Faith-Based Organizations Use the Resources of Their Community
Faith-based organizations use resources from their own community to address social issues. Some organizations, such as churches, rely on the leadership of members of their faith communities to carry out their mission. Others draw on the moral traditions of their community to inspire acts of service. The following is a list of organizations that use the resources of their community. The list is not exhaustive. It includes many other types of nonprofits as well. To learn more about the types of resources available to faith-based organizations, see the links below.
First, a faith-based organization can be a nonprofit or for-profit business. While many organizations are nonprofits, many have a religious affiliation. A Christian aid organization, for example, is affiliated with a particular denomination and is active in the countries in which it works. Its governing board is made up of practicing Christians, and its programs are financed mostly by church donations. To achieve its public health goals, a faith-based organization needs to maintain its own separateness from other nonprofit organizations that receive government funds.
Lastly, a faith-based organization needs to be able to maintain its own identity. While a faith-based organization can benefit from government-funded services, it should make sure that any religious activities are separated from those offered by the government. If a church hall is used for Bible study, the Federal funds cannot be used to support this program. By separating religious activities, a faith-based organization can improve its chances of receiving government funding.
As faith-based organizations grow in size and influence, it is important to keep the religious activities in the same location. For instance, a church may hold a job skills program, while its building is also a venue for a Bible study. The two activities should be separate. If the purpose of the organization is to promote public health, a faith-based organization must not use government funds to conduct such activities. Otherwise, the federal government may penalize the organization.
While most faith-based organizations have a religious component, a faith-based organization should be sure to keep its religious activities separate from its government-funded services. For example, a Christian after-school program may use biblical stories to teach children. A substance-addiction center may hold a Bible study, but a church hall cannot accept Federal funds. A Bible study may be conducted in a different location. But it is not allowed to use federal money to run a job skills program.
A faith-based organization should distinguish between its religious activities and its secular activities. For example, a church might hold Bible studies, but it should not use government money to conduct job skills programs. Similarly, a religious organization may hold a Bible study, but it should not use federal money to offer job training to local residents. A faith-based organization should be clear about which services it provides. And it should be clear about what type of services it plans to provide.