Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded that RFRA is reasonably construed, on a case-by-case basis, to require that its funding agencies permit faith-based organizations both to receive federal funds and to continue considering religion when hiring staff. RFRA protects this right to prefer co-religionists for employees even if the statute that authorizes the funding program generally forbids consideration of religion in employment decisions by grantees.

Guidance to Partnering with the Federal Governmment. The guiding principle behind President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative is that faith-based charities should be able to compete on an equal footing for public dollars to provide public services. This website is designed to help people become familiar with the Federal grants process and better understand the relationship between faith-based and community organizations and the Federal government.

Resources for State and Local Education Agencies. This Web site lists useful practices that state and local education agencies can employ to fully engage faith-based and community organizations.

Toolkit for Faith-Based and Community Organizations. The U.S. Census Bureau produced this toolkit to assist faith-based and community organizations with obtaining Census information for grant writing and community needs assessment. Census data drives key elements of grant applications and grant proposals are strengthened by good supportive data which demonstrates a need within a community.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF). This federal agency funds state, territory, local, and tribal organizations to provide family assistance (welfare), child support, child care, Head Start, child welfare, and other programs relating to children and families. Actual services are provided by state, county, city and tribal governments, and public and private local agencies. ACF assists these organizations through funding, policy direction, and information services.

Touching Lives and Communities. These training video workshops, produced by the U.S. Department of Labor, provide information on capacity building, corporation and foundation giving, board development, grant management, and program evaluation.

Maximizing Program Services Through Private Sector Partnerships and Relationships: A Guide for Faith- and Community-Based Service Providers. This guide, published by the HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), details the process by which FBCOs can build private sector partnerships.

National Service: A Resource for Faith-Based and Community Groups. This publication explains how the Corporation for National and Community Service and Learn and Serve America work with faith-based and other community organizations and how they can help FBCOs accomplish their goals.

Final Regulations. These final regulations implement Executive branch policy that, within the framework of constitutional church-state guidelines, religiously affiliated (or "faith-based") organizations should be able to compete on an equal footing with other organizations for funding by the U.S. Department of Education.

Sample Quality Proposals. These previously funded grant proposals are provided to serve as examples of what goes into a successful grant application. Copies of other quality proposals may be available from the program offices.

Grantmaking at ED. This booklet describes the discretionary grants process at the U.S. Department of Education. It tells how grant programs are created by Congress and administered by the Department, and how the public goes about applying for and receiving discretionary grants.

Grants.gov. This Web site is the single access point for over 1000 grant programs offered by the 26 federal grant-making agencies. It allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all federal grant-making agencies.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. This Web site gives you access to a database of all federal programs available to state and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally recognized Indian tribal governments; Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals.

Grants Management and Training Resources. This Web site provides a training course and resource center for project directors of U.S. Department of Education grants.

Office of Non Public Education. This office represents the interests, activities and needs of the private elementary and secondary school community at the U.S. Department of Education and consults with the private school community on the participation of students and teachers in programs and initiatives of the Department.

Toolkit for Faith-Based and Community Organizations. This Web site provides intermediaries and faith and community-based organizations with helpful links to information, tools, and resources.

Afterschool.gov. This Web site provides links to federal resources that support children and youths during out of school hours.

Compassion Capital Fund. The President's Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) helps faith-based and community organizations increase their effectiveness and enhance their ability to provide social services to serve those most in need. Since its inception three years ago, CCF has provided $99.5 million in grants to 197 organizations and sub-grants to over 1,700 grassroots organizations. CCF administers two grant programs: the Demonstration Program and the Targeted Capacity Building Program.

DisabilityInfo.gov. This user-friendly Web site contains links to information of interest to people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers and other community members.

CFBCI State Guide: This guidebook is designed to provide practical information for state and local officials on developing and enhancing effective partnerships with faith-based and community organizations.

Blaine Amendments: Named for James G. Blaine, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1875, Blaine Amendments are provisions in many state constitutions that prohibit the use of state funds at "sectarian" schools. Today, 37 states have provisions placing some form of restriction on government aid to "sectarian" schools that go beyond any limits in the U.S. Constitution.

SchoolMatters. This Web site offers comparison tools, benchmarks, and performance indicators designed to help policymakers, educators, parents, and the general public better understand how public schools and school districts are performing, how much is being spent related to student achievement, and where it may be necessary to focus resources or attention to improve performance.

Greatschools.net. This Web site provides parents with information and tools to choose schools and support their children's education.

Afterschool Alliance. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of afterschool programs and advocating for quality, affordable programs for all children. It is supported by a group of public, private and nonprofit organizations that share the Alliance's vision of ensuring that all children have access to afterschool programs by 2010.

The Providers' Toolkit for Supplemental Educational Services. This Toolkit, developed by the Supplemental Educational Services Quality Center, offers a practical look at what it takes to become a successful SES provider. It includes step-by-step tips, tools and resources on designing, delivering, marketing, managing, and evaluating an SES program.

The Foundation Center. "The Foundation Center is an independent nonprofit information clearinghouse established in 1956. The center's mission is to foster public understanding of the foundation field by collecting, organizing, analyzing, and disseminating information on foundations, corporate giving, and related subjects."

The Center for Public Justice. Maintains a list of several state and local governments that have liaisons to the faith-based and community groups.

The Faith & Service Technical Education Network. This Web site offers resources for congregations and nonprofit organizations engaged in community renewal. The site also includes many resources related to effective tutoring and mentoring programs.

SCORE. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization provides a public service to America by offering small business advice and training. SCORE's 10,500 volunteers have more than 600 business skills. The volunteers are working/retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders; and they share their wisdom and lessons learned in business.