Here’s a mended read for anyone interested in measuring the effectiveness of a faith-based charity. The Heritage Foundation has published a special report titled, e-Based Evaluation: Faith-Based Social Service Organizations and Stewardship” by Patrick F. Fagan, Ph.D., Claudia Horn, Calvin W. Edwards, Collette Caprara, and Karen M. Woods — Acton’s former Director of Effective Compassion.

Summary:

e-based evaluation has the potential to engender a revolution of increased effectiveness in the mu­nity and to debunk skeptics’ claim that faith-based programs are only about “feel good” results rather than producing solid and measurable impacts. When administered properly, OBE can help both to clarify and to fulfill an organization’s found­ing mission and goals, as well as to ensure that the needy are served effectively and that funds are used responsibly.

Highlight:

Faith-based organizations in particular can benefit from using e-based evaluation to substantiate their success. Many of the innovative outreach programs of churches and faith groups paratively small ­pared to the scale of conventional secular service projects. Yet, with the personal mitment that is typical of faith-inspired service providers as well as their responsiveness to the individual needs and potential of recipients, faith-based initiatives often soar beyond conventional services in their impact on recipients’ lives. In fact, their very missions are often worded in qualitative terms of life transformation.

In street-smart language, Bob Cote, founder of Step 13—a Denver-based program that works with the largest and plicated segment of the homeless: addicted street people—says the goal of his program is to “fix peo­ple, not just warehouse them.” “Our mission is to help these folks e responsible, munity assets,” he explains. “We don’t want to just fill their stomachs. We want to fill their needs for employment, self-suf૟iciency, and self esteem.”