The Beacon Show with Tamara Jackson

Serving with Excellence & Finding Funding: Building Sustainable Community Impact ft. Eric Saunders

Episode Summary

Eric Saunders, Executive Director of New Hope Ministries, shares his journey from international missions to leading a transformative community organization. With 18 years at the helm, Eric discusses how faith, strategic planning, and relationship-building have helped grow a small food pantry into a multi-location social service agency serving 25,000 people annually.

Episode Notes

In this inspiring episode of The Beacon Show, Eric Saunders speaks from a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership and community service. From his early Christian commitment at age seven to his current role leading New Hope Ministries, Eric shares how his diverse background - including Jewish heritage and exposure to various cultures - shaped his approach to serving others. The conversation explores New Hope Ministries' growth from a single church basement operation to nine locations, highlighting the importance of strategic planning, donor relationships, and maintaining excellence in service delivery.

Key Takeaways

1. Excellence Drives Support: Operating with excellence and showing concrete results is crucial for securing and maintaining donor support
2. Strategic Balance: Leaders must balance daily operations with long-term planning to ensure organizational sustainability
3. Relationship-Based Fundraising: Successful grant writing and fundraising stem from building genuine relationships and understanding funders' priorities

Topics Covered

• Nonprofit growth and sustainability
• Strategic planning and resource management
• Grant writing and donor relationships
• Community impact measurement
• Faith-based service delivery
• Leadership development

Notable Quotes

• "If I'm gonna work this hard and feel this tired at the end of the day, I want to feel like I'm contributing to something that's actually making a difference."
• "People give money to people...it's important to have relationships."
• "Movement is movement. If we can get people moving in the right direction...little steps make big progress over time."

Leadership Lesson 

Eric emphasizes the importance of delegating day-to-day operations to focus on strategic initiatives. By hiring a program director to manage daily activities, he could concentrate on systemic issues, funding, and long-term planning - essential elements for organizational sustainability and growth.

Faith and Service Insights 

Faith serves as the foundation of New Hope Ministries' work, demonstrated through their collaborative church partnerships and commitment to showing Christ's love through practical service. Eric's personal faith journey, beginning at age seven, continues to guide his leadership approach and trust in God's provision, as illustrated by the miraculous funding of their $1.2 million building project.

Featured Resources

• Guidestar.org for research on charitable funders
• New Hope Ministries

Through this conversation, listeners gain practical insights into building and sustaining impactful nonprofit organizations while maintaining a strong faith foundation and commitment to excellence in service.

About Eric Saunders
Eric Saunders is the Executive Director of New Hope Ministries, where his passion for combining faith and social services has helped transform a grassroots initiative into a dynamic force for change across central Pennsylvania. With a Master's in Social Work and deep roots in Christian ministry, Eric has spent 18 years leading New Hope Ministries from modest beginnings to serving over 25,000 people annually across nine locations. Known for being "aggressively collaborative," his innovative approach to community service has earned multiple recognitions, including the 2023 Nonprofit Innovation Award for Leadership. Through strategic vision and commitment to excellence, Eric has built an organization that not only meets immediate needs but empowers individuals and families to create lasting change in their lives.