Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Furrh.
Hi Elizabeth, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey started as a volunteer at St. Patrick Catholic Church, where I found a passion for serving others through food and community. Over time, I became more involved in the church and eventually served on the board, gaining firsthand experience in nonprofit leadership and learning how much work goes into supporting a mission-driven organization. Along the way, I was often the person people called when they needed help feeding a group. Whether it was a community event, volunteer gathering, or nonprofit program, I loved bringing people together around a meal. As more organizations experienced my cooking, word began to spread, and other groups started reaching out and asking if I could help with their events as well. Through those experiences, I noticed a common challenge: many nonprofits were spending a significant portion of their budgets on food. Every dollar spent on meals was a dollar that couldn’t be invested in programming, scholarships or other critical services. That realization sparked the idea for Cooking for the Crowd. What started as a way to help a few organizations has grown into a nonprofit dedicated to helping other nonprofits do more with their resources. Since launching, we’ve served thousands of meals across North Texas and supported organizations serving youth, families, seniors, and vulnerable communities. Our goal has always been simple: provide high-quality, affordable meals so nonprofits can focus on changing lives. Today, Cooking for the Crowd is continuing to grow, and we’re exploring ways to scale our model so that communities beyond North Texas can benefit as well. Looking back, it’s amazing to see how a passion for volunteering and feeding people evolved into a mission that helps strengthen the entire nonprofit ecosystem.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. Like most nonprofits and startups, the journey has been filled with challenges, pivots, and a lot of learning along the way. One of the biggest hurdles has been building something that doesn’t fit neatly into an existing category. People understand food banks, soup kitchens, and traditional catering companies, but Cooking for the Crowd operates differently. We exist to support other nonprofits through affordable meal services, so there has been a learning curve in helping people understand our model and the value it brings.Growth has also brought its own challenges. While we’re grateful that more organizations are learning about our work, there have been times when demand has exceeded our capacity. Right now, much of our kitchen operation relies on me, and we’ve had to make the difficult decision to turn away opportunities because we weren’t fully staffed to serve additional groups while maintaining the quality and consistency our clients deserve. As frustrating as that can be, we’ve always believed it’s better to grow thoughtfully than to overpromise and underdeliver. Funding and staffing are ongoing realities for many nonprofits, and we’re no exception. Every decision we make has to balance mission, sustainability, and impact. That said, every challenge has helped shape our organization. The support we’ve received from our nonprofit partners, volunteers, donors, and community has allowed us to keep moving forward. Looking back, the obstacles have pushed us to become more efficient, more strategic, and even more committed to our vision of helping nonprofits maximize their impact through affordable, high-quality meals.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Cooking for the Crowd is a nonprofit that helps other nonprofits maximize their impact through affordable, high quality meal services. We provide scratch made meals that allow organizations to spend less on food and invest more in the programs and people they serve. What sets us apart is that we are not a traditional caterer, we exist to strengthen the nonprofit sector by helping mission driven organizations stretch their budgets further while still providing healthy, reliable meals for their communities. For qualified nonprofits, we can provide meals for as little as $5 per person, making it easier for organizations to serve their communities without sacrificing their programs or services. Since our founding, we have served more than 32,000 meals to nonprofits across North Texas. What I am most proud of is that every meal represents more than food. It helps another organization direct more resources toward changing lives. Our vision is simple. Strengthen nonprofits through food and create a model that can be replicated in communities everywhere.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I love to read, so books inspire me everyday – my personal favorite is The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. As far as apps go, the ones I use the most are google maps (I am delivering meals all over town), my calendar, and Sam’s/Costco shopping apps (I buy a LOT of food!).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cookingforthecrowd.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookingforthecrowd/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cooking-for-the-crowd/
