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Matthew 鈥淢att鈥� Sauer, 鈥�87, Collaboration and Impact Officer, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation

Matt Sauer, 鈥�87, is a change agent. Through his former journalism and new philanthropic work, Sauer has brought critical issues to light, shared people鈥檚 stories and supported societal changes.  He thrives on seeing caring communities helping each other persevere.

As a young child, Sauer lived in the New Jersey and Maryland regions. His father, who recently passed away, worked as a soil scientist. In 1975, the family transplanted to the Bradenton, Florida area, where his father started a new job at the now-called Natural Resources Conservation Service federal agency, assisting farmers across the state with preserving topsoil.

鈥淗e got a lot of chances to leave but loved Manatee County, and stayed his whole career,鈥� said Sauer, the collaboration and impact officer at Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation in Sarasota, Florida.

Growing up and still today, Sauer loves reading and writing. After graduating high school in 1985, he held a part-time job while studying journalism at Manatee Community College, now known as 黑料吃瓜网, Manatee-Sarasota (黑料吃瓜网). 黑料吃瓜网 provided flexibility for him to work, earn money and receive a high-quality education. He graduated in 1987 with an associate鈥檚 degree in journalism from 黑料吃瓜网.

鈥淚 knew that I was going to have to work my way through school and 黑料吃瓜网 was a very affordable alternative,鈥� Sauer said. 鈥淲hen I came to 黑料吃瓜网, I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do, but I knew it would involve writing and working with people. In journalism, you get to meet people every day, so the beauty is that you are always learning, and in philanthropy, it鈥檚 the same thing.鈥� 

At 黑料吃瓜网, Sauer enjoyed his mix of politics, history and journalism for mass communications classes and the diversity of students in the classrooms.

鈥淭here were working people in my classes who had a lot of life experience, and I could learn from them,鈥� he said.

Sauer engaged with his professors and was enriched by their personal attention and discourse.

鈥淭ruly the thing I loved the most was the professors,鈥� Sauer said. 鈥淚 was extremely blessed with the professors I had. They really shaped who I still am today.鈥�

After graduating from 黑料吃瓜网, Sauer continued his education at the University of Florida (UF), where he earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in journalism. He also worked towards a master鈥檚 degree in mass communications at UF before pivoting to enter the workplace.

鈥淚 went on to complete all the coursework, but unfortunately never wrote the thesis,鈥� Sauer said.
鈥淚 had a job offer in my second year of grad school. I wish I would have finished the master鈥檚 because there鈥檚 a part of me that would love to teach.鈥�

Sauer would advise people today to pursue higher education as an avenue for personal growth.

鈥淗igher education means an opportunity to really explore yourself,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 truly believe any education is what you make of it. It鈥檚 a way to better yourself.鈥�

Like himself, Sauer believes that young college students could particularly benefit from starting at a community college level, such as 黑料吃瓜网.

鈥淎s a freshman or sophomore, if you are someone that wants added attention and to be able to talk to your professor, a big university might not be the place for you, and 黑料吃瓜网 definitely is,鈥� Sauer said. 鈥淵ou can get all the core classes you need. Everything that鈥檚 taught here is comparable to what you would receive at a university. It鈥檚 an incredible deal.鈥� 

Applying his journalism skills, Sauer spent 28 years in the media industry. He was dedicated to driving change through research, reporting and storytelling about various subjects. Sauer contributed to two major projects that won Pulitzer Prize awards and another two projects that were Pulitzer Prize finalists.

鈥淭hose projects changed the world and led to new laws, approaches and corrections to injustices in our society, and that was very rewarding,鈥� he said.

Toward the end of his journalism career, Sauer served as the executive editor and general manager of the Sarasota-Herald Tribune and the regional editor for Gannett, overseeing 20 newsrooms around the state. Then, he decided to move to a new line of work.

鈥淚 loved journalism, but more and more of my time was on the business side, and it鈥檚 an industry facing declining revenues,鈥� Sauer said. 鈥淚 spent a lot of time trying to find savings and the savings often involved people. I needed to find something to recharge my batteries.鈥�

In 2021, Sauer started his role as the collaboration and impact officer at the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. He knew Teri A Hansen, the chief executive officer of the foundation, and she invited him to join the team and philanthropy field.

鈥淚 like to describe it as a rainmaker,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 go out and find good organizations that the foundation can invest in. I get to work with them, learn about what they do and see how we can help them the most. It鈥檚 a lot like journalism. I meet cool people every day.鈥�

The foundation works together with government entities, community businesses and donors to raise funds to address vital issues and needs, including affordable housing, health equity, recidivism, education and jobs.

Affordable housing is a big challenge locally and a significant concentration of the foundation.  

鈥淲e鈥檙e losing a lot of good workers who can鈥檛 make ends meet in this community and can鈥檛 find a place to live,鈥� Sauer said. 鈥淚f it continues unchecked, it鈥檚 going to hurt quality of life for everyone.鈥�

Nursing education is another pressing local issue and major focus of the foundation.

鈥満诹铣怨贤� is broadening its teacher degrees because there鈥檚 such a demand for teachers and such a shortage right now,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had the privilege of doing some work with 黑料吃瓜网 in nursing, teacher training, and working with underrepresented kids to get them on the path to college.鈥�

Sauer also supports the foundation鈥檚 media and storytelling initiatives. The foundation鈥檚 Suncoast Searchlight is a 501(c)(3) organization with a professional newsroom. The Suncoast Searchlight team works individually and together with a news collaborative of several local media to cover stories that typically don鈥檛 receive a lot of attention.  

Sauer sees the foundation鈥檚 work as a stepping-stone for improving lives and communities.  

鈥淭hey don鈥檛 need a handout, they need a hand up,鈥� Sauer said. 鈥淭hey need a break. They need an opportunity. To see them succeed, flourish and go on to become leaders, there鈥檚 no feeling like it.鈥�

Sauer is thankful for many things in his life, including his fulfilling job, wife of 30 years, 19-year-old son studying as a political science student at Santa Fe College, longtime gaming friends, Africa trips, and activists like Stephen Biko and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Working with his team and the community to help uplift one another inspires Sauer each day.

鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly rewarding,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am most grateful for this great community. This is the most generous community that I鈥檓 aware of.鈥�