The Network Savings and Training Program

Program Mission Statement:

(self-reported)

This program is implemented in partnership with Emmanuel Gospel Center in Boston, MA, under the leadership of program director Rev. Brian Gearin. The Network works to transition families from subsistence living to a lifestyle of choice in academic, professional, and financial pursuits. The Network instructs participants in financial literacy and business concepts, training them to build successful small businesses that will generate a liveable income for their families and provide needed goods and services to their communities.

Score Summary

Overall Score:	Excellent
Practice Principles:	Excellent
Faith Related Elements:	Good
Outcome Measures:	Excellent
Change Process:	Better

Program Facts

• Paid (FTE) Staff Working: 1
• Program Participants Last Year: 42
• Meets about 8 time(s) with each participant per month
• Participants remain in the program for 19 months

Board Activities

Funding Overview

(self-reported)

	This Program	This Organization
Organization Budget: $1,750,000 Program Budget: $150,149
Foundation Grants	50%	35%
Government Grants/Contracts	0%	6%
Individual Gifts	0%	38%
Business/Corporate Gifts	50%	8%
Congregation/Denominational Gifts	0%	7%
Dues/Fees/Income	0%	0%
Other	0%	6%
	Average Program Funding From All Samaritan Programs	Average Organization Funding From All Samaritan Organizations
The next charts display the average funding sources for all programs currently in the Samaritan Guide for your comparison. Average Organization Budget: $3,817,897 Average Program Budget: $340,761
Foundation Grants	23%	18%
Government Grants/Contracts	3%	8%
Individual Gifts	32%	33%
Business/Corporate Gifts	8%	8%
Congregation/Denominational Gifts	10%	10%
Dues/Fees/Income	8%	9%
Other	13%	11%

It is important to maintain diverse income sources for your programs and for your oganization as a whole. Doing so provides long-term financial stability to your organizations and programs. It is also important to note that government funding often comes with stipulations and restrictions. More information is available in the Raising Resources Toolkit - pdf.

Score Details

Program Focus
Program Mission	Clarity and specificity of the program's mission statement.	Excellent
Target Population	Clarity and specificity of the programs target clientele.	Excellent
Eligibility Criteria	Clarity and specificity of the program's eligibility criteria.	Excellent
Program Requirements	Well defined requirements for client participation.	Excellent
Referrals From Other Organizations	Do other organizations recommend this program to their clientele.	Excellent
Referrals to Other Organizations	Does this program recommend other programs to their clients?	Better
Volunteer to Staff Ratio	Are volunteers effectively incorporated into the program?	Better
Past Participant Recruiting	Are past program participants recruited as volunteers?	Excellent
Evaluation and Practice Princples
Practice Principles	How supports and resources are provided to increase outcomes.	Excellent
Outcome Measurement	The ability to measure stated program outcomes.	Excellent
Change Process	Specific and measurable statement of the program's goals.	Better
Faith Related Elements	Integration of faith related elements.	Good
Measurement Frequency	Frequency of measuring client outcomes.	Better
Program Evaluation	Level of the budget allocated to measuring client outcomes.	Excellent
Institutional Stability
Organization Age	A measure of the organization's durability.	Excellent
Board Oversight	How involved in the program are the members of its board?	Excellent
Program Duration	Average duration of a clients participation with a program.	Better
Finances
Budget Diffusion	Diversity of the programs funding sources.	Good
Government Funding	Does this program accept little or no government funding?	Excellent

Program Score Details

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Outcomes & Measures:

(self-reported)

Scoring for this section is based on the organizations ability to provide at least three clear and specific outcomes with corresponding measures in which a relationship is shown between outcomes and measures.

Outcome 1: Establish deposit-only personal savings accounts, in which participants deposit $30 a week for 26 weeks

Measure Used:
The program opens the account for the participant; participants are required to show deposit slip at weekly meetings

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Outcome 2: Open a business savings account

Measure Used:
Program works with specific banks that provide low- or no-fee accounts, although participants are not required to use those banks. Participants must show proof of opening the account by providing account number

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Outcome 3: Complete curriculum and all weekly assignments; prepare business plan; qualify for graduation

Measure Used:
Monitored in peer groups by facilitator (leader). Groups serve as forum for sharing with each other the challenges of saving money, restructuring their finances, and starting their businesses

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Outcome 4: Start their businesses

Measure Used:
Observation and knowledge that participant started business; leaders would also know if participants sought loans via United Christian Financial Assn. or participating banks

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Outcome 5: Grow their businesses; continue to apply business principles taught; become better financial managers

Measure Used:
Program provides monthly meetings for one year after graduation to reinforce business and personal disciplines and hash out problems.

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Change Process:

(self-reported)

Scoring for this section is based on the organizations ability to provide clear, measurable, client-focused stages of change based on participant participation.

Participants meet every week for 26 weeks with their peer group and facilitator. This weekly interaction and guidance provides the instruction and support needed to complete the curriculum, draw up the business plan, meet the savings commitment, and resolve difficulties. The one-year, post-graduate training provides further support and instruction during monthly meetings. Graduates are a prime source for future business education cycles, as they make important recommendations for changes in the program and serve as mentors to new entrepreneurs.

End Notes

Incomplete Applications

Significant decreases in certain scores may indicate failure to comprehensively complete certain sections of the Samaritan Award application. Please be sure to fill out every question in the Samaritan Award application.

Relative Scoring

Total program scores are partially computed against other programs from within the same pool of applications and so are not cumulative.

Additional Reference Material

More information on scoring and methodology may be found on the Samaritan Guide and Award website.

Acton Institute Relationship

The Samaritan Guide and Samaritan Award are projects run by the Acton Institute. Inclusion in the Guide does not signify endorsement by the Acton Institute. More information on why the Acton Institute runs this project is available online.