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November 5, 2008    DOL Home > CFBCI > Mission Statement   

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CFBCI Mission Statement

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Our Mission

To empower the faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) that help their neighbors prepare for, enter, and thrive in the workforce.

The work of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (the Center) stems from a simple conviction: America can do better for our neighbors in need when we draw upon the unique strengths of every willing partner.

The Center’s Goals

  • To ensure a "level playing field" for all organizations (including those previously excluded) willing to join with the government in service. This principle applies both to non-financial partnerships and funding opportunities (e.g., grants for projects to help accomplish the department’s mission).
  • To eliminate unnecessary barriers to partnering with the Department of Labor (DOL), such as complicated grant applications that discourage small non-profits and unwarranted regulations that undermine faith-based organizations’ rights to maintain their religious identity. Information about new “Equal Treatment” regulations can be found at http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/legalguidance.htm.
  • To cultivate partnerships between public organizations, private organizations, and non-profit organizations that make services more effective. Efforts include:

Federal Funding Opportunities and Other Resources

Discretionary Funding is provided directly by the federal government via grants or other competitive processes to non-profits, businesses, or government agencies. DOL agencies and offices that regularly release discretionary grants include:

The Center works with each of these agencies to ensure their grant solicitations are accessible to all organizations. Advice on grant-writing and lists of current and past grant opportunities are available on http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/grantsapply.htm.

Formula Funding goes exclusively to state and local governments which will often provide portions of these funds in grants or contracts to non-profits, businesses, or other government agencies within their jurisdiction. Because approximately 85% of DOL’s resources for employment and training services are formula funds, CFBCI strongly promotes collaboration with local outlets, such as the national network of One-Stop Career Centers (sometimes called "Job Centers" or "Job Links"), for these services. Partnerships between FBCOs and local One-Stop Career Centers can range from informal mutual referrals or co-location within the One-Stop, to competitive local contracts or grants.

To access information on how to cultivate these partnerships, connect with businesses to place customers, and obtain materials designed to aid One-Stop operators and government administrators with outreach to FBCOs, please visit http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/mml/view/OrderMaterials_Record.cfm.

 



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