Summary

Oklahoma is one of the least food secure states in America. In 2021, 1 in 7 residents did not obtain adequate amounts of safe and nutritious food, creating a food insecure population of 561,640 individuals. While purpose-driven organizations across the state work to ameliorate the issue, Oklahoma’s food insecurity remains at elevates levels. In response to the ongoing crisis, the Tulsa-based social enterprise, and data company, 9b Corp, requested an analysis of Oklahoma’s purpose-driven organizations working to alleviate and prevent food insecurity. The analysis aims to understand how organization’s address food insecurity in Oklahoma and what metrics they use to measure the issue. Private (non-governmental) Tulsa and Oklahoma City-based organizations were chosen for analysis as they are located in the two largest cities in the state and offer a means of convenience due to 9b Corp’s current network.  The purpose of the study is to provide 9b Corp with the information needed to build effective data-driven solutions that reflect the needs of their clients working to alleviate and prevent food insecurity. The study contributes to the amount of exploratory research examining how low and very low food security in Oklahoma is addressed and measured by private purpose-driven organizations.  My results conclude each organization addresses the issue using direct service programs, indirect service programs, or both. In addition, many organizations value nutrition when solving food insecurity as well as barrier alleviation for sustainable solutions. Organization’s measure the issue using internal data, external data, and demographic characteristics of their clients. I recommend that 9b Corp: offers their clients data solutions using food insecurity indicators, develop a SNAP Recipient/Eligibility Gap Index, identify food deserts, and lastly, conduct future quantitative studies measuring the local levels of food insecurity in Tulsa neighborhoods.