Equipping the Saints:
A Guide to Giving to Faith-Based Organizations
by Barbara J. Elliott
Published by Templeton Foundation Press
To Be Released October 2004
Price: $15.95
For anyone who has ever considered giving money to a faith-based organization, this guide is indispensable. Equipping the Saints will help eliminate donor’s remorse by offering sage advice on what makes an effective program, the qualities of good leaders, and the methods of evaluating outcomes. Based on hundreds of interviews with donors and civic leaders, Equipping the Saints distills their wisdom into hands-on recommendations. Barbara Elliott draws from years of experience working with faith-based organizations and the donors who support them to provide a candid look at the unique strengths and weaknesses of these groups. Equipping the Saints is packed with useful tools like a donor’s interest inventory, a checklist for making a site visit, and tips on reading nonprofit financial statements --all authored by professional philanthropic advisors.
Endorsements
“Any donor with even a hint of interest in exploring investments in the work of faith-based organizations (FBOs) needs this book. It is packed with practical information about how to understand and assess FBOs. Its numerous examples of real-life donors making real-life differences through partnerships with faith-inspired community healers ought to stimulate much creative brainstorming among philanthropists.”
--Dr. Amy L. Sherman, Senior Fellow and Director, Faith in Communities Initiative of the Foundation for American Renewal
“Barbara Elliott's Guide to Giving to Faith-Based Organizations is an important and helpful tool for serious donors. The first book of its kind, it makes the case for supporting causes motivated by faith, and then provides a rich mosaic of information on just how to do that. Since giving among the faithful is such a large segment of American philanthropy, this book is long overdue. Immensely readable, and laced with numerous illustrations and helpful tools, this practical volume is packed with wisdom. Elliott is right on!”
-Calvin W. Edwards, Founder & CEO, Calvin Edwards & Company
“Most donors quickly learn how all that glitters is not gold. Some go on to learn how all that is gold does not glitter. In this book Barbara Elliott provides the lessons in discernment and the tools for evaluation that donors need. Take advantage of her understanding by making it your own.”
--Marvin Olasky, author of Compassionate Conservatism, editor World magazine
“An excellent guide for philanthropists seeking to unleash the power of faith in healing troubled souls and transforming troubled neighborhoods.”
--Adam Meyerson, President, The Philanthropy Roundtable
Table of Contents
Introduction, by William A. Schambra 7
1. Why Give to Faith-Based Organizations? 11
Agents of Social Change, 11
The Spectrum of Faith-Based Organizations, 13
From “Faith Founded” to “Faith Saturated,” 14
2. Due Diligence 16
Beyond the Culture Clash, 16
Questions to Ask Before You Give, 17
Gift Size and Analysis Should be Commensurate, 18
3. Evaluating Programs 21
Drucker’s Self-Assessment Tool, 21
The “Faith Factor,” 22
Documented Results, 23
Outcomes Based Evaluation, 25
4. What to Look For: Signs of Health 28
Signs of Health in Faith-Based Groups, 29
Penetrating Questions to Ask, 30
Peer-to-Peer Advice: Tom McCallie, 32
Beware of Red Flags, 32
5. Capacity Building: Leveraging Impact 34
“What Foundations Can Learn from Venture Capitalists,” 35
Curriculum for Capacity Building, 36
Examples of Donor Engagement:
Leveraging Promise: The Maclellan Foundation, 38
Social Capital plus Competence: Fred Smith, 39
Entrepreneurial Skills: David Weekley, 40
Building Capacity Across the Country: Pew, 40
Generating Revenue: Social Entrepreneurs, 41
6. Ways to Give: Models in Action 44
The Gathering, 44
Philanthropy Roundtable, 44
Generous Giving, 45
Community Foundations, 46
Christian Community Foundations, 47
Jewish Philanthropy, 48
Kingdom Oil: Jay Bennett, 48
Taking Personal Initiative: Foster Friess, 49
Little League and Hope Academy: Bob Muzikowski, 50
Creating a Nonprofit Campus, 51
Intersection with Business: David Oelfke, 51
Entrepreneurial Brainstorming: Paul McDonald, 52
Nehemiah Strategy: A City-Wide Vision, 52
Strengths of Intermediaries, 53
Suggestions from the Field, 54
Conclusion: Motivation Matters 57
Moses Maimonides on Tzedakah, 57
The Motive of Agape, 59
An Investment in the Eternal, 60
Endnotes 61
Appendix
Donor’s Toolbox for Evaluating Faith-Based Organizations by The Legacy Group, Inc. 63
Tool 1. Donor’s Giving Interest Inventory: John L. Stanley, 63
Tool 2. The Giving Continuum: Defining Your Approach to Giving, 66
Tool 3. What to Look for in a Philanthropic Advisor: Peter A. Giersch, 67
Tool 4. Tax and Legal Ramifications of Giving to Faith-Based Organizations: Patricia G. Woehrer, 69
Tool 5. Analyzing Nonprofit Financial Statements: Mary Kay Mark, 73
Tool 6. Faith-Based Organizations from A to Z: A Donor’s Guide: Barbara J. Elliott, 76
Tool 7. Checklist for a Site Visit: Mary Kay Mark, 78
Tool 8. Checklist for Due Diligence: Patricia G. Woehrer, 80
Contact Information 85
