ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS AND EQUITY ASSESSMENT

To: Bryan Moran, Plentiful Director of DevOps

From: Dan Mao, Researcher as NYU Center of Urban Science + Progress

Re: Data-Driven Programs to Improve Service and Grow New York City User Base at Plentiful

Date: November 12, 2021

Dear Mr. Moran and Stakeholders at Plentiful,

The purpose of this memo is to propose a data-driven program that Plentiful could adopt to reach out hidden poor who are struggling with food insecurity and to plan resources within New York City dynamically.

Challenge I: Surging Cost of Living and Inflation

According to the United Way of New York City's 2021 annual report, more than one out of three New York City Households do not have adequate income to cover each household member's basic needs. At the same time, many of these hidden poor are neither receiving cash assistance (TANF) nor participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formally food stamps) because their income is higher than the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The disparity between the Federal Poverty Guidelines and the actual income it takes to be self-sufficient creates a group of New Yorkers, who are "forced to choose between which basic needs to meet." The situation continues to worsen as the year-to-year CPI rose by 6% in November. The cost of living has been rising faster than income at an incredible rate, and the disparity is expanding every month.

Challenge II: Multiple Social Disadvantages

Economic fluctuation is not the only challenge. The problem of inadequate income spread disproportionally by geography, ethnicity, citizenship, and language proficiency. It concentrates on groups with multiple disadvantages. For example, people of color and single mother households have the highest rate of financial inadequacy. When 49% of single white mothers and 20% of single white fathers are below the self-sufficient standard, 70%-80% of non-white single mothers struggle below the same standard. Statistics reveal how social disadvantages connects and amplify one's financial inadequacy.

Where do people who are affected by high inflation live? Are they aware of the resources and support at food pantries? Does the situation deteriorate in some marginalized communities? Is the demographic information from the past year accurate enough to make decisions for food allocation this month? Unfortunately, annual analysis reports at non-profit organizations cannot answer these rising questions with annual analysis reports. The old analysis framework used to allocate food and support is insufficient to cope with ongoing economic fluctuations and demographic changes in this rapidly changing city.

Plentiful: Bring Innovation to NYC with Data-Driven Decisions

However, the situation can improve with Plentiful. As "a free, mobile reservation tool" which connects food pantries and households in need, Plentiful could extend its functionality to enhance the food resources allocation and reach out to potential users with a few accessible data-driven programs. The program breaks into two enhancements: 1. a data collection and modeling pipeline which could increase user-level observation and focus on marginalized communities with multiple disadvantages 2. an SMS advertisement which informs food resources and support from Plentiful for people who surging prices might hit.

The cost and benefit of the program are shown below with a SWOT analysis.

Data Driven Programs
Strengths A unified approach to data collection: Plentiful will have an updated data pipeline with accurate user-level data Make Data-driven Decisions: Ability to estimate the distribution of food needs at a community level and plan the location of mobile markets Expand User Base: Plentiful will identify new customers and provide SMS to specific groups in need by analyzing the user groups and user scenarios.	Weaknesses Lack of funding: Compared to an urgent food shortage, convincing donors and stakeholders to invest in the long-term program at this time, even a tiny portion, would take effort.
Opportunities Expansion in Other Cities: Plentiful is planning to expand national-wide as addressed in its Request for Proposal this year. The same data pipeline could evolve into an accessible framework, supporting operations in other cities. Distinction from other non-profits: become the first non-profit that manages to resolve data barriers in New York City	Threats Disclosure control: If enhancements disclose user information, it will hit hard on the reputation of Plentiful and the connection with its user base.

In conclusion, the program could prepare food pantries to better respond to economic fluctuations and demographic changes. It aligns with the core value and prospect of Plentiful and can be built based on the current functionality of the platform.