Equipping the Saints

For any individual donor or foundation giving money to a faith-based organization, this guide is indispensable. Equipping the Saints offers sage advice on recognizing the qualities of good leaders, effective programs, and the methods of evaluating outcomes. Based on hundreds of interviews with donors and civic leaders, this guide provides 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, tips on reading nonprofit financial statements, and hands-on recommendations for making grants that are both effective and prudent.

"An excellent guide for philanthropists seeking to unleash the power of faith in healing troubled souls and transforming troubled neighborhoods." -Adam Meyerson, president, Philanthropy Roundtable

"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, ditor of World magazine, author of Compassionate Conservatism and The Tragedy of American Compassion

"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

"From the perspective of a local foundation giving to faith-based ministries, we have found Barbara Elliott's work to be inspiring, practical and instructive to us as we think through our priorities and principles for funding decisions…I have extraordinary respect for Barbara's scope of understanding, ability to communicate with passion and reason, and her deep understanding of a very complex field. She gives all of us-ministries and funders-genuine hope and invaluable insight." -Fred Smith, president, The Gathering

Barbara J. Elliott is a philanthropic advisor with the Legacy Group. She is the founder of the Center for Renewal, which serves the leaders of faith-based groups. President George W. Bush gave her an award for Human Rights in 2001, honoring her work with refugees and the poor. She is the author of Candles Behind the Wall: Heroes of the Peaceful Revolution that Shattered Communism, and scores of articles on civic renewal. Barbara Elliott lives in Houston, Texas.