Beneficiaries of Social Initiatives of Indic Faith-Based Organizations

Abstract

This article is based on a study of a sample of 966 beneficiaries of selected social initiatives across nine Indic Faith-Based Organizations (IFBOs) in India. Findings revealed that IFBO beneficiary profiles resemble the general public welfare user in terms of financial/economic status. Service experiences entailed duration, type, influence of faith in terms of teachings, vision–mission familiarity, and personnel contact. In general, there was a fairly sustained duration of service obtained and sacredness/faith permeated into varied aspects of service provision. The main beneficiary self-implication was functional need fulfillment. Some transcendental aspects and faith cohesiveness also entered the picture. Perceived implications for society were in terms of contribution to social growth and development, spreading the organizational message, and demonstration of social innovations guided by organizational ideology. Some contentions on perceived differentials vis-à-vis other social initiatives were that the teacher/members of the order and faith marked the difference.