfolio of projects designed to spur innovation and build collaborative potential for our food banks and partners from a variety of sectors including health care, education, and social services.

Young boy eating a s'more

The team also manages a variety of data initiatives and projects designed to improve our understanding of the nature of food insecurity and assess the impact of the resources our network provides to Michiganders.

The team’s grant-funded research projects are purposefully identified, designed, and implemented to align with FBCM’s mission and strategic plan. The team monitors trends in local, state, and national food and nutrition research and conducts its own data collection, aggregation, and analysis where needed to provide reports and other products to our members. The team also provides direct services to members, including serving as a point of entry for food bank network and food insecurity-related data requests. Finally, the team supports member food banks in their own data initiatives, including support for the use of digital tools and platforms for data collection, analysis, and visualization.  

For more information, contact Dr. Dawn Opel, Chief Innovation Officer and General Counsel, at dopel@fbcmich.org.

The Self-Sufficiency Standard

The Self-Sufficiency Standard, prepared by the University of Washington, determines the budget needed for 719 family styles, in each county in Michigan, to be independent.