Join the Montgomery County Food Council

The Food Council is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Food Council Member Program.

The Food Council annually selects candidates to serve two-year terms on the 25-Member Montgomery County Food Council and/or its 9-Member Board of Directors.

  • Food Council Members serve in a volunteer capacity to guide our Working Groups, Policy Committee, and Equity Impact Committee serving as subject-matter experts and representatives of the Food Council’s work in the community.
  • The Board of Directors governs the overall affairs of the Council as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with a focus on the mission, values, objectives, achievement of goals, and efficient use of resources.
  • A select number of Food Council Members simultaneously serve on both the Council and the Board to foster connectivity between the two groups.
  • Candidates are invited to express interest in serving on the Council, the Board, or both.

Ideal Food Council and Board of Directors candidates live, work, or have a strong investment in Montgomery County and have the capacity to bring specific expertise, community relationships, and/or resources to support our initiatives.

Food Council Members also bring expertise in local food-related issues and represent a food system sector or community stakeholder partner.

The Food Council is committed to building a Council that reflects the diverse population of Montgomery County’s communities and encourages applications from people of color and members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

The Food Council is firmly committed to a policy against discrimination based on age, sex, race, religious creed, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnic or national origin.

 

CLICK THIS LINK TO APPLY BY SEPTEMBER 3, 2025

We seek Board and Food Council candidates who meet the following criteria:
  • Committed to improving the Montgomery County food system.
  • Live, work, or have a strong interest/investment in Montgomery County.
  • Capacity to bring specific food system or community relationships, expertise, and resources to the effort, as well as potential to represent diverse sectors of the local food system and/or the community at large.

Food Council Members:

  • Have expertise in one or more local food-related issues such as agriculture, food security and access, nutrition, food business and industrial practices, food education and research, reducing food waste and advancing composting, land use and urban food production and distribution.
  • Represent:
    • A food system sector: production, processing, distribution, consumption, waste management, AND/OR
    • a community stakeholder partner: business, local governance, community organizations, health or educational organizations, environmental organizations, rural and regional organizations
  • Develop collaborative solutions to community problems and be open to diverse ideas and opinions.
  • Actively participate in at least one working group or internal committee of the Food Council.
  • Attend an Orientation meeting and the annual Food Council Retreat.
  • Commit to a two-year term requiring attendance at 75% of all Food Council Meetings, including bi-monthly Internal Council meetings and monthly Working Group or committee meetings.
Board of Directors Members:
  • Actively participate on a board and/or council committee: Executive, Development and Communications, Nominating, or Policy and service on ad-hoc committees as necessary. Committees of the board meet an average of 6-12 times per year.
  • Attend bi-monthly Board of Directors meetings and an annual Council retreat.
  • Attend a minimum of one working group and two special events per year.
  • Board Responsibilities include:
    • Formulation and oversight of policies and procedures.
    • Financial management, including adoption and oversight of the annual budget.
    • Outreach and promotion of the organization.
    • Fundraising; For every year served on the Montgomery County Food Council, each board of directors member shall contribute a personal, tax-deductible, charitable donation, of any amount, to demonstrate support for the mission and the work of the Council.
    • Organizational leadership and advisement
    • Safeguard the Council’s mission and ensure the stability of the organization.

Upcoming Events

Aug 6

Maryland Food System Resiliency Council Meeting

The Maryland Food System Resiliency Council (FSRC) holds a public bi-weekly meeting with the Communication & Coordination Committee to monitor and discuss food systems bills during the 2026 Maryland General Assembly Session.

Learn more

Aug 25

SNAP Work Group

The SNAP Work Group includes organizations that provide nutrition benefits enrollment assistance to residents, the Montgomery County Office of Eligibility and Support Services, and other groups that serve residents with low-income.

Learn more

Sep 14

September Food Security Community Call

The Food Council’s Food Security Calls are designed for learning, information-sharing and network building.

Learn more

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