FaithWorks Prepares Groups For Federal Funds
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WINONA LAKE - Faith-based organizations have had the opportunity to apply for government funding since 1996, said Kathy Koehler, FaithWorks Indiana project manager.
"The question is, is your organization able to do all the reporting, paperwork and accounting that comes with a federal grant award?" she asked. "You can expect to be monitored, and sometimes it's easier to ease into foundations' grants first."
Koehler spoke at Grace College Friday during Carrie Yocum's Social Change Policy Class. Members of the community also were invited to attend.
Charitable Choice legislation was part of the 1996 welfare reform law. At that time, faith-based organizations were eligible for federal grant applications as long as they did not discriminate against recipients because of their religion, provided the name of a non-faith-based provider and were non-sectarian.
Participants cannot be required to attend religious services or be required to hear preaching or proselytizing.
The faith-based organizations may not discriminate, must remain independent and are not required to remove religious symbols.
Faith-based organizations receiving federal grants may discriminate in hiring decisions based on religious affiliation.
To facilitate fund finding at the state level, Gov. Frank O'Bannon established FaithWorks Indiana in 1999, which was operated through the Indiana family and Social Services Administration for three years.
Now FaithWorks Indiana helps faith-based and community-based organizations develop services for low-income families and apply for the funds to pay for them.
"We can help you identify community needs and introduce you to finding sources for the services you want to offer," Koehler said. "We'll also show you how to develop effective programs, apply for funding, write effective grant proposals, attain nonprofit status and handle financial management and reporting requirements."
She said FaithWorks Indiana immediately invited American Civil Liberties Union representatives and members of the Jewish community to their board. They are the only state-level initiative to never be sued.
"There is no 'new' money going to just faith-based organizations," she said. "But there is more money available to faith-and non-faith-based organizations."
Funding is available in Indiana through FSSA as well as Indiana Workforce Development, through the Department of Labor. In 2002 the state DWD was awarded a $1 million grant by the Department of Labor to engage in outreach and education activities with faith-based and community-based organizations through the WorkOne system.
Other federal departments include Agriculture, Education, Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development and Justice as well as the Agency for International Development.
Koehler gave an example of a real success story, about a woman running a homeless shelter in Kokomo.
"She called me two weeks before the application deadline, and I thought, 'Oh, no."' Koehler raced to Kokomo, helped the woman fill out the application and the shelter received funding six weeks later.
"That never happens," she said of the swift payment. "Today she operates two more programs, all fully-funded."
She said another workshop is set for April to help organizations through, but is not limited to, the application process. For more information call 800-599-6043.
On the Net: www.in.gov. fssa/faithworks [[In-content Ad]]
WINONA LAKE - Faith-based organizations have had the opportunity to apply for government funding since 1996, said Kathy Koehler, FaithWorks Indiana project manager.
"The question is, is your organization able to do all the reporting, paperwork and accounting that comes with a federal grant award?" she asked. "You can expect to be monitored, and sometimes it's easier to ease into foundations' grants first."
Koehler spoke at Grace College Friday during Carrie Yocum's Social Change Policy Class. Members of the community also were invited to attend.
Charitable Choice legislation was part of the 1996 welfare reform law. At that time, faith-based organizations were eligible for federal grant applications as long as they did not discriminate against recipients because of their religion, provided the name of a non-faith-based provider and were non-sectarian.
Participants cannot be required to attend religious services or be required to hear preaching or proselytizing.
The faith-based organizations may not discriminate, must remain independent and are not required to remove religious symbols.
Faith-based organizations receiving federal grants may discriminate in hiring decisions based on religious affiliation.
To facilitate fund finding at the state level, Gov. Frank O'Bannon established FaithWorks Indiana in 1999, which was operated through the Indiana family and Social Services Administration for three years.
Now FaithWorks Indiana helps faith-based and community-based organizations develop services for low-income families and apply for the funds to pay for them.
"We can help you identify community needs and introduce you to finding sources for the services you want to offer," Koehler said. "We'll also show you how to develop effective programs, apply for funding, write effective grant proposals, attain nonprofit status and handle financial management and reporting requirements."
She said FaithWorks Indiana immediately invited American Civil Liberties Union representatives and members of the Jewish community to their board. They are the only state-level initiative to never be sued.
"There is no 'new' money going to just faith-based organizations," she said. "But there is more money available to faith-and non-faith-based organizations."
Funding is available in Indiana through FSSA as well as Indiana Workforce Development, through the Department of Labor. In 2002 the state DWD was awarded a $1 million grant by the Department of Labor to engage in outreach and education activities with faith-based and community-based organizations through the WorkOne system.
Other federal departments include Agriculture, Education, Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development and Justice as well as the Agency for International Development.
Koehler gave an example of a real success story, about a woman running a homeless shelter in Kokomo.
"She called me two weeks before the application deadline, and I thought, 'Oh, no."' Koehler raced to Kokomo, helped the woman fill out the application and the shelter received funding six weeks later.
"That never happens," she said of the swift payment. "Today she operates two more programs, all fully-funded."
She said another workshop is set for April to help organizations through, but is not limited to, the application process. For more information call 800-599-6043.
On the Net: www.in.gov. fssa/faithworks [[In-content Ad]]