Intervention Part 2 | The Core Criteria

How can we confidently identify organizations that create lasting change?

In this episode, we continue our journey through Intervention, the third dimension of generosity, by unpacking the core criteria — the essential qualities that reveal whether an organization or program is truly effective. We explore how understanding these elements can help us give with clarity and purpose.

Together we walk through the three pillars of core criteria:

• Theory of change — the roadmap showing how an intervention leads to meaningful outcomes and impact.

• Impact measurement — gathering and interpreting data to confirm real change.

• Accountability — ensuring organizations stay mission-true, led with integrity, and wise in stewarding resources.

Through real-world examples — from clean water initiatives to gospel outreach — we see how each of these principles helps us discern strong interventions, recognize assumptions, and navigate challenges like cost-effectiveness or mission drift.

By grasping these foundations, we become better equipped to spot healthy programs and invest where generosity can produce deep, lasting transformation.