Shawn Shepherd


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Shawn Shepherd (She/Her)

Vice President, Operations & Finance
Boise, ID
Operations & Finance

Shawn Shepherd serves as ReFED’s Vice President of Operations & Finance, overseeing the development and support of internal systems as the organization enters its next phase of growth. She first joined ReFED as its inaugural director of development and continues to lead efforts to secure the philanthropic support needed to drive the organization's food waste initiatives forward.

Shawn has over 30 years of experience leading nonprofit organizations and advancement offices in institutional settings. She has worked in food systems as a national staff member with the American Farmland Trust and has served on several regional boards addressing food insecurity.

Recognized as a leader in environmental issues in her home states of Indiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Idaho, her passion for tackling the existential crisis of our time—climate change—drives her work with ReFED.

Connect with me about

Fundraising; Agriculture and regional food systems; People management; Communications

Speaking Engagements

Recent Conferences: Sustainable Brands Culture Change (2024); Rural Grocers Summit (2022)

Media: Wisconsin Public Radio

Awards and Honors

Idaho Woman of the Year (2010); Texas Business Journal 40 Under 40; Who's Who

Fun Facts

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish (conversational)

Favorite Food: Fresh green beans

Favorite Quote: "The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Favorite Book: Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

Favorite Things: Fishing, cooking, growing her own food, buying food from local farmers

Food She Struggles the Most Not to Waste: Salad greens

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