Stanley W. Carlson-Thies |
1. |
Plans,
Not Just Visions. To be entrusted with public
funds to serve the needy, you need specific plans for
how you will help families overcome their problems. Faith
is essential but no substitute for plans. Specify outcomes
and demonstrate how your program will produce them. |
2. |
Don't
Chase Money. You have a right to compete for
funding to provide services. Just be sure that the funds
will help you carry out what you know how to do well.
Don't be tempted to start a new program just because money
is available for it. |
3. |
Be
Accountable. Make sure you have policies, procedures,
and personnel that enable you to account for income and
expenditures, monitor staff and volunteers, and keep track
of clients progress. Government will, and should, ask
you to be accountable for how you spend, what you do,
and what works. |
4. |
Avoid
Dependency. Never become dependent on any one
source of income. Plan ahead what you will do if government
funding dries up or an unacceptable condition becomes
the price of continued funding. Establish a maximum percentage
of funds from any single source. |
5. |
Separate
Incorporation. Establish a separate but faith-based
501(c)(3) corporation to receive government money and
to operate your service programs. Your congregation will
be protected from unwanted government rules and prying,
and a separate structure can be specifically designed
for effective services for the community. |
6. |
Join
Hands. Your congregation has a vision for service?
Wonderful. First step: see if any one else is already
filling the need and join with them. If no one is yet
active, get busy, but draw in others who share your vision
and can bring their own expertise and connections. |
7. |
Be
Careful About Religion. Faith undergirds the
solution. But the poor are not necessarily without faith;
they may be suffering because of the evil of others. So
let faith be resource, guide, and connecting point, not
the end of the story. And respect, without ignoring, the
alternative faiths many will bring. |
8. |
Get
into the Loop. Government contracting and policy
making are long-standing operations with their own language,
information channels, and players. Want to be serious
about working with government? Find out what the loop
is and get into it. Don't try it alone, join a network. |
9. |
Check
With a Lawyer. No matter how well you understand
Charitable Choice, if you plan to get involved with government
you first should consult with an attorney experienced
with government rules and regulations, religious organizations,
and the nonprofit sector. |
10. |
Advocate
As Well As Serve. As you serve the needy with
your best efforts, don't forget that they may also need
you to be on their side as their advocate to government.
And don't let your focus on service blind you to the need
for justice in public policies and economic life. |
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© Stanley W. Carlson-Thies, 1999
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