Nancy Keil

President & CEO

Meet Nancy Keil, a trailblazer with an uncontainable passion for impactful work. As the President & CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Nancy orchestrates a symphony of collaboration, innovation, inclusion, integrity, and well-being that resonates across Middle Tennessee.

Under Nancy’s dynamic leadership, and with the dedication and hard work of Second Harvest staff, donors, volunteers, and Partner Agencies, Second Harvest has taken a leading role in meeting the needs of hundreds of thousands of neighbors. Since taking over the role as President & CEO in 2019, Nancy has led Second Harvest through tornadoes, floods, and the pandemic. Nancy emerged as a beacon of resilience as the food bank faced its most challenging years since inception in 1978.

Her impact resonates beyond the Food Bank’s walls. In 2020 she was recognized in Nfocus magazine’s “Model Behavior” and as one of the “Most Powerful Women”. In 2021 she was named a “Woman of Impact” by the Women in Numbers nonpartisan organization. She is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Middle Tennessee, and a 2022 Leadership Nashville graduate.

Nancy doesn’t just collect accolades; she plants seeds of change. Her hands are in many parts of our community, some of which include:

Rotary Club of Nashville, The Table, International Women’s Forum, Belmont Executive Learning Network, Nashville Chamber’s Partnership 2020 and 2030, Secretary for Feeding America’s Southeast Region Food Bank Association, Steering Committee for Tennessee Alliance for Economic Mobility, Executive Committee of the Nashville Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster (VOAD), Tennessee VOAD member, Leader of Metro Nashville and Mayor John Cooper’s Food Security Working Group, Advisory Board for the Thomas F. Frist, Jr College of Medicine at Belmont University, Center of Nonprofit Management’s Board of Directors, US Global Leadership Coalition Advisory Committee, National Anti-Hunger Policy, and Nashville COVID-19 Response Steering Committee.

Before beginning her Food Banking and Nonprofit career, Nancy used her innovation and excellence in senior executive positions nationally and globally in the real estate and hospitality realms. Armed with an Executive MBA from Rockhurst University and a Bachelor’s from the University of Arkansas, she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Nancy is a seasoned adventurer, avid traveler, and loves to venture past her physical boundaries while enjoying the journey. She has lived in 8 states and South Korea; now living in Nashville, you can find her exploring our local parks with her dog, Jax.