Learning from What Works

An essential element of the Latino Pastoral Leaders Initiative is conducting a regular and robust evaluation of all program elements, the participant’s experience, the growth of individual participants, and the sustained impact beyond the cohort experience. 

When asked at the conclusion of the Initiative whether the Latino Pastoral Leaders Initiative gave them confidence to seek out future ministry leadership roles, 100 percent of participants in the Diocese of St. Augustine responded “absolutely” or “very much so.” Similarly, when asked if the Initiative increased their effectiveness in meeting their ministry leadership goals, 100 percent of participants in the Diocese of Austin responded “absolutely” or “very much so” and when asked if the Initiative increased their confidence to negotiate challenges in their ministry, 100 percent of the participants in the Diocese of Joliet responded “absolutely” or “very much so.”

As a part of a rigorous evaluation program to evaluate the sustained impact of the Initiative, Leadership Roundtable engaged a third-party organization to conduct a mixed-methods impact assessment study utilizing both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) data from the participants six-months following the conclusion of the Initiative. At the time of this report, this study has been completed for the first two cohorts, the Diocese of Joliet and the Diocese of St. Augustine. The researchers’ findings are positive and powerful. 

For the cohort in the Diocese of Joliet: “Considering the Latino Pastoral Leaders Initiative is a prototype, with no precedent as a program, its reception and impacts are exceptionally impressive. The content is strong and especially appreciated by lay leaders, both volunteer and professional. Participant satisfaction is very high, and the program shows very positive outcomes in terms of individual leaders’ learning, behavior, and results.” 

For the cohort in the Diocese of St. Augustine: “The results of this study indicate that the Latino Pastoral Leaders Initiative has become an even stronger program after its successful start, with stellar results across many categories and improving outcomes in those areas previously identified as needing attention.” 

Leadership Roundtable remains committed to rigorous evaluation and continuous improvement from the invaluable feedback of participants. 

One measure of participant satisfaction measured in this study is the Net Promoter Score (NPS). NPS quantifies the likelihood of a person recommending an organization or service to a friend or colleague. As such, it is a good proxy for enthusiasm. In the Diocese of Joliet, participants rated the Latino Pastoral Leaders Initiative with an NPS of 67 and in the Diocese of St. Augustine, an NPS of 86. By contrast, the average American business elicits an NPS of 10, with high performing businesses producing an NPS of 50-80. Average nonprofit NPS scores vary by sector though generally tend to be higher overall than that of for-profit companies. With above average NPS scores, the Initiative has generated not only satisfaction but also enthusiasm among the participants. 

“To me, the best part of the initiative has been the people that I’m able to meet here, the network of the exemplary disciples and apostles of Christ,” Clara Sowers, a participant in the Diocese of St. Augustine, shared. “How much the Holy Spirit is involved in this program has been a constant surprise for me.” 

“If you have the opportunity to participate, you should do so, as it makes you see yourself differently, that there is more potential than you think you have,” said Williams Toledo, a participant in the Diocese of St. Augustine. 

“The program impacts the church positively by empowering its leaders and training them to be more effective in their role. More people should participate to strengthen their leadership skills and be more effective and inspire more potential leaders,” said Luz Guerrero, a participant in the Diocese of St. Augustine. 

This piece is an excerpt from the 2022 Latino Pastoral Leaders Impact Report.