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Orientation to Faith-Based Social Services
Included in this topic area are articles that provide background information promoting understanding of the unique role of faith-based organizations in providing social service.
The Roundtable on Religion & Social Welfare Policy
Wrap-around services: Serving Holistically
Being “User Friendly:” The Benefits of a Multi-Faith Staff
See all Sub-Topics
FBO - Government Collaboration
Help for FBOs and government entities in effectively connecting under the Charitable Choice rules.
Recursos del Web para la Estudios e Información Concerniente Iniciativas de Oraganizaciones Basadas
Toolkit for Government-FBO Collaboration
Fruitful Collaborations: Survey of Government-Funded Faith-Based Programs in 15 States (Exec Sum)
See all Sub-Topics
General Collaboration
Assistance for FBOs, Public/Private Funders and Public Administrators in forging productive relationships that will transform lives and communities.
Meeting the Collaboration Challenge Workbook
Changing Communities through Faith in Action: Symposium Report One
Faith in Partnership: Lessons from the Winning Models of 2005 “Partners in Transformation” Awards
See all Sub-Topics
Public/Private
Assistance for organizations with questions about the best resource and funding partners for a particular program or initiative.
Public/Private Ventures
Increasing Access to Health Care for the Medically Underserved through Faith
Public/Private Teaming
See all Sub-Topics
Faith-Philanthropy Collaboration

United Way Mass Bay and the Faith & Action Initiative
Philanthropy & Faith: An Introduction
Toolkit for Private Funders
See all Sub-Topics

Toolkit for Government-FBO Collaboration

Building Effective Cross-Sector Collaborations: A Learning Module

Toolkit for Private Funders

Mini-Profiles of Mayoral-FBO Partnerships in Prisoner Reentry

Due Diligence Tips

 
News
Conference Calendar
Forum
Find Others
Ask a Specialist

 

Read more

Public Grants

EFFECTIVE FUNDRAISING TOPIC
Public Grants

Articles, Excerpts, Tips & More
Federal Grants: A Primer: This informative article, excerpted from a publication of the White House, provides practical steps that nonprofit organizations can take to research, identify and apply for federal grants.
View this Resource

Recommended Books
Office of Partnerships and Grants’ Funding Alert: The Funding Alert is a weekly publication that highlights grants and funds for which citizen groups and nonprofit organizations can apply.
View this Resource

Guide to HHS Grants: This comprehensive document helps FBOs and CBOs navigate the funding opportunities in programs administered through the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
View this Resource

Federal Funds for Organizations that Help Those in Need : This reference tool lists a wide variety of funding programs operated by federal agencies.
View this Resource

Recommended Links
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: The online Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance gives you access to a database of all Federal programs available to State and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally -recognized Indian tribal governments; Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions.
View this Resource


 

Federal Grants: A Primer

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

 

 

Read more

Grant Information (U.S. Government)

Grant Information (U.S. Government)

 

Read more

Government - FBO Collaboration

 EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS TOPIC
FBO - Government Collaboration

Articles, Excerpts, Tips & More
Toolkit for Government-FBO Collaboration: This toolkit will orient practitioners to the issue of financial collaboration between government and FBOs. It provides summaries of legal research on the state of the law as well as practical guidance on making collaboration with government fruitful.
View this Resource

Fruitful Collaborations: Survey of Government-Funded Faith-Based Programs in 15 States (Exec Sum): This short report highlights findings from a survey of nearly 400 FBO contractors regarding their assessment of their relationship to the government agency financing their social service programs.
View this Resource

Collaborations Catalogue: A Report on Charitable Choice Implementation in 15 States (Exec Summary): This 2002 report details the extent of government contracting with FBOs under the charitable choice rules in 15 states, providing information on the amounts of contracts and the types of services funded.
View this Resource

Mini-Profiles of Mayoral-FBO Partnerships in Prisoner Reentry: The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Center on Faith-Based Initiatives produced these brief profiles of creative partnerships in Philadelphia, Charleston, Washington, Minneapolis and other cities.
View this Resource

Q&A on Legal Issues Involved in FBO-Government Partnerships: Q&A on Legal Issues Involved in FBO-Government Partnerships: This document lists general rules and frequently asked questions regarding government-faith collaboration. It tackles issues raised when FBOs receive direct grant or contract funding from government and those that come into play when FBOs receive indirect public funding (e.g., through vouchers).
View this Resource

Pros and Cons of Receiving Government Funding: This short article will help faith leaders evaluate the potential promises and pitfalls of financial collaboration with government.
View this Resource

Self-Assessment: Ten Questions to Determine Whether Your Congregation is Ready to Compete for Public: If your faith-based organization considering whether to seek public funding for your social service program? Use these questions to help you assess whether your organization is ready, and the service is appropriate, for potential government funding.
View this Resource

Due Diligence Tips: Once your FBO has secured a government contract, what practices and procedures can you put in place to help ensure that your partnership is successful? This short article offers several tips based on research at dozens of program sites as well as findings from the Hudson Institute/Bliss Institute’s 2002 survey of nearly 400 faith-based government contractors.
View this Resource

Web Resources for Research and Information Concerning Faith-Based Initiatives and Legal Issues: Use this directory of website links to connect you to governmental and nongovernmental organizations that offer up-to-date information on faith-based initiatives.
View this Resource

Faith in the City: Patrick McCrory and the Mayors Mentoring Alliance: In Charlotte, NC, Mayor McCrory has successfully mobilized corporate and faith-based volunteers to mentor at-risk youth. This case study from FASTEN partner Harvard University highlights successes, challenges, and lessons learned.
View this Resource

Building Effective Cross-Sector Collaborations: A Learning Module : This learning module includes a set of resources to enhance faith community-city hall collaborations. The resources are grounded in real-life leadership situations, presented here in a set of “living cases” which capture the innovative leadership of mayors and religious leaders in the process of its unfolding. These resources are organized around two key areas: (a) strategies for leadership; and (b) substantive policy areas.
View this Resource

Charitable Choice: Top 10 Tips for Public Officials: This list notes 10 recommendations for public officials who want to ensure that their programs are in compliance with Charitable Choice.
View this Resource

Recommended Books
Religion-Based Employment Discrimination in Charitable Choice: A Guide for the Perplexed: A Guide for the Perplexed. This article is good background information on applying the Charitable Choice rules to your organization.
View this Resource

Charitable Choice for Welfare & Community Services:: An Implementation Guide for State, Local, and Federal Officials. This is a focused introduction to the finer points of compliance with the Charitable Choice guidelines of the 1996 federal welfare reforms.
View this Resource

Recommended Links
Faithworks Indiana: This is a resource-rich website for both FBO leaders and public administrators regarding public funding of faith-based service organizations.
View this Resource

SHARE Network: Located in North Dakota, this is a model of networking various agencies involved in workforce development. The site’s goal is to help North Dakota job-seekers to find resources that will help them secure training and find gainful employment.
View this Resource


 

Toolkit for Government-FBO Collaboration

Building Effective Cross-Sector Collaborations: A Learning Module

Mini-Profiles of Mayoral-FBO Partnerships in Prisoner Reentry

Due Diligence Tips

Q&A on Legal Issues Involved in FBO-Government Partnerships

 

 

Read more

Supplemental Educational Services Provider (DoE)

Becoming a Supplemental Educational Services Provider (DoE)

 

What is Supplemental Educational Services (SES)?

Supplemental Educational Services is a program of the US Department of Education that provides voucher funding to after-school programs serving low-income students from low-performing school districts. After-school sites must apply to become an SES provider through their state Department of Education, and then can begin receiving payments for any qualified students.

 

Benefits of SES

Read more

Ticket to Work Voucher Program

Ticket to Work Voucher Program (Dept. of Labor)

 

What is the Ticket to Work Program?

This US Federal program allows any faith-based or community program (Employment Networks) to provide necessary services to individuals entitled to SSI and SSDI benefits based on disability to find, enter and retain employment. Employment Networks can start collecting payments from the Social Security Administration following the very first month a beneficiary gets his paycheck.

Who qualifies for SSI or SSDI?

Read more

Charitable Choice: Top 10 Tips for Public Officials

 

      FBO - GOVERNMENT COLLABORATION RESOURCE

Charitable Choice: Top 10 Tips for Public Officials

(Written by Stanley W. Carlson-Thies (The Center for Public Justice, 1999). Used with permission. Obtain copies of the complete guide)

    • Inform Recipients. When a provider is faith-based, make sure recipients know about its religious character, their freedom not to engage in religious activities, and their right to receive services from an alternative provider.

    • Alternatives. Be prepared to offer an accessible, high quality alternative service to any recipient who objects to a faith-based provider. Make advance arrangements with a different provider in the same location, plan access and transportation to a nearby provider, or maintain a residual government capacity to provide services.

    • Religion is Not Toxic. Ensure the religious liberty of recipients without presuming that faith is toxic. A recipient troubled by a faith-based provider may want another religious provider, not a secular service. Many of the needy are people of faith and desire assistance that acknowledges their convictions.

    • Allies. Collaboration means working together to achieve the common aim of assisting the needy while also respecting the differences between government and faith-based organizations. Allied providers are more than vendors; they retain their freedom, their right to advocate on behalf of clients, and their responsibility to speak to policy.

    • Employment Rights. The biggest barrier to greater cooperation between the faith community and public welfare is not allowing faith-based providers to hire and fire on the basis of religion. Some religious organizations choose to hire without regard to faith, but many insist on religious criteria in order to retain their distinctive missions. Contract language forbidding them to use religion in hiring is illegal under Charitable Choice and must be eliminated.
    • Vouchers. Voucher arrangements are better than contracting for preserving the independence of faith-based organizations and giving recipients choice. Where possible, redesign services and procurement policies so that a range of organizations can provide services and each recipient has the chance to select the most effective and compatible provider.

7.  Structures for Cooperation. Many congregations and faith-based nonprofits are too small to handle the service volume of a typical contract. To utilize their strengths and allow them to participate, alternatives are needed: voucherized services, contracting with a nonprofit intermediary that links congregations, a lead agency that subcontracts with smaller groups.

8.  Training and Assistance. Government can help prepare faith-based organizations to provide authorized services by offering training in contracting, record-keeping, and regulations, and by assisting them in planning and presenting service proposals. Such assistance should be offered to all small-scale nonprofits and community organizations.

9.  Affirmative Outreach. Many faith-based organizations have not been part of the human services system. They don’t know the system and their names are unlikely to appear on vendor lists, mailing lists of activist organizations, or in multi-denominational or multi-faith directories. Work through every accessible network to begin to build bridges to them.

10. Bill of Rights. Past practices and assumptions about appropriate church-state relations have left a legacy of distrust between government and faith communities. Government should acknowledge its mistakes and make amends with a statement of the rights of faith-based providers. This would confirm the government’s intention to treat them as allies and it would be a valuable guide to both sides if there is dispute about what actions are permissible.

Copies of the "Charitable Choice Implementation Guide" are available for purchase through "The Center for Public Justice." Note: You will be leaving the FASTEN Web site.

Related Articles
Collaborations Catalogue: A Report on Charitable Choice Implementation in 15 States (Exec Summary)
Q&A on Legal Issues Involved in FBO-Government Partnerships
Related Books
Charitable Choice for Welfare & Community Services:

News
Conference Calendar
Forum
Find Others
Ask a Specialist

 

Read more

George Ayittey: Cheetahs vs. Hippos for Africa's Future: TEDGlobal 2007 Video

George Ayittey

This grab-you-by-the-throat speech by

Ghanaian economist George Ayittey unleashes an almost

breathtaking torrent of controlled anger toward corrupt

leaders and the complacency that allows them to thrive.

These "Hippos" (lazy, slow, ornery) have ruined postcolonial

Africa, he says. Why, then, does he remain optimistic?

Because of the young, agile "Cheetah Generation," a "new

breed of Africans" taking their futures into their own

hands.

 

Read more

Public Grants

EFFECTIVE FUNDRAISING TOPIC
Public Grants

Articles, Excerpts, Tips & More
Federal Grants: A Primer: This informative article, excerpted from a publication of the White House, provides practical steps that nonprofit organizations can take to research, identify and apply for federal grants.
View this Resource

Recommended Books
Office of Partnerships and Grants’ Funding Alert: The Funding Alert is a weekly publication that highlights grants and funds for which citizen groups and nonprofit organizations can apply.
View this Resource

Guide to HHS Grants: This comprehensive document helps FBOs and CBOs navigate the funding opportunities in programs administered through the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
View this Resource

Federal Funds for Organizations that Help Those in Need : This reference tool lists a wide variety of funding programs operated by federal agencies.
View this Resource

Recommended Links
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: The online Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance gives you access to a database of all Federal programs available to State and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally -recognized Indian tribal governments; Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions.
View this Resource


 

Federal Grants: A Primer

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

 

 

Read more

Effective Relationship Main Page

Effective Relationships

 
Contact Us
 
Orientation to Faith-Based Social Services
Included in this topic area are articles that provide background information promoting understanding of the unique role of faith-based organizations in providing social service.
The Roundtable on Religion & Social Welfare Policy
Wrap-around services: Serving Holistically
Being “User Friendly:” The Benefits of a Multi-Faith Staff
See all Sub-Topics
FBO - Government Collaboration
Help for FBOs and government entities in effectively connecting under the Charitable Choice rules.
Recursos del Web para la Estudios e Información Concerniente Iniciativas de Oraganizaciones Basadas
Toolkit for Government-FBO Collaboration
Fruitful Collaborations: Survey of Government-Funded Faith-Based Programs in 15 States (Exec Sum)
See all Sub-Topics
General Collaboration
Assistance for FBOs, Public/Private Funders and Public Administrators in forging productive relationships that will transform lives and communities.
Meeting the Collaboration Challenge Workbook
Changing Communities through Faith in Action: Symposium Report One
Faith in Partnership: Lessons from the Winning Models of 2005 “Partners in Transformation” Awards
See all Sub-Topics
Public/Private
Assistance for organizations with questions about the best resource and funding partners for a particular program or initiative.
Public/Private Ventures
Increasing Access to Health Care for the Medically Underserved through Faith
Public/Private Teaming
See all Sub-Topics
Faith-Philanthropy Collaboration

United Way Mass Bay and the Faith & Action Initiative
Philanthropy & Faith: An Introduction
Toolkit for Private Funders
See all Sub-Topics

Toolkit for Government-FBO Collaboration

Building Effective Cross-Sector Collaborations: A Learning Module

Toolkit for Private Funders

Mini-Profiles of Mayoral-FBO Partnerships in Prisoner Reentry

Due Diligence Tips

 
News
Conference Calendar
Forum
Find Others
Ask a Specialist

 

Read more

Charitable Choice: Top 10 Tips for Public Officials

 

      FBO - GOVERNMENT COLLABORATION RESOURCE

Charitable Choice: Top 10 Tips for Public Officials

(Written by Stanley W. Carlson-Thies (The Center for Public Justice, 1999). Used with permission. Obtain copies of the complete guide)

    • Inform Recipients. When a provider is faith-based, make sure recipients know about its religious character, their freedom not to engage in religious activities, and their right to receive services from an alternative provider.

    • Alternatives. Be prepared to offer an accessible, high quality alternative service to any recipient who objects to a faith-based provider. Make advance arrangements with a different provider in the same location, plan access and transportation to a nearby provider, or maintain a residual government capacity to provide services.

    • Religion is Not Toxic. Ensure the religious liberty of recipients without presuming that faith is toxic. A recipient troubled by a faith-based provider may want another religious provider, not a secular service. Many of the needy are people of faith and desire assistance that acknowledges their convictions.

    • Allies. Collaboration means working together to achieve the common aim of assisting the needy while also respecting the differences between government and faith-based organizations. Allied providers are more than vendors; they retain their freedom, their right to advocate on behalf of clients, and their responsibility to speak to policy.

    • Employment Rights. The biggest barrier to greater cooperation between the faith community and public welfare is not allowing faith-based providers to hire and fire on the basis of religion. Some religious organizations choose to hire without regard to faith, but many insist on religious criteria in order to retain their distinctive missions. Contract language forbidding them to use religion in hiring is illegal under Charitable Choice and must be eliminated.
    • Vouchers. Voucher arrangements are better than contracting for preserving the independence of faith-based organizations and giving recipients choice. Where possible, redesign services and procurement policies so that a range of organizations can provide services and each recipient has the chance to select the most effective and compatible provider.

7.  Structures for Cooperation. Many congregations and faith-based nonprofits are too small to handle the service volume of a typical contract. To utilize their strengths and allow them to participate, alternatives are needed: voucherized services, contracting with a nonprofit intermediary that links congregations, a lead agency that subcontracts with smaller groups.

8.  Training and Assistance. Government can help prepare faith-based organizations to provide authorized services by offering training in contracting, record-keeping, and regulations, and by assisting them in planning and presenting service proposals. Such assistance should be offered to all small-scale nonprofits and community organizations.

9.  Affirmative Outreach. Many faith-based organizations have not been part of the human services system. They don’t know the system and their names are unlikely to appear on vendor lists, mailing lists of activist organizations, or in multi-denominational or multi-faith directories. Work through every accessible network to begin to build bridges to them.

10. Bill of Rights. Past practices and assumptions about appropriate church-state relations have left a legacy of distrust between government and faith communities. Government should acknowledge its mistakes and make amends with a statement of the rights of faith-based providers. This would confirm the government’s intention to treat them as allies and it would be a valuable guide to both sides if there is dispute about what actions are permissible.

Copies of the "Charitable Choice Implementation Guide" are available for purchase through "The Center for Public Justice." Note: You will be leaving the FASTEN Web site.

Related Articles
Collaborations Catalogue: A Report on Charitable Choice Implementation in 15 States (Exec Summary)
Q&A on Legal Issues Involved in FBO-Government Partnerships
Related Books
Charitable Choice for Welfare & Community Services:

News
Conference Calendar
Forum
Find Others
Ask a Specialist

 

Read more

Government - FBO Collaboration

 EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS TOPIC
FBO - Government Collaboration

Articles, Excerpts, Tips & More
Toolkit for Government-FBO Collaboration: This toolkit will orient practitioners to the issue of financial collaboration between government and FBOs. It provides summaries of legal research on the state of the law as well as practical guidance on making collaboration with government fruitful.
View this Resource

Fruitful Collaborations: Survey of Government-Funded Faith-Based Programs in 15 States (Exec Sum): This short report highlights findings from a survey of nearly 400 FBO contractors regarding their assessment of their relationship to the government agency financing their social service programs.
View this Resource

Collaborations Catalogue: A Report on Charitable Choice Implementation in 15 States (Exec Summary): This 2002 report details the extent of government contracting with FBOs under the charitable choice rules in 15 states, providing information on the amounts of contracts and the types of services funded.
View this Resource

Mini-Profiles of Mayoral-FBO Partnerships in Prisoner Reentry: The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Center on Faith-Based Initiatives produced these brief profiles of creative partnerships in Philadelphia, Charleston, Washington, Minneapolis and other cities.
View this Resource

Q&A on Legal Issues Involved in FBO-Government Partnerships: Q&A on Legal Issues Involved in FBO-Government Partnerships: This document lists general rules and frequently asked questions regarding government-faith collaboration. It tackles issues raised when FBOs receive direct grant or contract funding from government and those that come into play when FBOs receive indirect public funding (e.g., through vouchers).
View this Resource

Pros and Cons of Receiving Government Funding: This short article will help faith leaders evaluate the potential promises and pitfalls of financial collaboration with government.
View this Resource

Self-Assessment: Ten Questions to Determine Whether Your Congregation is Ready to Compete for Public: If your faith-based organization considering whether to seek public funding for your social service program? Use these questions to help you assess whether your organization is ready, and the service is appropriate, for potential government funding.
View this Resource

Due Diligence Tips: Once your FBO has secured a government contract, what practices and procedures can you put in place to help ensure that your partnership is successful? This short article offers several tips based on research at dozens of program sites as well as findings from the Hudson Institute/Bliss Institute’s 2002 survey of nearly 400 faith-based government contractors.
View this Resource

Web Resources for Research and Information Concerning Faith-Based Initiatives and Legal Issues: Use this directory of website links to connect you to governmental and nongovernmental organizations that offer up-to-date information on faith-based initiatives.
View this Resource

Faith in the City: Patrick McCrory and the Mayors Mentoring Alliance: In Charlotte, NC, Mayor McCrory has successfully mobilized corporate and faith-based volunteers to mentor at-risk youth. This case study from FASTEN partner Harvard University highlights successes, challenges, and lessons learned.
View this Resource

Building Effective Cross-Sector Collaborations: A Learning Module : This learning module includes a set of resources to enhance faith community-city hall collaborations. The resources are grounded in real-life leadership situations, presented here in a set of “living cases” which capture the innovative leadership of mayors and religious leaders in the process of its unfolding. These resources are organized around two key areas: (a) strategies for leadership; and (b) substantive policy areas.
View this Resource

Charitable Choice: Top 10 Tips for Public Officials: This list notes 10 recommendations for public officials who want to ensure that their programs are in compliance with Charitable Choice.
View this Resource

Recommended Books
Religion-Based Employment Discrimination in Charitable Choice: A Guide for the Perplexed: A Guide for the Perplexed. This article is good background information on applying the Charitable Choice rules to your organization.
View this Resource

Charitable Choice for Welfare & Community Services:: An Implementation Guide for State, Local, and Federal Officials. This is a focused introduction to the finer points of compliance with the Charitable Choice guidelines of the 1996 federal welfare reforms.
View this Resource

Recommended Links
Faithworks Indiana: This is a resource-rich website for both FBO leaders and public administrators regarding public funding of faith-based service organizations.
View this Resource

SHARE Network: Located in North Dakota, this is a model of networking various agencies involved in workforce development. The site’s goal is to help North Dakota job-seekers to find resources that will help them secure training and find gainful employment.
View this Resource


 

Toolkit for Government-FBO Collaboration

Building Effective Cross-Sector Collaborations: A Learning Module

Mini-Profiles of Mayoral-FBO Partnerships in Prisoner Reentry

Due Diligence Tips

Q&A on Legal Issues Involved in FBO-Government Partnerships

 

 

Read more

Lack of Leadership and Lack of Confidence

Submitted by an UrbanMinistry Blogger on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 12:56

 Ok, yesterday I was shocked that the congress failed to pass a bailout bill. I was upset and angry. Today, I have tried to review some news and uncover why we failed to pass this bill. By the end of today, I could be back to angry depending on the market.

Read more

Ticket to Work Voucher Program

Ticket to Work Voucher Program (Dept. of Labor)

 

What is the Ticket to Work Program?

This US Federal program allows any faith-based or community program (Employment Networks) to provide necessary services to individuals entitled to SSI and SSDI benefits based on disability to find, enter and retain employment. Employment Networks can start collecting payments from the Social Security Administration following the very first month a beneficiary gets his paycheck.

Who qualifies for SSI or SSDI?

Read more

George Ayittey: Cheetahs vs. Hippos for Africa's Future: TEDGlobal 2007 Video

George Ayittey

This grab-you-by-the-throat speech by

Ghanaian economist George Ayittey unleashes an almost

breathtaking torrent of controlled anger toward corrupt

leaders and the complacency that allows them to thrive.

These "Hippos" (lazy, slow, ornery) have ruined postcolonial

Africa, he says. Why, then, does he remain optimistic?

Because of the young, agile "Cheetah Generation," a "new

breed of Africans" taking their futures into their own

hands.

 

Read more

Supplemental Educational Services Provider (DoE)

Becoming a Supplemental Educational Services Provider (DoE)

 

What is Supplemental Educational Services (SES)?

Supplemental Educational Services is a program of the US Department of Education that provides voucher funding to after-school programs serving low-income students from low-performing school districts. After-school sites must apply to become an SES provider through their state Department of Education, and then can begin receiving payments for any qualified students.

 

Benefits of SES

Read more

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