Launched in 2005, the Partners in Transformation (PiT) competition seeks to identify effective models of faith-based cross-sector collaborations that are solving difficult social problems across America’s communities. Through the contest, CFIC hopes to encourage multi-sector collaboration, strengthen FBOs, and publicize effective program models. Moreover, we aim to identify promising practices and disseminate knowledge about them among faith leaders, funders, and public agencies passionate to provide better social services for the disadvantaged.
Eligible contest participants are faith-based nonprofit organizations, or houses of worship (e.g., church, mosque, synagogue), with a focus on social service and an annual budget of less than $5 million.
Applicants in the competition must be able to show progress in achieving positive, demonstrable outcomes and must be operating their effective program in collaboration with an entity outside of the faith community (e.g., with public schools, police, secular nonprofits, government agencies, etc.)
The contest focus varies from year to year, both in terms of program service type and geography. In 2005, for example, FBOs engaged in any form of social service could apply as long as they were located in one of the ten pilot states: AL, AK, AR, FL. ID, MI, NJ, OH, OK, and TX. In 2006, the competition is focusing on three categories of services whose need has been highlighted through the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes:
1. Emergency Disaster Response (short-term relief efforts)
2. Community Recovery/Rebuilding Efforts (long-term developmental efforts, e.g., jobs and housing)
3. Services Addressing Deep Pockets of Poverty (e.g., programs serving high-risk youth, healthcare for the indigent, jobs programs for the chronically underemployed, etc. in historically poor/distressed neighborhoods).
The geographic focus for the 2006 contest includes the ten following states where these services are currently most needed, or have been in great demand in recent years due to other natural disasters and terrorist attacks: AL, CA, FL, LA, MS, NC, NY, OK, TX, and VA.
Winners in the PiT competition receive cash grants and public recognition (e.g., media attention generated by CFIC, honors from state public officials, promotion by CFIC of winning models to private charitable foundations). In 2006, over $60,000 in grants will be awarded.
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