The DMARC Board of Directors Introduces, Kathy Underhill
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) board of directors announced today that Kathy Underhill has been hired to lead the organization as the Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1.
Underhill has spent over 20 years working on the issue of hunger at every level of the nonprofit and government landscape. Most recently, she has overseen nine federal nutrition programs working for the state of Colorado, managing the distribution of more than 80 million dollars in American-grown food. Underhill was instrumental in the founding of Hunger Free Colorado, serving as the founding CEO of the state’s leading anti-hunger organization. She has continued developing the next generation of advocates in the fight against food insecurity while teaching advocacy and policy at the University of Denver School of Social Work.
Stepping into this role, I’m excited to get to know this community better, build on our efforts to alleviate food insecurity, and provide opportunities for everyone living in central Iowa to meet their basic needs.
– Kathy Underhill, CEO
Quite simply, Underhill describes the opportunity to support our neighbors in central Iowa in this seat as “a dream”.
“I am thrilled to be joining DMARC. Today, I am deeply grateful to the board of directors and staff for putting their trust in me, and I’m honored to be a part of such a respected organization,” said Underhill. “Stepping into this role, I’m excited to get to know this community better, build on our efforts to alleviate food insecurity, and provide opportunities for everyone living in central Iowa to meet their basic needs.”
Underhill will be joining DMARC in the month of June and will be working alongside outgoing CEO, Matt Unger until the conclusion of the current fiscal year on June 30, 2025.
“We had several strong candidates for this position, but we were particularly impressed with Kathy’s record of putting people first in every role she’s held in her extensive career fighting hunger,” said DMARC Board President Rachel Collier Murdock. “We have many challenges and opportunities ahead of us as we work to meet our neighbors’ basic human needs. We are confident that Kathy will continue to expand DMARC’s leadership in building community, fostering collaboration, and advocating for systems and policies that benefit those in greatest need at this critical juncture in our state’s history.”
With a Master’s in Social Work specializing in Community Organizing, Underhill has taken a collaborative approach between the people in need of support and the people supporting charitable food work. Her journey in this field has been recognized nationally, with honors including the Share Our Strength Innovator Award, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Livingston Fellowship, the Dr. Wheeler/Senator Wellstone Award, and being named a Top Thinker for nonprofits by the Denver Post Editor
