Veteran nonprofit food bank leader Annam Manthiram has been appointed the new chief external affairs officer of The North Texas Food Bank.
Manthiram will oversee NTFB’s external engagement strategy, guiding philanthropy, marketing and communications, volunteer engagement, and public policy initiatives. The food bank said her leadership also will encompass individual giving, corporate and foundation support, brand and messaging strategies, and board and advisory council relations.
“We’re thrilled to welcome someone of Annam’s caliber to the North Texas Food Bank,” President and CEO Trisha Cunningham said in a statement. “Her extensive experience in strategic planning, fundraising, communications, and nonprofit leadership—combined with her deep commitment to social impact—will be instrumental as we collaborate with community partners to fight hunger in North Texas. Annam’s background in wrap-around services also aligns closely with the goals of our new strategic plan, helping us expand our impact even further.”
The food bank said that Manthiram brings extensive nonprofit experience focused on addressing the needs of unhoused and food-insecure communities.
‘Closing the hunger gap in North Texas’
Previously, Manthiram was CEO of CitySquare, a Dallas-based nonprofit and former NTFB partner agency dedicated to combating poverty through various programs and services. Under her leadership, CitySquare transitioned its programs to partner organizations in late 2024 amid funding challenges, ensuring continuity of care for those served.
Earlier, she was CEO of HopeWorks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, through the COVID-19 crisis, helping to successfully operate and sustain Hope Village—the first single-site housing project in New Mexico for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
“I am honored to join the North Texas Food Bank and support its mission in closing the hunger gap in North Texas,” Manthiram said in a statement. “Food is a basic human right, and I’m deeply inspired by NTFB’s commitment to addressing hunger with compassion, innovation, and collaboration. I look forward to working alongside this dedicated team and our community partners to help create lasting solutions to food insecurity.”
Erica Yaeger will be stepping down from her role after seven years as the food bank’s chief external affairs officer during a transformative period in the organization’s history. To ensure a smooth transition, she will continue with NTFB to close out the Nourish North Texas strategic plan and onboard Manthiram.
“As demand for food assistance continues to remain high, and with decreasing federal support for the programs that help food banks meet this need, Annam’s leadership will be vital in advancing our mission,” Cunningham said in a statement. “She will play a key role in helping NTFB advocate for stronger local, state, and federal support.”
The North Texas Food Bank fights hunger and provides children, seniors, and families in North Texas access to nutritious food. For more than 40 years, it has been at the forefront of hunger relief, committed to ensuring that no one in our community lacks access to healthy food.
Its network of 500 food pantries and organizations, volunteers, and donors powers the delivery of more than 100 million nutritious meals annually to those in need.
Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.
Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.
R E A D N E X T
-
Combining cutting-edge research and real-world applications, the UT Dallas professor transforms public health with innovations in detection technology, including “a check engine light” for the human body. In collaboration with EnLiSense, the company she cofounded, Dr. Prasad combines chemistry with software and hardware to bring the technology to life as market-ready devices.
-
Anne Readhimer will oversee several critical areas, including the SNAP and Social Services Assistance team, NTFB programs such as the Food 4 Kids backpack initiative, the Senior Meal program, Nutrition and Garden Education, and the Community Partner Relations team.
-
The North Texas Food Bank and DoorDash teamed up to deliver meals to area seniors, leveraging the gig economy for more than just takeout. The innovative partnership is tackling food insecurity with 1.3 million meals delivered to date.
-
In celebration of Dallas Arts Month, Communities Foundation of Texas is presenting North Texas Gives to the Arts, a fundraising campaign that lives on the NorthTexasGivingDay.org platform. The campaign—which runs through April 30—includes $100,000 in total matching funds from The Giana Foundation Fund, the Robert B. and Virginia Payne Fund for Arts & Culture, and CFT.
-
The Texas Research Alliance helps businesses, public agencies, and governments engage with North Texas’ robust higher education research infrastructure to advance a wide range of goals. And yes, that includes mobility—which is why the TRA developed the North Texas Center for Mobility Technologies, a collaboration among industry, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, UNT, UTA, SMU, and UTD to develop advanced mobility technologies in North Texas.
