FFTP Appoints Sara Sywulka as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (June 9, 2026) — Food For The Poor (FFTP) has appointed Sara Sywulka as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, bringing more than three decades of international humanitarian, disaster response, and community development leadership experience to the organization.
In her new role, Sywulka will oversee FFTP’s operational functions, including international programs and projects, disaster response, logistics, shipping, purchasing, government programs, facilities and gifts-in-kind operations. She also will serve on the organization’s Executive Leadership Team.
Sywulka will be based in Guatemala, reflecting FFTP’s commitment to strengthening its regional leadership and operational capabilities in Central America.
As part of her first week with FFTP, Sywulka participated in meetings with senior leaders from Malteser International Americas, the humanitarian relief and development agency of the Order of Malta, during their visit to Guatemala. The discussions explored opportunities for collaboration, highlighting FFTP’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that help communities build resilience and create lasting change.
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen that lasting change happens when we work alongside communities and build on the strengths that already exist within them,” Sywulka said.
“What drew me to Food For The Poor is its commitment to partnering with local organizations that understand both the needs and the opportunities in the communities they serve. I am honored to join this team and help expand our impact across Latin America and the Caribbean,” she added.
Born and raised in Guatemala, Sywulka brings deep regional expertise and extensive experience leading faith-based humanitarian and development efforts across Latin America and beyond.
Sywulka most recently served as Country Director for World Vision Guatemala, where she led large-scale development and humanitarian initiatives focused on vulnerable children, families, and communities throughout Guatemala. Prior to that, she held leadership positions with Tearfund and Food for the Hungry, including serving as Emergency Response Director and Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist.
“Sara brings an extraordinary combination of operational leadership, humanitarian expertise, and faith-driven service that aligns perfectly with Food For The Poor’s mission and strategic direction,” said FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine. “She has spent her career serving vulnerable communities through both emergency response and sustainable development initiatives, and her leadership experience will help strengthen and expand our ability to serve children and families living in poverty.”
Sywulka earned a Master of Public Administration with an International Nutrition focus from Cornell University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Anthropology and Modern Languages from Wheaton College, where she graduated magna cum laude, as well as a Bible Certificate from Bibelschule Hinterholz in Switzerland.
Click here to watch an interview with Sywulka in FFTP’s broadcast studio: https://www.youtube.com/sarasywulka
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the United States, is committed to facilitating paths out of poverty and transforming lives. As an interdenominational Christian ministry, we help families across Latin America and the Caribbean. Our efforts span urgent humanitarian relief and long-term development – from emergency aid and hunger alleviation to education, housing, and economic empowerment. We follow a distinctive approach that integrates faith, multi-sector strategies, and trusted partnerships. Whenever possible, we strive to work at the community level, partnering with local leaders and residents to co-create sustainable solutions that address the multi-dimensional nature of poverty. For more information, please visit dev.foodforthepoor.org.
Michael Turnbell
Communications
954-471-0928
[email protected]
