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Your
roadmap to renewing communities
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Evaluation for Community Renewal Groups These are the criteria the Center for Renewal uses to assess faith-based groups working in community renewal. We encourage others who are looking for responsible partners in social entrepreneurship to utilize these criteria. While good intentions abound, not every group that calls itself faith-based is actually achieving lasting changes in individual lives. Not all of them are well-managed. These questions will help sort out those who can demonstrate results, and sustain them. by Barbara Elliott, with homage to Marvin Olasky and Robert Woodson, Sr. ABC's of Social Entrepreneurship 2. Bonding: Does the program foster one-to-one
relationships between those giving and those receiving? Is mentoring
an important part of the relationship? 3. Character: Does the program build character
in the recipients? Is there a moral component to what's offered? 4. Discernment: Do the providers use discerning
judgment to give help on an individual basis that takes into account
individual needs? Do they focus on giving a hand-up rather than a hand-out?
5. Employment: Does the program empower
those it serves to find and keep employment, by imparting not only job
skills, but life skills necessary to stay employed? 6. Freedom: Does the program teach recipients
to live responsibly in conditions of freedom, accepting responsibility
for their own actions and their consequences? 7. God: Does the program foster true self-esteem
by leading them to their Creator, and to the belief that each individual
is made in God's image and has eternal value? What Works: 8. Success Rate: Does the program have a
success rate that can be quantified? Have there been outside studies
validating their results? 9. Challenging: Does the program require
work or something else in return for its assistance? Does it challenge
recipients to accept responsibility for their own needs? 10. Self-Sufficiency: Does the program effectively
foster self-sufficiency and lead people out of dependency? 11. Cost per participant: Is the amount
the groups spends per person effective relative to the services offered,
and their outcome? 12. Volunteers: Does the group mobilize
community strengths by effectively utilizing volunteers? 13. Local Agents of Healing: Does the program
identify agents of healing in its own neighborhood, rather than impose
a solution from outside? 14. Roots: Does the group have a circle
of people within the community who stand behind their work and vouch
for its effectiveness? 15. Replication: Has this program been replicated
elsewhere, or could it be a model? 16. Financial Accountability : Proof of
sound financial practices, validated by an external source. 17. Faith-based: Is this program centered
on religious belief? 18. Future: Does the program connect people
to religious institutions and long-term support groups so that new problems
can be met? 19. Charitable Choice: If your group were
eligible, would you accept government funding if you were guaranteed
that you would not have to give up the faith-centered content of your
work? 20. If no, why? Would you prefer not to accept government funding because it is complicated to apply for and comply with government stipulations, or because you fear it would eventually change the content of your programs, or for other reasons? Please specify. Information: Name of the Organization:__________________________________ Address:________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Contact Person:__________________________________________ Telephone:______________________ Email:_____________________________ Additional Information Required: Mission Statement Proof of 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) status Current Budget Most recent audited report Funding Sources: Amounts in approximate % by category:
Description of Fundraising Methods: Listing of Board Members: Additional References: Examples of success stories: Denominational affiliation, if any: Year founded: Number of people served annually: Description of services offered: Validation of need for these services: Specific examples of how people in the community could help: Requested, if available: Annual Report Brochure Information on Awards received Training Manual for Volunteers Replication manual Articles published on the program Video on the program Website information |
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