Feed the Hunger, formerly New Directions International 
The information on this page was last updated 2/23/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
We're a Christian ministry that knows every child wants to succeed, but many don't have the resources they need. Without proper nutrition, education, and spiritual guidance, it's easy for them to feel defeated. But we believe every child deserves to experience the love of God and the opportunity to grow and learn. So how do we make this happen? Using our reliable global partnerships, we identify vulnerable children at risk of starvation or malnutrition, provide immediate nutritional resources, and invest in their long-term success through education and spiritual growth.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Feed the Hunger, Inc.
PO Box 2347
Burlington, NC 27216-2347
Website: www.feedthehunger.org
Phone: 888-772-9634
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 560953324
CEO/President: Joseph Williams
Chairman: Tony Holt
Board size: 13
Founder: Dr. J.L. Williams
Ruling year: 1971
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1985
Purpose
We have a particular emphasis on connecting with Christian leaders seeking to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). Feed the Hunger equips these leaders to feed spiritual hunger with tools like Bibles, bicycles, and micro-enterprise projects. Physical hunger is met through the provision of nutritious food, clean water, and emergency aid and relief. We seek to meet these needs in three target audiences: (1) at-risk children in America and overseas, (2) those in crisis situations, such as refugees and victims of natural disasters, and (3) ethnic groups that are just beginning to be reached with the message of Jesus.
Mission statement
Feeding the spiritual and physical hunger in the poor and needy.
Statement of faith
WE BELIEVE AND AFFIRM THAT...
The Bible is the only inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God. As such, it is indispensable in teaching and preaching, and is our only trustworthy guide for living.
There is one God, eternally existent in the Persons of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The creation of the universe, the world and man was a direct act of God.
Christology includes: the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, His intercession for the saints, and His personal and physical return in power and great glory.
Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for the salvation of lost and sinful man. The power and gifts of the Holy Spirit are essential for effective living and faithful service.
There will be a resurrection of both the saved and the lost-the saved unto the resurrection of life, and the lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
The Church is the Body of Christ, consisting of everyone who has been born again of the Spirit of God, and is expressed through membership in both the universal church and the local church.
The Holy Spirit is active today in the world to convict of sin, and to manifest Jesus to hungry hearts. He is also sanctifying His church by guiding believers into all truth, and bestowing spiritual gifts upon believers for the edification of the church.
In the words of the Lausanne Covenant, we affirm that missions and evangelism are the priority of the Church. We believe that evangelism itself is the proclamation of the historical, Biblical Christ as Savior and Lord, with a view to persuading people to come to Him personally and so be reconciled to God. In issuing the Gospel invitation we have no liberty to conceal the cost of discipleship. Jesus still calls all who would follow Him to deny themselves, take up their cross, and identify themselves with His community. The results of evangelism include obedience to Christ, incorporation into His church and responsible service in the world.
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Feed the Hunger's faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Directors is Feed the Hunger's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 434 of 1123 | 42 of 123 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 505 of 1124 | 57 of 123 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 408 of 1124 | 39 of 123 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 556 of 1123 | 54 of 123 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 5% | 5% | 3% | 6% | 6% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 6% | 6% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 85% | 100% | 100% | 94% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 5% | 5% | 3% | 6% | 6% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 15% | 0% | 0% | 6% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 89% | 89% | 91% | 86% | 87% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 78% | 92% | 83% | 96% | 99% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 85% | 69% | 82% | 76% | 83% | 86% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 22% | 8% | 17% | 4% | 1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 46% | 24% | 48% | 17% | 4% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 7% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.38 | 1.48 | 2.35 | 2.13 | 3.46 | 3.65 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.30 | 1.06 | 1.21 | 1.32 | 1.74 | 2.03 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.28 | 1.57 | 2.84 | 2.82 | 6.04 | 7.40 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 18.96 | 20.35 | 5.76 | 7.48 | 5.20 | 4.10 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.17 | 0.13 | 0.19 | 0.24 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.07 | 7.29 | 3.49 | 3.69 | 1.60 | 1.23 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 7% | 14% | 10% | 12% | 18% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 6% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 62% | 63% | 36% | 42% | 25% | 23% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $2,016,809 | $972,262 | $674,982 | $285,890 | $216,170 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $254,663 | $130,560 | $40,059 | $42,126 | $47,321 |
| Short-term investments | $155,974 | $136,358 | $116,800 | $11,085 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,427,446 | $1,239,180 | $831,841 | $339,101 | $263,491 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $75,563 | $253,106 | $263,143 | $244,878 | $261,533 |
| Other long-term assets | $62,356 | $4,484 | $5,938 | $7,392 | $8,846 |
| Total long-term assets | $137,919 | $257,590 | $269,081 | $252,270 | $270,379 |
| Total assets | $2,565,365 | $1,496,770 | $1,100,922 | $591,371 | $533,870 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $119,297 | $215,085 | $111,141 | $65,261 | $64,301 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $119,297 | $215,085 | $111,141 | $65,261 | $64,301 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $8,306 | $30,689 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $59,326 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $59,326 | $0 | $0 | $8,306 | $30,689 |
| Total liabilities | $178,623 | $215,085 | $111,141 | $73,567 | $94,990 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,134,474 | $1,016,696 | $682,953 | $398,542 | $269,222 |
| With donor restrictions | $252,268 | $264,989 | $306,828 | $119,262 | $169,658 |
| Net assets | $2,386,742 | $1,281,685 | $989,781 | $517,804 | $438,880 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $4,150,670 | $3,821,337 | $2,812,084 | $2,018,734 | $1,968,494 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $724,768 | $5,052 | $3,784 | $59 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $12,351 | $0 | $440 | $117,969 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $737,119 | $5,052 | $4,224 | $118,028 | $0 |
| Total revenue | $4,887,789 | $3,826,389 | $2,816,308 | $2,136,762 | $1,968,494 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $3,385,805 | $3,141,150 | $2,138,248 | $1,768,964 | $1,698,770 |
| Management and general | $207,857 | $203,142 | $133,536 | $148,465 | $133,646 |
| Fundraising | $206,566 | $175,553 | $74,043 | $130,111 | $118,052 |
| Total expenses | $3,800,228 | $3,519,845 | $2,345,827 | $2,047,540 | $1,950,468 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,087,561 | $306,544 | $470,481 | $89,222 | $18,026 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,087,561 | $306,544 | $470,481 | $89,222 | $18,026 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Joseph Williams | CEO | $126,344 |
| Scott Hahn | COO | $105,054 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/23/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
For many years, Feed the Hunger went by the name of New Directions Ministries and New Directions International. It was founded in 1968 by Dr. J.L. Williams and his wife, Patt. During the early years, the ministry was an interracial singing group comprised of high school and college students. They were pioneers in using contemporary Christian music to share their faith in churches and anywhere they could find an audience. Traveling on weekends during the school year and throughout the vacation months, they ended each summer with a cross-cultural mission trip.
Those intense and varied experiences of discipleship, practical evangelism, and mission outreach became the training ground for many young men and women who went on to actively minister in other capacities. Over time, the focus of Feed the Hunger shifted from American teenagers and college students to Christian leaders in the Third World. Feed the Hunger equips these leaders with spiritual and physical tools to reach their own people for Christ. Most recently, Feed the Hunger has begun outreach in the U.S. to feed the spiritual and physical hunger in needy communities.
About J.L. Williams:
J.L. Williams was reared in a spiritually enriched family by his parents, Clarence and Edith Crouse Williams. It was a heritage full of faith and serving others, with a heavy emphasis on overseas missions.
He graduated pre-med from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, and then received his Master of Divinity degree in comparative world religions from Duke Divinity School. He later earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in contemporary counter-Christian cults from Luther Rice Seminary.
Through the YMCA in Burlington, NC, J.L. and his wife, Patt, founded The New Directions singing group in August 1968. This group was interracial, contemporary, and inter-denominational, ministering throughout the US and the Caribbean from 1968 to the mid-1980s. He then transitioned to developing partnerships with indigenous leaders overseas, mainly in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
J.L.'s passion was to pour himself into those cross-cultural partnerships, equipping strategic Christian leaders with practical and spiritual tools to reach the unreached for Christ. Whether it was preaching, teaching, writing, mentoring, agricultural projects, self-support initiatives, helping orphanages, etc., he was absolutely relentless in serving Christ by serving others.
J.L. died on December 28, 2016, at Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington, NC, leaving Patt, their 4 married children, and 12 grandchildren. Patt continues his legacy by working with their son, Joseph, through Feed the Hunger, as he shares the same vision as his dad: to help meet the spiritual and physical hunger of those in greatest need, locally and globally.
Program accomplishments
Global partners: 42 in 20 countries (including the US)
Total meals packed: over 34 million and counting
Bibles distributed: 16,246 (in 2021)
Edu-Pack backpacks provided: 3,575 (in 2021)
Children in FtH programs: over 13,000
Needs
You can impact the lives of the hungry here in America and around the world by participating in food packing events called Packathons (everyone is welcome to participate!), going on a domestic or overseas mission trip, and investing resources.