Leadership changes for Atlanta restaurant nonprofit The Giving Kitchen

The Giving Kitchen is undergoing a change in leadership. Stephanie Galer is resigning from her post as executive director of the nonprofit, which serves Atlanta restaurant workers facing unexpected financial hardship. She will remain with the organization through the end of March.

Galer has served as executive director of the Giving Kitchen for the last three years. She “decided it was time to move on to something new,” according to board chair and restaurateur Ryan Turner.

Stephanie Harvey Galer is stepping away from her position as executive director of The Giving Kitchen / Photo by Stacey Bode

Turner called Galer instrumental in managing the four-year-old nonprofit in its infancy. “She has been incredible in managing a start-up nonprofit that has had tremendous great press and success in its mission,” Turner said. “She’s been amazing in making sure that money is going to the right people and assessing how much they really need. It’s a complicated thing that she has handled in a wonderful manner. From a financial perspective, we are operating in healthy manner.”

The Giving Kitchen's for-profit subsidiary is Staplehouse, a restaurant located in the Old Fourth Ward . All of Staplehouse's net profits are channeled back to its nonprofit parent. Another stream of financial support comes through the Giving Kitchen's annual fundraiser, Team Hidi . Now in its fifth year, the 2017 event held in January netted more than $400,000.

The crowd at Team Hidi, the primary fundraiser for the Giving Kitchen.

Galer’s replacement will oversee a staff of six and will put into action the three-year strategic plan recently devised by the Giving Kitchen’s 12-member board. “It’s good timing to have someone that is going to come in and be part of the next three years of the development of our organization,” Turner said.