Power to Change (ex-Campus Crusade for Christ): its impact
Care: At least some of the information about this charity is no longer current. Use the ‘Search charity names’ box to see if there is a later review. If the latest review has a message like this, you are welcome to make your case for an updated review via email to ted@businessbythebook.com.au.
This is a review of the charity Power to Change (ex-Campus Crusade for Christ). It uses the information they have put on the charity regulator’s website (the ACNC Register) and the information on their own website. (We also sent them a draft of this review – see their response below.)
The Power to Change Register entry gives this under ‘Summary of activities’:
The company’s Annual Information Statement (AIS) 2019 [on the Register] says the same.
A charity’s activities should be chosen to advance its mission or purpose. In the place where one might be, the ‘Who is Power to Change? section, it is their ‘vision’ that appears to guide their choice of strategy (‘process’):
But inside a document that is on the website, a report on 2019[1], there is both purpose and mission:
These appear to be substantially the same thing. And also substantially the same as what is described as their ‘process’ on the website. Confusing.
As Christians, we are required to be good stewards of the resources God has provided us (e.g., 1 Corinthians 4:2)[2]. To do this, we need to have discernment (e.g., Proverbs 1:5[3]). Therefore, unless we are giving just to make ourselves feel better, we should have an interest in seeing that the money we are giving is likely to be used both properly and effectively.
Everything that Power to Change is doing may be being done ‘properly’[4], but unless the money is producing the change in people that it intends (i.e., an impact[5]), the money would be better used elsewhere. And the same applies if the impact is less than is being achieved by another charity.
Impact
Power to Change do not say how their ‘process’ (or mission/purpose – see above) allows them to ‘impact Australia tomorrow and reach the nations for eternity’ (a theory of change).
Nowhere does Power to Change acknowledge that the impact of efforts is a relevant question for donors. Consistent with this, there is nothing systematic on the website about the impact of Power to Change’s beneficiaries[6]. Nor is any offered. (All you can do is to contact them, and see if they have any information on impact available.)
Power to Change’s response
They received our invitation to comment on a draft of this review, but chose not to respond.
[Format updated 23 January 2021; content unaffected].
There is no later report. ↑
And holds us accountable for their use (Luke 16:1-9). ↑
See also Proverbs 14:15 and Prov 19:2. ↑
The behaviour of its people, its use of money, and how it goes about its business. Here is our 2019 review that addresses some important things in this area. ↑
The ACNC has previously – the Fact Sheet is no longer on the site – explained impact this way: “Every charity has a mission that is associated with producing a public benefit. As this mission is pursued, the changes produced in individuals and their communities can be referred to as the charity’s ‘impact.’ If you are donating to a charity, you may wish to make sure that your donation is creating the greatest impact possible.’ There is no reason why this wouldn’t still be their view. ↑
Power to Change publishes ‘stories’, but not all describe impact, and when they do, they are anecdotal evidence only. ↑