Nonprofit strategy, food insecurity, food waste, donor engagement, and community building are at the heart of this episode of the Nonprofit Counsel Podcast. Host May Harris sits down with Tania Marino, Culinary Director at Gather and board member of the Golden Eagles, to explore how nonprofits can mobilize communities to fight hunger and waste.

Tania shares the history of Gather, one of the oldest social service agencies in the U.S., and how its programs—from mobile markets to rescued-food meal prep—are helping thousands of families access healthy, dignified meals each month. She also talks about building partnerships, creating volunteer-powered programs, and leading with creativity to solve food insecurity challenges.

Her journey from New Zealand farm life to international finance to nonprofit leadership is an inspiring reminder that the path to impact often weaves business, passion, and service together.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅ How Gather fights food insecurity with mobile markets, food rescue, and prepared meals
✅ Why reducing food waste also tackles climate challenges like methane gas
✅ How volunteers and partnerships power sustainable nonprofit programs
✅ Why collaboration and belief are essential for new nonprofit founders

Is your nonprofit ready to align investments, policies, and technology with your mission? Visit NonprofitCouncil.com to access strategies and tools to help you build sustainable impact and lead with confidence.

Key Timestamps

• 0:00 Opening thoughts on food waste and collaboration

• 0:42 Meet Tania Marino, Culinary Director of Gather and Golden Eagles board member

• 1:20 Supporting USA Rugby Sevens and lessons on culture-building

• 3:09   How culture drove the U.S. women’s rugby team to Olympic bronze

• 5:31 History of Gather: a 200-year-old food security nonprofit

• 7:21 The “Gus the Bus” mobile pantry and serving 60+ towns

• 10:23 Culinary programs: food rescue and meal preparation

• 11:47 Environmental impact: saving food from landfills, reducing methane

• 12:57 Who benefits most: seniors, single parents, unsheltered populations

• 13:27 Volunteers, chefs, and partnerships powering the kitchens

• 14:28   The Seacoast Waste Map coalition and partnerships with restaurants

• 16:29   Guidance for founders: trial, error, and community collaboration

• 19:57 Building community through partnerships and shared services

• 22:03 Tania’s journey: from New Zealand farm to international finance to nonprofit work

• 25:26 Gather’s women-led leadership team and culture of collaboration
  
  

Key Takeaways

🔹 Community-driven solutions like Gather’s Gus the Bus make food access more equitable
🔹 Rescuing food not only fights hunger but also reduces harmful methane emissions
🔹 Volunteers and partnerships are the backbone of sustainable nonprofit programs
🔹 Founders succeed when they combine vision with collaboration and persistence

Guest Bio

Tania Marino is the Culinary Director at Gather, a 200-year-old social service agency in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, dedicated to fighting hunger with dignity. She also serves on the board of the Golden Eagles, supporting U.S. Rugby Sevens. With a background in international finance and a lifelong passion for food, Tania now leads programs that rescue hundreds of thousands of pounds of food each year and transform them into meals for families, seniors, and individuals facing food insecurity.

Resources & Links

• For Profit Law Group - Website - https://www.fplglaw.com 

• Nonprofit Counsel - Website - https://www.nonprofitcounsel.com/ 

• Gather - Website - https://www.gathernh.org/  

• Tania Marino - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-marino-8562442a/
  
  

#NonprofitStrategy #FoodInsecurity #FoodWasteSolutions #DonorEngagement #CommunityBuilding #NonprofitLeadership