Grants for Religious Programs
Grants for religious programs run a large gamut. There are those reserved for specific religions, such as Islam, Judaism and Christianity, and those available to general religious organizations. Some of these grants fund individual education for religious students or students studying religion while others provide funding to religious organizations. The amount and type of grants vary by case, though not all awards are available to the general public.
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Islamic Grants
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Grants for Islamic programs are limited in the United States. Nonprofit organization Social Science Research Council funds a number of programs through grants available on a rolling basis. In 2011, the organization will offer the Islamic Traditions and Muslim Societies in World Contexts to interdisciplinary research teams in amounts of up to $50,000 or, in exemplary cases, $100,000.
Stanford University awards grants in discretionary amounts to students studying Islam and Muslim studies through the Abbasi Program. These grants are designed to cover travel, living and research material costs. The Zakat Foundation, meanwhile, supports Muslim community service projects such as soup kitchens, food pantries, battered women's shelters and programs for at-risk youth. The amount of these grants is $5,000 to $10,000 as of 2011.
Judaic Grants
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Judaic grants fall between Islamic and Christian grants in number; they are more prevalent than the former, less so than the latter. The Nathan Cummings Foundation funds various projects through grant programs, including Jewish Life projects. Programs eligible for funding through Jewish Life promote Jewish social justice, stress interfaith cooperation and advance Israel through empowering women. Grants awarded in 2010 ranged in amount from $15,000 to $445,000.
The Howard and Geraldine Polinger Foundation awards grants to programs that strengthen and preserve Jewish life that are based in Washington, DC and Montgomery County, Maryland. Eligible programs combat anti-Semitism, eliminate threats to Jewish existence, support pluralism, develop interfaith relationships and more. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 as of 2010.
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Christian Grants
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The Louisville Institute supports pastors, young scholars and church researchers and scholars through three grant programs. As of 2011, these programs award $10,000 to $40,000 to fund Christian education and research projects, including graduate programs and creative research and writing.
Denominational grants include those awarded by The Catholic Foundation and Baptist Community Ministries. The Catholic Foundation awards discretionary grants in varying amounts to fund clergy retirement programs, community service and social concern projects, local parishes, diocesan Catholic schools, religious education and more. Baptist Community Ministries funds community projects run by Louisiana parishes stressing health, education, public safety and governmental oversight. These grants are awarded in amounts of $50,000 and more.
Dozens of other Christian program grants are available from organizations like The Duke Endowment and the DEW Foundation.
Other Grants
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The Bonner Foundation provides grants to religious organizations of any affiliation providing community-based hunger relief programs. The primary focus of these grants is funding the purchase of food for programs run by congregations and their clergy. Approximately $600,000 in grants is awarded annually in amounts contingent on program need.
Other organizations such as The Grace and Franklin Bernsen Foundation and the Frank Stanley Beveridge Foundation fund religious programs and organizations benefiting communities, irrespective of religious affiliation.
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References
- Social Science Research Council; Islamic Traditions and Muslim Societies in World Contexts; 2011
- Stanford University: 2010-11 Abbasi Program Student Grants for Study of Islam and Muslim Societies
- Zakat Foundation of America: Grant Program Conditions and Rules
- The Nathan Cummings Foundation: Jewish Life and Values Program Guidelines
- Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation: Guidelines
- The Louisville Foundation: Grant Programs
Resources
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