After 30 years of ministry, Prison Fellowship International’s impact had flattened considerably. In order to revive ministry effectiveness, an innovative strategy was developed to create positive, measurable outcomes in the lives of prisoners and their families. Two years later, PFI is seeing significant breakthrough in capacity building for restorative justice in prisons worldwide.
| Organization Name: | Prison Fellowship International |
| Location: | Washington, DC |
| Project Name: | The Prisoner’s Journey Capacity Building Project |
| Amount Awarded: | $98,800.00 |
| Date Awarded: | 12/10/2016 |
| Participating Grantmakers: | Bridgeway Foundation, John & Rebecca Horwood, Kehila Fund, Redleaf Foundation, River Dali Fund |
| Purpose of Investment: | To double the number of worldwide prisons offering innovative restorative justice programming, expand their volunteers by 2,400, and increase their fundraising capability by 68%. |
Executive Summary from PFI:
Program partnerships are innovative long-term contractual agreements between Prison Fellowship International and select affiliates to jointly carry out programs that benefit prisoners and their families. In partnership with each national ministry, Prison Fellowship International provides a program model, startup funding and support to launch the initiative. By operating the program according to the established standards, National Affiliates are given the tools and training to recruit additional volunteers, improve the local profile and standing of their organization, and identify and engage local donors to support the effort following the first three years.
One of the programs we utilize in this strategy is a prisoner evangelism and discipleship program called The Prisoner’s Journey. A quarterly review process for the 20 countries currently delivering The Prisoner’s Journey program helps keep National Affiliates on track and builds brand consistency. Training for all participating national ministries will be offered to learn planning and budgeting. Reporting and quarterly reviews target technical assistance in five key areas: local fund raising, board development, church partnerships, volunteer management, and prison engagement. This project facilitates our work with National Affiliates each quarter to collect data, review quarterly reports, and transform this data into targeted training and technical assistance plans to ensure program impact as well as overall ministry capacity endures beyond the three-year start up.
Measurable Outcomes:
- By the end of 2017 we will expand the total number of prisons participating in the project by 104% growing from 384 to 784 prisons. Increasing total prisons served allows the national ministry to reach more prisoners with gospel-centered programming and strengthens vital relationships with the local prison authorities.
- By the end of 2017 we will recruit an additional 2,410 volunteers (a 48% increase from 5,010 to 7,420 volunteers across 20 countries participating in the program). Volunteer growth is also a sign of increased church partnerships; a key indicator of capacity building and a critical need for long-term ministry strength.
- By the end of 2017 national affiliate fundraising will increase by 68%. Training and equipping national affiliates to raise funds locally significantly improves program sustainability and overall ministry capacity.