Can Government Funding Strengthen the Third Sector? The Impact of a Capacity Building Program on Faith-Based & Community-Based Organizations
Can Government Funding Strengthen the Third Sector? The Impact of a Capacity Building Program on Faith-Based & Community-Based Organizations

Summary/Abstract: Organizational and service effectiveness constitute essential elements of sustainability, a major determinant of external funding. This paper discusses the effectiveness of federal funding in building organizational capacity in 131 faith-based and community-based organizations providing services to Latino population in 6 US regions. Hispanic Capacity Project effectiveness was measured by improved organizational capacity; civil society network development; diversification of funding; and diversification of services. The project resulted in over 92% organizational growth; strengthening civil society networks; and diversification of services for over 68% of all participants. This evaluation research reveals that federal funding was imperative for organizational effectiveness, increasing participants’ credibility and creating a premise for sustainability and growth. For social work practice, the article emphasizes the importance of program evaluation for capacity building, and the role of civil society networks in creating sustainable faith-based and community-based programs.

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