Do the Charitable Choice laws mean that faith-based organizations get “special treatment”?

Answer: 

No. These laws do not set aside funds for faith-based organizations.

Faith-based organizations that receive Federal funding are held to the same standards as all other providers of services. For example, they must comply with the accounting requirements that apply to other organizations, and they must demonstrate that their organization serves the purposes of the grant program. These laws simply recognize that faith-based organizations have a role to play in the provision of Federally-funded social services, and they clarify how these programs should be operated.

Source:Guidance to Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering with the Federal Government(published by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives 2002) http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/guidance_document.pdf

Learn more:

•  Center for Faith Based and Community Initiatives

Last Updated: 4/28/2008