Eligible Applicants

Non-profits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education) Faith-based and community organizations that meet the statutory eligibility requirements are eligible to apply under this announcement. Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement. Non-profits having 501(c)(4) status with the IRS are also eligible to apply for this program.

Faith-based and Community Organization Equal Treatment

Organizations and their faith-based and community partners shall not use direct Federal grants or contract under the JOLI program to support inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization.  Therefore, an organization must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the JOLI- funded services.  Some of the ways organizations may accomplish this include, but are not limited to, promoting only the Federally funded program in materials, websites, or commercials purchased with any portion of the Federal funds.  Further participation in such activity by individuals receiving services must be voluntary.

A faith-based organization receiving HHS funds retains its independence from Federal, State, and local governments, and may continue to carry out its mission, including the definition, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs.   For example, a faith-based organization may use space in its facilities to provide secular programs or services funded with Federal funds without removing religious art, icons, scriptures, or other religious symbols.  In addition, a faith-based organization that receives Federal funds retains its authority over its internal governance, and it may retain religious terms in its organization's name, select its board members on a religious basis, and include religious references in its organization's mission statement and other governing documents in accordance with JOLI program requirements, statutes, and other applicable requirements governing the conduct of HHS-funded activities.

Regulations pertaining to the Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations, which includes the prohibition against Federal funding of inherently religious activities, can be found at either 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 87.1 or the HHS website at http://www.os.hhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf