PROP names Christy Nicolaisen executive director in planned transition

PROP named Christy Nicolaisen executive director and put her into the role on June 29, a planned handoff that comes as Jenifer Loon retires at the end of June after leading the organization since 2022. For a community-facing hunger and housing program, the transition is less about a new title than about keeping the day-to-day work steady for neighbors who rely on the same staff, the same referral network and the same trust.

Nicolaisen arrives with more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience, and PROP describes her as a mission-driven executive, human rights advocate and former Department of Justice Accredited Representative. Local coverage also identifies her as a licensed educator with degrees in elementary education and Spanish, a background that fits an organization serving families that may need food help, housing guidance and help navigating services in more than one language or system.

PROP’s mission is to provide nutritious food, financial assistance and guidance toward self-sufficiency. The organization serves residents of Eden Prairie and Chanhassen and says it has been part of the southwest metro for more than 50 years, with some descriptions putting that history at more than 55 years. Its food shelf generally lets households shop once a month, with some program language allowing visits up to two times per month depending on appointment availability.

The scale of demand helps explain why the leadership change matters. PROP said it served 5,164 individuals in 2024, a 28% increase from the year before, across 1,406 households. A separate summary put food visits at 9,176 in 2024, up 6.4% from the previous year, and said the organization served 630 new families. In FY22-23, PROP said food visits rose 35%, half of the 4,035 people served were new to the organization, housing assistance increased 25% and PROP prevented 302 individuals from becoming homeless. During that same period, it distributed nearly $500,000 in financial support for emergency housing, car repair or transportation, childcare and youth scholarship needs.

The pressure did not let up in 2026. PROP said it had already received 73 housing-assistance requests in February 2026, matching the full total for February 2025 before the first week of the month had ended. That pace puts a premium on continuity in volunteer coordination, case management and community partnerships, the parts of the operation that can fray when leadership changes are handled poorly.

PROP’s board chair is Brandi Warmbier, who has been on the board since 2025. With Nicolaisen in place and Loon exiting after a three-year tenure, the organization is trying to show that a new executive can arrive without interrupting the relationships that keep food moving and families connected to support.