BTW informing change » Faith Based

The Worth of What They Do

aphilips — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:00:53 +0000

As part of its efforts in building the field of Jewish service-learning, Repair the World commissioned BTW to conduct an exploratory study on the impact of short-term immersive Jewish service-learning (IJSL) on the organizations and communities that host these groups.

The study included interviews with representatives of host community CBO/NGOs involved in IJSL projects in the US, Israel, Nicaragua, Ghana and Ukraine as well as an in-depth review of recent relevant research and writing about best practices in secular and faith-based service learning. BTW found that when short-term IJSL projects are well planned and executed, negative impacts are anticipated, and potential problems are addressed proactively, then positive impacts for host communities predominate.

Jewish Service Learning: What Is and What Could Be

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:13:41 +0000

In the fall of 2007, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation and the Jim Joseph Foundation commissioned BTW to assess the landscape of Jewish Service Learning.

BTW examined the current capacity among Jewish Service Learning practitioners and the support required to expand that capacity. We also looked at the relevance of secular national service and other faith-based service traditions in defining the potential and development of Jewish Service Learning.

This report summarizes that research and offers a suggested action plan for growth based on our findings.

Social Capital & Capacity Building: Discussion Paper Prepared for ZCAM Organizational Development Program Retreat

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:10:48 +0000

A funders collaborative in Houston, led by the Rockwell Fund, Inc., hired BTW to assist them with planning and evaluating a new initiative to build the capacity of Zip Code Assistance Ministries (ZCAMs) in the region.

ZCAMs are faith-based nonprofits providing emergency social and human services. This initiative, called the ZCAM Organizational Development Program, was modeled on OCGI, a project that BTW evaluated for three Bay Area funders several years ago.

Part of BTW’s work with the Houston initiative was to develop and facilitate an annual reflection and learning session for funders, ZCAM executives and key program partners. In preparation for the reflection session in September 2006, BTW put together a paper on the formation of social capital.

This paper explored how social-capital formation relates to building organizational capacity, creating a culture of collaboration and shared learning among ZCAM leaders.