Since 2001, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which has the largest grant portfolio in the federal government, has taken internal steps to identify and address barriers to discretionary grants for faith-based organizations and community organizations and to track the progress in this area. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation conducted a study to identify potential underlying barriers perceived by faith-based applicants in accessing HHS grants, as well as the strategies grant recipients used to compete successfully for federal grant funds, by collecting information from faith-based applicants themselves.

Public agencies often turn to faith leaders to support their initiatives, and yet doing so often brings challenges: who to engage; how to build trust with partners; what they can and cannot do for you. This Center for Religion and Civic Culture infographic offers six principles to guide government officials in partnering with faith communities.

Governmental agencies often work with faith leaders because they are influential and well-connected to the people they serve. Their presence, coupled with their capacity to deliver critical services, allows them to mobilize communities and earn the communities’ trust, which makes them a vital stakeholder to create change. This Center for Religion and Civic Culture infographic offers ten tips to aid government officials in partnering with faith communities.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) works to connect government resources and programs with faith-based and community entities. This webpage serves faith-based and community organizations throughout Oklahoma to give professionals a one-stop-shop for connecting with five state agencies to better navigate state programs.

This Executive Order by the Trump-Vance administration announces the White House’s Faith Office to assist faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship in their efforts to strengthen American families, promote work and self-sufficiency, and protect religious liberty.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is hosting a webinar on January 21, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. ET, which will address the economic stability of service members, Veterans, and their families (SMVF). This webinar will explore critical areas such as employment opportunities, income supports, SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) for Veterans, and housing solutions, providing valuable information and resources to support maintaining or achieving economic stability among the SMVF community.

Early childhood development (ECD) investments are rarely considered an important part of economic development, yet they are deeply interconnected. When children have a healthy start in life, they are more likely to become the scholars, innovators, and entrepreneurs that drive economic development in their communities. This Administration for Children and Families resource highlights an important return on investment approach to investments in ECD that is uniquely augmented in Native communities.

A growing number of local governments and nonprofit organizations across the United States are experimenting with guaranteed income programs, often with the goal of supporting low-income families and individuals. The results of many of these newer efforts are still being measured and assessed, but there are earlier programs that can provide insights into long-term effects. The Institute for Research on Poverty hosted a webinar in December 2024 to share research on cash transfer programs begun or conducted in previous decades, including Native American tribal casino dividends, the Mincome project, and the Alaska Dividend.

On January 16th, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. ET, Ascend at the Aspen Institute will convene experts to discuss how advocates for families – across philanthropy, policy, and systems – can lead with conviction to keep society moving forward. This webinar will offer practical solutions for enhanced leadership in this new era in preparation of the February session on building trust.

Philadelphia Workforce Inclusion Networks (Philly WINs) is part of the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies (NextGen) Project, which seeks to rigorously evaluate employment strategies for people with low incomes and physical or mental health challenges. Philly WINs helps adults with disabilities find and maintain competitive employment and helps employers foster inclusive work environments. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report discusses the effectiveness of Philly WINs and aids stakeholders interested in replicating this model to understand the program and its operations.