Frequently
Asked Questions
The
Center has created a trusted
network of proven professionals
that can address the mission-critical
needs of the grassroots and
nonprofit service community.
The Center acts as a catalyst
and organizer of experienced
and proven talent which will
create opportunities and
provide greater exposure
for the RA and in RA's marketplace.
Final arrangements for services
will be an independent action
between the RA and the individual
organization. In some cases,
there will be opportunities
for the RA to be in a contractual
arrangement with the Center
for various grants and contracts
it obtains.
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How
do I become a Resource Associate
(RA)?
The
RA application is a two step
process.
Step
1: Create a User Name and
Password:
In
order to submit a Resource
Associate application you
must first obtain a login
ID and create a password to
protect any information
exchanged with us.
This
link will take you to the
registration process: Would
you like to register?
Once
you created your
user ID and password, you
are ready to enroll as a
RA!
Step
2: Enroll as a Resource Associate
Select
the following link: Become
a RA. Additional information
and instructions are provided
on this page.
To
access the RA application
you must - log-in. Enter
your ID and password. The
Resource Associate
application will open.
Please complete all required
fields,designated by an
*. Provide three (3) references
and submit your application.
Your
application will be reviewed
and references verified.
You will be notified by
email of application process
and approval.
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Charitable
Choice: The Facts
What
are the key points of the
Charitable Choice laws?
Do
the Charitable Choice
laws mean that faith-based
organizations can apply
for funds only from these
four Federal programs?
Do
the Charitable Choice
laws mean that faith-based
organizations get "special treatment"?
Equal
Treatment for Faith-Based
Providers
Can
we use facility space on
our church property to
provide a Federal service,
and if we do, do we have
to take down our religious
symbols inside?
My organization
has a religious name
and its chartering documents
contain religious references.
Is it still eligible
to receive Federal funding?
My organization has a requirement that the
members of its governing board be members of our faith. Is
it still eligible to receive Federal funding?
If our faith-based organization takes government
money, will the government secularize our organization?
Helping
those in Need: An Overview
of the Federal Grants Process
What
kinds of grants are available
from the Federal Government?
How can
my organization find
out about Federal grants?
How
do I go about applying
for a Federal grant?
We are
a small organization
and we can't afford to
hire a grant writer,
accountant, and lawyer
to help us seek a Federal
Grant. Is there any help
for us?
Is there any money specifically set aside
for faith-based organizations?
What if I apply for a Federal grant, but my
request is turned down?
What are some of the legal obligations that
come along with a Federal grant?
Partnering
with the Federal Government:
Some Do's and Don'ts for
Faith-Based Organizations
What
are the rules on funding
religious activity with
Federal money?
If
I cannot take government
money to support religious
activity, how do I
separate our religious
activities from our
Federally-funded social
service program?
Can people who receive Federally-funded services
from us also participate in our religious activities?
What about religious activities that we have
with our staff and volunteers in the presence of those whom
we are helping?
If someone asks me about my faith, can I share
it with them?
Can we use Federal funds to purchase religious
materials or materials that are faith-filled?
We are a faith-based organization. Can Federal
funds be used to pay the salary of a member of our staff?
What if we have someone on our staff who works
for a government-sponsored program only part-time?
Will the way in which our faith based organization
hires employees change if we receive Federal funding?
If our organization receives Federal funds,
can it choose not to provide services to some people?
What will happen if we violate any of these
rules?
Does our religious organization have to
form a special nonprofit organization in order to receive Federal
funding?
Guidance
to Faith-Based and Community
Organizations on Partnering
with the Federal Government
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menu
The guiding
principle behind President
Bush’s Faith-Based
and Community Initiative
is that faith-based charities
should be able to compete
on an equal footing for
public dollars to provide
public services. President
Bush believes that the
Federal government, within
the framework of Constitutional
church-state guidelines,
should encourage faith-based
charities to reach out
with compassion to help
even more people in need.
What
kinds of grants are available
from the Federal government?
The
Federal government uses
two kinds of grants:
Grants handed out by
an agency of the Federal
government (also known
as ‘discretionary’ grants) – for
instance, a homeless assistance grant given out by the Department of Health
and Human Services to a homeless shelter.
Grants that put Federal money in the hands of States, cities, or counties
for them to distribute to charities and other social service providers, usually
under their own rules and regulations (also known as ‘formula’ or ‘block’ grants).
Therefore, you can apply directly to the Federal government or you can apply
for funds to an entity that distributes money it receives from the Federal
government.
More
money is available from
programs administered
by States and localities
than from the Federal
government directly.
For example, in 2001,
the Department of Health
and Human Services awarded
$25 billion directly
to grant applicants,
but it gave $160 billion
to States and localities,
which in turn made much
of this money available
to non-governmental organizations.
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How
can my organization find out
about Federal grants?
The
White House Office of Faith-Based
and Community Initiatives
has prepared a list of general
information about nearly
100 programs operated by
the Departments of Justice,
Labor, Health and Human Services,
Housing and Urban Development,
and Education. The list – which
is available in the brochure Federal
Funding Opportunities for
Organizations that Help Those
in Need and at www.fbci.gov – includes
programs from these agencies
that are of interest to small,
grassroots groups. Use this
list as a starting point
to find about opportunities
that may interest you.
Once you find a program that interests you, you can get more information
about when and how you can apply for funds from the agency contact in the
listing. You can also use the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, or
CFDA, as a resource. To use the CFDA, locate the CFDA number from the information
provided in the list in Federal Funding Opportunities for Organizations
that Help Those in Need. Enter that number into the “program number” box
on the CFDA’s web site at http://www.cfda.gov/public/faprs.htm.
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How
do I go about applying for
a Federal grant?
All
Federal grants must be
announced to the public.
These announcements (sometimes
called a “Program
Announcement,” “Request
for Proposal,” “Notice
of Funding Availability,” or “Solicitation
for Grant Applications”)
are the Federal government’s
way of looking for charities
and other groups to provide
a Federally-funded service.
Each grant announcement will contain instructions on how to apply, including
where to get an application packet, information the application should contain,
the date the application is due, and agency contact information.
Grant announcements are issued throughout the year. Unfortunately, there
is no single document that contains every Federal grant announcement and
no uniform format for these announcements, although the Administration is
working to change this. In the future, it hopes that Federal agencies will
publish grant announcements electronically, in a single format and on a single
web site (www.fedbizopps.gov).
Currently, most grant announcements are listed in the Federal Register, a
daily publication that can be accessed on the Internet (http://www.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html)
and at major public libraries. The Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance (www.cfda.gov) also contains information
about grant announcements. In addition, agency web sites contain information
on funding opportunities. In particular, faith-based and community groups
should check for information on the web sites for the White
House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (www.fbci.gov),
as well as on the web sites for the agency Centers.
Many States and cities also have liaisons that can help faith-based and community
applicants identify grant opportunities.
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We
are a small organization and
we can’t afford to hire
a grant writer, accountant,
and lawyer to help us seek
a Federal grant. Is there any
help for us?
Most
Federal agencies have experts
who are available to help
organizations apply for
and manage their grants.
Applicants may call the
official identified in
the grant announcement
or contact an agency’s
regional office. These
agency staff are available
to answer questions over
the phone. They may also
refer applicants to local
or nearby technical assistance
workshops or to organizations
that are under contract
with the Federal government
to provide this kind of
assistance.
Assistance may also be
available from one of
the nearly two dozen
organizations funded
by the Department of
Health and Human Services’ Compassion
Capital Fund. These organizations
help small faith-based
and community organizations
learn about the grants process. They may also help small groups with other
challenges, such as training volunteers and staff or expanding the reach
of the services they provide. They do this at no cost to your organization.
You can learn more about the Compassion Capital Fund and the organizations
it funds at www.hhs.gov/fbci.
In addition, for general questions about writing a grant proposal, many State
governments and cities provide grant-writing workshops, as do a number of
non-profit organizations and foundations.
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Is
there any money specifically
set aside for faith-based organizations?
No.
While there are small programs
like the Compassion Capital
Fund that are designed to
help faith-based and community
groups with the challenges
they face, the Federal government
does not set aside funds
specifically for those groups.
However, each year hundreds
of millions of dollars go
to religious charities and
grassroots groups to provide
vital Federal services for
the poor. The government
does not ask, “Does
your organization believe
in God?” It asks, “Does
your program work? Does it
meet the specific requirements
of the grant? Is it turning
peoples’ lives around?
Is it accountable for the
money it receives?”
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What
if I apply for a Federal
grant, but my request is
turned down?
There
is no guarantee you will
receive a grant if you apply.
However, if you do not receive
a grant, you should try to
find out why you did not
receive funding and how you
could improve a future application.
You can follow up with the
program officer identified
in the announcement. This
individual will either be
able to provide you with
information about your application,
or point you to the right
person to contact. In addition,
you may even be able to obtain
written comments on your
proposal, which could be
a good learning tool.
Remember that many, many organizations compete for Federal funds, and many
groups apply several times before they receive an award. Getting feedback
on your application can help you improve your chances of receiving funds
the next time around.
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What
are some of the legal obligations
that come along with a Federal
grant?
Financial
Reporting Requirements.
To make sure that grant
funds are used properly,
organizations that receive
Federal funds must file
regular financial status
reports. These forms should
not take long to fill out,
but they are important.
The basic financial report
form is a one-page document
called Standard Form 269.
Many agencies have adapted
this form to suit their
own programs. You can find
a copy of Standard
Form 269 at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/#forms.
Audit. All faith-based
and community groups
that receive Federal
funds are subject to
basic audit requirements.
These audits are intended
only to examine the Federally-funded
parts of an organization’s
operations and are not
designed to identify
unrelated problems. The
audits are necessary
to make sure that Federal
dollars have been spent
properly on legitimate
costs. It is therefore
extremely important for
grant recipients to keep
accurate records of all
transactions conducted
with Federal funds.
Most organizations are
not audited by the government
itself, although the
Federal government has
the right to audit any
program that receives
public
money at any time. For example, charities that spend less than $300,000 a
year in Federal funds are generally asked only to perform a “self-audit.” For
larger grants – those over $300,000 a year – an audit by a private,
independent outside legal or accounting firm is required. More information
on audits may be found on the Office
of Management and Budget’s web site (www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars).
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menu Dealing with the
Federal government isn’t
always easy. In fact, if
you are a small organization,
all the governmental rules
and regulations can be intimidating.
If you are a faith-based
organization, the rules can
seem complicated because
there are some special considerations
that come into play when
faith-based groups work with
the Federal government.
What
are the rules on funding
religious activity with Federal
money?
The
United States Supreme Court
has said that faith-based
organizations may not use
direct government support
to support “inherently
religious” activities.
Don’t be put off by
the term “inherently
religious” – it’s
simply a phrase that has
been used by the courts in
church-state cases. Basically,
it means you can not use
any part of a direct Federal
grant to fund religious worship,
instruction, or proselytization.
Instead, organizations may
use government money only
to support the non-religious
social services that they
provide. Therefore, faith-based
organizations that receive
direct governmental funds
should take steps to separate,
in time or location, their
inherently religious activities
from the government-funded
services that they offer.
Such organizations should
also carefully account for
their use of all government
money.
This
does not mean your organization
can’t have religious
activities. It simply means
you can’t use taxpayer
dollars to fund them. Some
faith-based organizations
set up separate charitable
organizations (so-called “501(c)(3)
corporations”) to keep
programs that receive government
money separate from those
that engage in inherently
religious activities.
This rule of thumb is
different if your organization
receives Federal money
that comes in the form
of “vouchers” or
other so-called “indirect
aid.” In simple terms,
an indirect aid program
is one that gives funds
or certificates to individuals
in need, which can be used
to obtain services from
a number of qualified organizations.
A good example of indirect
aid is a child-care certificate
that a parent can use for
daycare at any participating
child-care center. School
vouchers are another example
of indirect aid. Recently,
the United States Supreme
Court upheld a school voucher
program in Cleveland where
the vouchers were used
for education at religious
schools. However, the vast
majority of programs affected
by President Bush’s
Faith-Based and Community
Initiative involve direct
aid to organizations (that
is, money that goes directly
to the organizations themselves),
not vouchers or indirect
aid.
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Federal Government
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If
I cannot take government money
to support religious activity,
how do I separate our eligious
activities from our Federally-funded
social service program?
A
faith-based organization
should take steps to ensure
that its inherently religious
activities, such as religious
worship, instruction, or
proselytization, are separate – in
time or location – from
the government-funded services
that it offers. If, for example,
your church receives Federal
money to help unemployed
people improve their job
skills, you may conduct this
program in a room in the
church hall and still have
a Bible study taking place
in another room in the same
hall (but no Federal money
can be used to conduct the
Bible study). Or a faith-based
social service provider may
conduct its programs in the
same room that it uses to
conduct eligious activities,
so long as its government-funded
services and its religious
activities are held at different
times. If you have any questions
or doubts, you should check
with the official who administers
your Federal funds.
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Can
people who receive Federally-funded
services from us also participate
in our religious activities?
Yes,
provided that a few rules
are followed. It may be that
some people have chosen to
receive services from your
organization because it is
faith-based, and they will
be eager to participate.
But faith-based organizations
that receive direct Federal
aid may not require program
participants to attend or
take part in any religious
activities. Although you
may invite participants to
join in your organization’s
religious services or events,
you should be careful to
reassure them that they can
receive government-funded
help even if they do not
participate in these activities,
and their decision will have
no bearing on the services
they receive. In short, any
participation by recipients
of taxpayer-funded services
in such religious activities
must be completely voluntary.
For example, a church that
receives direct government
aid to provide shelter to
homeless individuals may
not require those individuals
to attend a Bible study or
participate in a prayer preceding
a meal as part of the government-funded
services they provide. But
they may invite those individuals
to join them, so long as
they make clear that their
participation is optional.
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Federal Government
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What
about religious activities
that we have with our staff
and volunteers in the presence
of those whom we are helping?
A
faith-based group may gather
volunteers and employees
together to engage in religious
activities, such as a prayer
to renew their own religious
mission and recommit themselves
to helping those in need.
An example might be a soup
kitchen where volunteers
say a prayer together before
the meal is served. It is
important for faith-based
groups to make sure that
a prayer in these circumstances
is voluntary, and understood
to be voluntary, for program
participants.
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If
someone asks me about my faith,
can I share it with them?
If
someone asks you about your
personal faith while you
are providing a government-funded
service, you may answer briefly.
But if you wish to have a
longer discussion on matters
of faith, you should set
up a time to speak with that
person later. In this way,
you avoid using government
funds for what might be taken
to be an inherently religious
activity, and the program
is kept on track. But you
also have an opportunity
later to share your faith
and explain why you do what
you do.
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Federal Government
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Can
we use Federal funds to purchase
religious materials or materials
that are faith-filled?
No.
Faith-based organizations
may not use Federal funds
to purchase religious materials – such
as the Bible, Torah, Koran,
Talmud, or other religious
or scriptural materials.
If you have questions about
the appropriateness of your
materials, you may want to
consult an attorney or ask
the government official who
is administering your program
for guidance.
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We
are a faith-based organization.
Can Federal funds be used to
pay the salary of a member
of our staff?
Yes,
provided that this staff
person is delivering the
Federally-funded service
and is not engaged in religious
worship, instruction, or
proselytization. The staff
member may be a rabbi, priest,
imam, or preacher, so long
as he or she does not engage
in these activities while
being paid with public dollars.
For example, a minister may
teach an anger management
seminar to ex-offenders as
part of a Federal grant.
But the minister must keep
his or her teaching on the
subject of anger management
separate from his church
duties and preaching responsibilities.
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Federal Government
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What
if we have someone on our staff
who works for a government-sponsored
program only part-time?
It
is fine for a faith-based
organization to employ
someone on their staff
to perform religious duties
while also having that
person administer part
of a Federally-funded program.
There are, however, rules
that must be followed.
The part-time worker must
not engage in inherently
religious activities while
working on the Federally-funded
portion of his or her job.
And that part-time worker
must also document that
he met his time commitment
to the government-sponsored
program by keeping careful
time records of his activities.
This will make sure that
government funds are spent
only on non-religious activities.
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Will
the way in which our faith-based
organization hires employees
change if we receive Federal
funding?
In
most circumstances, no. There
is no general Federal law
that prohibits faith-based
organizations that receive
Federal funds from hiring
on a religious basis. Nor
does the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, which applies regardless
of whether an organization
receives Federal funds, prohibit
faith-based organizations
from hiring on a religious
basis. This Act protects
Americans from employment
discrimination based on race,
color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, and disability.
But the Civil Rights Act
also recognizes the fundamental
rights of faith-based organizations
to hire employees who share
their religious beliefs.
The United States Supreme
Court unanimously upheld
this special protection for
faith-based groups in 1987,
and it has been the law since
then. Thus, a Jewish organization
can decide to hire only Jewish
employees, a Catholic organization
can decide to hire only Catholics,
and so on, without running
into problems with the Civil
Rights Act.
This special provision
for faith-based groups
protects the religious
liberty of communities
of faith. It permits faith-based
groups to promote common
values, a sense of community and unity of purpose, and shared experiences
through service – all of which contribute to a religious organization’s
effectiveness. In order for a religious organization to define or carry out
its mission, it is important that it be able to take religion into account
in hiring staff. Just as a college or university can take the academic credentials
of an applicant for a professorship into consideration in order to maintain
high standards, or an environmental organization can consider the views of
potential employees on conservation, so too should a faith-based organization
be able to take into account an applicant’s religious belief when making
a hiring decision.
One final point. In general, a faith-based organization retains this
exemption even if it receives Federal, State, or local financial assistance.
However,
certain Federal laws and regulations, as well as State and local laws, may
place conditions on the receipt of government funds. For example, some employment
laws may prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion. Or a State or
local law may prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
or require certain organizations to provide benefits to employees’ unmarried
domestic partners. Some of these laws may exempt religious organizations,
while others may not. Organizations with further questions about this issue
may wish to consult a lawyer to find out about the specific requirements
that apply to your organization and any rights you may have under the Constitution
or Federal laws.
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Federal Government
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If
our organization receives Federal
funds, can it choose not to
provide services to some people?
No.
If you take Federal money
you may not discriminate
against a person seeking
help who is eligible for
the service. For example,
if you are a religious organization
and receive public money
to run an emergency food
distribution program, you
may not serve only persons
of your faith and turn away
others. In addition, and
as discussed above, you may
not require those you serve
to profess a certain faith
or participate in religious
activities, in order to receive
the service you provide for
the Federal government.
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What
will happen if we violate any
of these rules?
If
you violate the requirements
specified in your grant or
otherwise improperly use
the funds you receive, you
may be subject to legal action.
Among other things, you may
lose your grant funds, be
required to repay the funds
you received, and pay any
damages that might be awarded
through court action. If
an organization uses its
funds fraudulently, it could
be subject to criminal prosecution.
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Federal Government
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Does
our religious organization
have to form a special nonprofit
organization in order to receive
Federal funding?
In
general, no. There is no
general Federal requirement
that an organization incorporate
or operate as a nonprofit
or obtain tax-exempt status
under section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code
in order to receive Federal
funds. However, some Federal,
State, or local programs
may impose such a requirement.
Although it will take some
time and cost some money,
a faith-based organization
may wish to establish a separate nonprofit organization to use the government
funds it receives. Taking this step can make it easier for a faith-based
organization to keep track of the public funds that it receives and spends.
It will also be easier for the government to monitor the group’s use
of grant funds without intruding on the group’s internal affairs, in
the event that an audit is conducted.
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menuFaith-based organizations
may be worried that receiving
government money will mean
they have to change their
mission or the way that they
run their organization. President
Bush is working with Congress
for legislation that will
provide definitive guidance
on these matters. In the
meantime, here is the Administration's
position on these issues.
Can
we use facility space on our
church property to provide
a Federal service, and if we
do, do we have to take down
our religious symbols inside?
Faith-based
organizations may use space
in their churches, synagogues,
mosques, or other places
of worship to provide Federally-funded
services. In addition, there
is no need to remove religious
symbols from these rooms.
For example, a faith-based
organization may operate
a Federally-funded daycare
center in a church basement,
or provide computer training
in a classroom adjacent to
a synagogue. You don’t
have to remove the Star of
David or the cross in your
building in order to deliver
a Federally-funded service
there. You may also keep
your organization’s
name even if it includes
religious words, and you
may include religious references
in your organization’s
mission statements.
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My
organization has a religious
name and its chartering documents
contain religious references.
Is it still eligible to receive
Federal funding?
Yes.
A faith-based or religious
organization does not need
to change its identity – including
its name or chartering documents – in
order to qualify for a Federal
grant. Nor does it need it
to remove religious art,
icons, scripture, or other
religious symbols from its
property or its publications – although
all of these must have been
purchased with private funds.
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My
organization has a requirement
that the members of its governing
board be members of our faith.
Is it still eligible to receive
Federal funding?
In
general, yes. A faith-based
or religious organization
does not need to change the
way it selects members for
its governing board in order
to qualify for a Federal
grant. However, there may
be some grant programs that
depart from this general
rule. For example, the law
requires Community Action
Agencies (organizations that
are eligible to receive Community
Service Block Grant funds)
to have boards that are composed
of elected public officials,
low-income neighborhood residents,
and representatives of other
organizations. A faith-based
group that is interested
in organizing or participating
in a Community Action must
comply with this requirement.
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If
our faith-based organization
takes government money, will
the government secularize our
organization?
No.
Religious organizations can
compete for government funding
to provide public services
without having to abandon
their religious character.
In fact, faith-based organizations
have every right to hold,
express and practice their
deepest convictions, so long
as any inherently religious
and worship-centered activities
are separate, voluntary,
and privately funded.
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“Charitable Choice” is
the general name for
several laws that President
Clinton signed into law
during the period of
1996-2000. These laws
were designed to give
people in need choices
among the charities offering
them services. The Charitable
Choice laws apply to
four Federal programs:
Temporary Assistance
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