Comparing Christian FBOs and Secular NGOs in Guatemala: A Qualitative Assessment of Individual Motivations and Organizational Effectiveness

This thesis is an investigation of Christian faith-based organizations and secular non-governmental organizations and their employees in the city of Antigua, Guatemala and its surrounding area. Differences between the two types of organizations are examined by detailing the motivations and beliefs of individual employees, and by examining the idea of a religious comparative advantage stemming from community embeddedness, cultural proximity, and employee resiliency. Qualitative interviews were conducted with employees of development organizations working in the Antigua area. This research revealed that development practitioners, whether religious or not, hold similar values that motivate them to work in development. It also revealed that religious employees emphasized relationships with aid recipients, established trust with aid recipients by relating to them through their faith, and relied on their faith to handle burnout. Non-religious employees maintained more distant relationships with aid recipients, experienced a “cultural divide,” and relied on the support of their peers.