What is Virginia’s Faith-Based
and
Community Initiative?
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
Public, Faith-Based, & Grass Roots Organizations
Collaborating to Meet Community Needs
Charitable and faith-based organizations, along with other community service groups, have a long
history of reaching out to address the social needs of individuals, children, families and
neighborhoods. Public agencies often collaborate with these groups and institutions that are such an
important part of the fabric of family and community life.
What is Virginia’s Faith-Based & Community
Initiative?
The Virginia Faith-Based and Community
Initiative (VFBCI) is the Commonwealth’s effort
to better collaborate with faith-based and
community-based organizations in providing
effective services for families and communities.
Community grass roots and faith-based
organizations have been partnering with public
agencies to provide services for decades. Virginia
hopes to encourage the historic agreements
between public and community based groups to
address social needs and also strengthen
understanding of the new opportunities for
community and faith-based organizations to
contract for delivery of services.
Collaboration between public agencies and faithbased and grass roots organizations may be
carried out in many ways. Some partnerships that
don’t involve funding exchanges are based on
informal agreements between public agencies and
community or faith-based groups, with each
contributing resources to address an issue.
Examples of this type of collaboration include a
synagogue volunteering to provide literacy
training, members of a mosque providing
emergency food, or a church operating a
mentoring program to help ex-offenders
transition from prison back into the community.
Collaboration may also be accomplished more
formally through contracts or a memorandum of
understanding (MOU). Virginia law specifically
states that public agencies do not discriminate
against faith-based organizations and that these
organizations can compete for government
contracts. Examples of this formal collaboration
include an interfaith group that contracts to
provide training for foster parents, a mosque that
contracts to provide transportation services, or a
church that contracts to provide activities for
youth returning to the community from a juvenile
justice residential facility.
Is there special funding for faith-based groups?
No, neither federal nor state law creates a
special funding stream that is available only to
faith-based groups.
Faith-based organizations can apply for funding
in any program for which they meet the
eligibility requirements for service providers.
This most often includes programs funded by the
Federal Departments of Health and Human
Services, Education, Justice, Labor, and Housing
& Urban Development (HUD). Internet links to
these agencies can be found at:
www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith_links
How do I find funds available in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of General Services
maintains a listing of goods and services being
purchased by state agencies, colleges, and local
governments. General information about
contracting with government agencies can be
found at www.eva.state.va.us
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 2
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
Grant Award opportunities offered by State
agencies appear on their individual websites.
These can be found at: www.virginia.gov
How can I learn more?
What about accountability?
Faith-based organizations contracting to provide
assistance are subject to the same regulations as
other service providers. They are subject to all
federal, state, and local non-discrimination laws
in the delivery of services and are subject to
audits. If these organizations place government
contract funds in a separate account, only those
funds will be audited. Finally, funds must be used
for the services intended and may not be used for
worship, religious instruction, or proselytizing.
Virginia’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative
staff and liaison staff in state agencies and local
government provide technical assistance
regarding resources available and opportunities
for partnerships with state and local public
agencies. VFBCI staff provides technical
assistance and training in areas such as:
In the past, many faith-based organizations failed
to participate in government-funded projects for
fear they would have to compromise their
religious character. Both federal and state law
clarify that faith-based organizations retain their
independence from government interference, do
not have to alter their internal governance and are
not required to remove religious art, icons,
scripture, or other symbols.

How to Locate and Acquire Funding

Understanding the Laws for Maintaining
Separation of Religious Activities and
Government Funded Services

How to Incorporate and Apply to the IRS
for Tax-Exempt Status

Building Organizational Capacity

Management of Organizations, Budgets,
Grants and Programs

Strategic Planning

Outcome-based Service Delivery

Community Planning & Collaboration

Disaster / Emergency Response Services

Sustainability
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 3
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
Statutory Foundations
Federal, state and local laws govern collaboration that involves a contract between a public agency and a
faith-based or community organization. In this section, we provide three of the key federal and state laws
that specifically address this formal collaboration, particularly the rights of the organization that is
providing a government service and the rights of the individual who is receiving that service. The keys
points are summarized below.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA)
Federal Law – 42 US Code, Section 604a
This section of federal law was included in a much larger welfare reform bill that was passed by
Congress and signed by President Clinton in 1996. It specifically allows states to provide services
through contracts with “charitable, religious, or private organizations” so long as the services are
implemented consistent with the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution. Religious
organizations receive no competitive advantage in competing for government contracts. If they
receive contracts, they must be treated like any other non-governmental service provider and cannot be
discriminated against because of their religious character.
A contractor that is a religious organization retains its independence from government interference
in religious matters, including the “definition, development, practice and expressions of its religious
beliefs.” It cannot be required to alter its internal governance or to remove religious art, scripture or
other symbols from the space where services are provided. However, public funds may not be spent
on sectarian worship, instruction or proselytizing.
The law also protects the rights of individuals receiving government-funded services from a
religious organization. An individual who objects to receiving service from a religious organization
must be provided the same service from an alternative provider. Further, the religious organization
cannot discriminate against the individual “on the basis of religion, a religious belief, or refusal to
actively participate in a religious practice.”
Regarding fiscal accountability, a religious organization is subject to the same regulations as other
contractors to account for the funds in accord with generally accepted accounting principles. However,
if the organization segregates its government funds in separate accounts, then the non-governmental
funds will not be subject to audit.
The Virginia Public Procurement Act - Code of Virginia Section 11-35
In 2001, the General Assembly added language to the Virginia Public Procurement Act that
specifically allows public bodies to enter into contracts with faith-based organizations. It follows
federal law closely in protecting the rights of faith-based organizations that contract with government
and the rights of the individuals that receive services from them. The prohibition of sectarian worship,
instruction and proselytizing is identical to federal law, as is the fiscal accountability of a faith-based
contractor.
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 4
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
However, two additional protections were included. First, public bodies are required to include
a nondiscrimination statement in invitations for bids, requests for proposals, contracts and purchase
orders. The statement must indicate that the public body does not discriminate against faith-based
organizations. Second, when an individual applies for or receives services from a faith-based
contractor, they must receive a printed notice that states: "Neither the public body's selection of a
charitable or faith-based provider of services nor the expenditure of funds under this contract is an
endorsement of the provider's charitable or religious character, practices, or expression. No provider
of services may discriminate against you on the basis of religion, a religious belief, or your refusal to
actively participate in a religious practice. If you object to a particular provider because of its religious
character, you may request assignment to a different provider. If you believe that your rights have been
violated, please discuss the complaint with your provider or notify the appropriate person as indicated
in this form."
Faith-Based and Community Initiative Responsibilities - Code of Virginia Section 63.2-703
The General Assembly recognizes that faith-based, volunteer, private and community
organizations make significant contributions to the welfare of our society. In order to enhance services
to Virginia families and communities, the Virginia Faith-Based and Community Initiative, based at the
Virginia Department of Social Services, has the following responsibilities:
1. Lead and facilitate meetings as necessary, with faith-based, volunteer, private and community
organizations for the purpose of sharing information to help carry out human welfare programs in
Virginia;
2. Encourage conferences and meetings at the community level for faith-based, volunteer, private and
community organizations, as needed;
3. Provide procurement and funding information to faith-based, volunteer, private and community
organizations, as needed;
4. Provide information regarding faith-based and community initiatives and other information the
Department may deem appropriate, to faith-based, volunteer, private and community organizations,
and other state agencies whose missions may be enhanced by increased awareness of such initiatives
and information;
5. Encourage the development and maintenance of a statewide network of local liaisons to assist in the
dissemination of information and assistance;
6. Develop a statewide list of available faith-based, volunteer, private and community organizations.
Such statewide list shall be made available to the public through the Department's website;
7. Obtain information concerning faith-based, volunteer, private and community organizations in other
states;
8. *Coordinate offers of assistance from faith-based organizations during natural disasters. (*Effective
July 1, 2006)
9. Make regular reports to the Governor and General Assembly on the fulfillment of the Department's
responsibilities related to faith-based and community initiatives; and
10. Perform such other duties as the Department deems appropriate.
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 5
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
Program Participant Rights
Faith-Based Service Providers
In Virginia, faith-based organizations (churches, synagogues, mosques and religious organizations)
may be awarded contracts by public bodies to provide services on behalf of government. If you are
receiving services from a faith-based provider as a result of a contract between the provider of services
and the public body, it is important that you understand your rights.
Neither the public body's selection of a charitable or faith-based provider of services nor
the expenditure of funds under this contract is an endorsement of the provider's
charitable or religious character, practices, or expression. No provider of services may
discriminate against you on the basis of religion, a religious belief, or your refusal to
actively participate in a religious practice. Additionally, you may not be discriminated
against because of race, color, gender, age, national origin, handicap, or disability. If
you object to a particular provider because of its religious character, you may request
assignment to a different provider. If you believe that your rights have been violated,
please discuss the complaint with your provider or notify the appropriate person as
indicated in this form.
If you feel that your rights are ever violated, please call (Contracting Agency Name and Telephone
Number). Calling to report a problem will not, in any way, affect your eligibility for services.
Your signature below indicates you understand these rights and responsibilities of religious (faithbased) organizations that provide services and rights and safeguards for participants in programs
carried out by faith-based service providers.
________________________________
Signature of Service Recipient
_______________________________________
Signature of Service Provider Representative
________________________________
Date
_______________________________________
Date
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 6
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
Religious Organizations with Formal Statements
Regarding Contracting with Public Agencies
African Methodist Episcopal
Church
www.ame-church.com
cio@amechurch.com
African Methodist Episcopal
Zion Church
www.beamezion.org
info@beamezion.org
American Baptist Churches
in the USA
www.abc-usa.org
Richard.schramm@abc-usa.org
P.O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482
610.768.2000 / 800.222.3872
Assemblies of God
www.ag.org/top
info@ag.org
1445 North Boonville Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802
417.862.2781
Baptist Joint Committee
www.bjcpa.org
200 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202.544.4226
Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ) in the U.S.
www.disciples.org
cmiller@oc.disciples.org
130 E Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317.635.3100
Church of the Brethren
www.brethren.org
cobweb@brethren.org
1451 Dundee Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120
800.323.8039
Episcopal Church
www.ecusa.anglican.org
jrollins@ecusa.anglican.org
Episcopal Church Center
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212.716.6000 / 800.334.7626
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
www.elca.org
info@elca.org
8765 W. Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631
773.380.2700 / 800.638.3522
The Lutheran Church of the
Missouri Synod (LCMS)
www.lcms.org
infocenter@lcms.org
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
888.843.5267
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) United Church of Christ
www.pcusa.org
www.ucc.org
presytel@pcusa.org
langa@ucc.org
100 Witherspoon Street
700 Prospect Avenue
Louisville, KY 40202-1396
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
502.569.5000
866.822.8224
The United Methodist
Church
www.umc.org
infoserv@umcom.umc.org
United Jewish Communities
www.ujc.org
P.O Box 30
Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113
212.284.6500
United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops
www.usccb.org
3211 4th Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20017-1194
202.541.3000
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 7
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
Questions to Consider Before Contracting with Public Agencies
The purpose of these questions is to give faith-based & community organizations a guide for
reflecting upon whether or not to seek funding from government grants to provide some type of
social services.
1. Mission:
 What is our mission?
 Does our mission guide which grants for which we apply?
 Would the purposes of this grant enable us to further our mission?
2. Effectiveness:
 What social services do we do well?
 What services are we equipped to offer the community outside our organization?
 Can what we offer the community be enhanced by partnerships with public, private or faithbased organizations? (Not all partnerships involve accepting grants. These partnerships can be
formal or informal.)
 Will accepting government funding enhance what we offer?
3. Accountability:
 Are we willing to be held accountable for measurable outcomes in delivering services?
 Does our organization have the capacity to measure outcomes and to document them?
 Can we handle the paperwork?
 Can we keep client records secure and client information confidential?
 Do we understand the standard terms and conditions included in government contracts?
4. Financial Management:
 Do we have personnel or volunteers with the financial management skills to hold and track
funds for the grant project?
 Do we have the ability to segregate the funds for this project and keep them from being
commingled with other funds?
 Will we commit funds, personnel and in-kind contributions to the project, e.g. facilities,
utilities, etc?
 Do we have the ability to track and report on these contributions?
 Do we need to consider setting up a separate 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation for this project?
5. Non-Discrimination: Organizations that accept federal funds cannot discriminate in hiring and in
the delivery of services on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
 Are we willing to open our facilities to clients whose race, age, national origin or views may be
very different from ours?
 In staffing our government-funded activity, are we willing to hire the best qualified applicants,
regardless of their race, age, gender or disability?
 Can our building accommodate people with disabilities?
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 8
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
6. Independence:
 If we accept government funds, will we feel differently about critiquing public policies?
 How will we avoid becoming dependent on government funds?
 Can it enhance our effectiveness without compromising our mission?
Specific Considerations for Faith-Based Organizations
7. Religious Practice:
 Does our mission allow us to separate religious activities (e.g., worship, prayer and religious
instruction) and proselytizing or evangelizing from the service we want to provide?
 Are our paid staff and volunteers able to focus on service delivery to the exclusion of overt or
covert proselytizing?
 Are our religious activities privately funded and entirely voluntary?
 Can clients choose not to participate in our religious activities?
 If our clients choose not to participate in the religious activities, does that impair the
effectiveness of our social services?
 Are we able to respect the religious or non-religious perspectives of clients?
 Can we deliver services without regard to the religious belief or non-belief of those who come
for services?
 Are there secular alternatives to the services that we provide for clients who request them?
 Will acceptance of government funds impact our religious convictions or effectiveness?
 Do we have the ability to segregate the funds for this project and keep them from being
commingled with other funds?
 Organizations that accept federal funds cannot discriminate in hiring practices and in the
delivery of services on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Are we
willing to hire staff for this project whose beliefs differ from those of our faith and traditions?
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 9
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
Top Ten Tips for Ministries
© Stanley W. Carlson-Thies, 1999
The Center for Public Justice
www.cpjustice.org
1. Plans, Not Just Visions. To be entrusted with public funds to serve the needy, you need specific
plans for how you will help families overcome their problems. Faith is essential but no substitute
for plans. Specify outcomes and demonstrate how your program will produce them.
2. Don’t Chase Money. You have a right to compete for funding to provide services. Just be sure
that the funds will help you carry out what you know how to do well. Don’t be tempted to start a
new program just because money is available for it.
3. Be Accountable. Make sure you have policies, procedures, and personnel that enable you to
account for income and expenditures, monitor staff and volunteers, and keep track of clients’
progress. Government will, and should, ask you to be accountable for how you spend, what you
do, and what works.
4. Avoid Dependencies. Never become dependent on any one source of income. Plan ahead what
you will do if government funding dries up or an unacceptable condition becomes the price of
continued funding. Establish a maximum percentage of funds from any single source.
5. Separate Incorporation. Establish a separate but faith-based 501(c) (3) corporation to receive
government money and to operate your service programs. Your congregation will be protected
from unwanted government rules and prying, and a separate structure can be specifically designed
for effective services for the community.
6. Join Hands. Your congregation has a vision for service? Wonderful. First step: see if any one
else is already filling the need and join with them. If no one is yet active, get busy, but draw in
others who share your vision and can bring their own expertise and connections.
7. Be Careful About Religion. Faith under girds the solution. But the poor are not necessarily
without faith; they may be suffering because of the evil of others. So, let faith be resource, guide,
and connecting point, not the end of the story. And respect, without ignoring, the alternative faiths
many will bring.
8. Get into the Loop. Government contracting and policymaking are long-standing operations with
their own language, information channels, and players. Want to be serious about working with
government? Find out what the loop is and get into it. Don’t try it alone—join a network.
9. Check with a Lawyer. No matter how well you understand Charitable Choice, if you plan to get
involved with government you first should consult with an attorney experienced with government
rules and regulations, religious organizations, and the nonprofit sector.
10. Advocate As Well As Serve. As you serve the needy with your best efforts, don’t forget that they
may also need you to be on their side as their advocate to government. And don’t let your focus on
service blind you to the need for justice in public policies and economic life.
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 10
Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative
_______________________________________________________________________________
Top Ten Tips for Public Officials
© Stanley W. Carlson-Thies, 1999
The Center for Public Justice
www.cpjustice.org
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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: voucher 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 were a dispute about what actions are permissible.
Faith-Based & Community Initiative ■ 800.638-3839 ■ E-mail: info@vaservice.org ■ Web: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/faith.html
Page 11