Date
10-16-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)
Chair
Steve Smith
Keywords
Inventory management, Nonprofit operations, Resource allocation, Faith-based organizations, Warehouse optimization, Volunteer management, Community service, Program evaluation, Stakeholder assessment, Organizational leadership
Disciplines
Leadership Studies
Recommended Citation
Pruitt, Bryan Christopher, "Building Stability Through Compassion: A Study of City Gates Ministries’ Impact on Homelessness and Resource Distribution" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7565.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7565
Abstract
This Dissertation-in-Praxis focused on how City Gates Ministries, a nonprofit organization in Thurston County, Washington, improved its support for individuals and families facing homelessness and poverty by refining its operational systems. The initiative aimed to strengthen donation intake, inventory management, and furniture delivery, which had previously strained resources and hindered organizational consistency. Guided by biblical leadership principles, the project introduced cost-effective solutions like a barcode-based digital inventory system, color-coded signage, and modular volunteer training sessions. Outcomes included a 30% reduction in inventory duplication errors, a nearly 45% decrease in retrieval times for high-demand items, and a decrease in misplaced inventory incidents from seven to two per week. Volunteer confidence and satisfaction also rose, with 86% of participants reporting improvements in managing inventory tasks.
Additionally, the project enhanced organizational credibility, prompting departmental leaders to consider adopting these systems elsewhere in ministry. The findings highlighted that modest, low-cost interventions can improve efficiency, reliability, and community trust. The study highlighted that operational reliability is crucial for nonprofit credibility, underscoring the importance of compassion and competence in delivering effective faith-based services. Although the project's scope was limited, it provided a replicable framework for similar organizations, demonstrating that strategic planning and ongoing assessment can lead to sustainable improvements in performance.
