Faith-Based Organizations
Faith-based organizations are groups affiliated with a religious tradition that pursue religious, charitable, social-service, or community goals.
Faith-Based Social Services: Social support programs operated by organizations with religious affiliations. These programs turn religious commitments into services such as food assistance, counseling, and housing support.
Congregation: A local assembly of people who worship together, especially in a religious community. Congregations often provide the volunteers, donations, and local relationships behind organizational programs.
Religious Charity: Giving and organized assistance motivated by religious teachings or obligations. Charity is a longstanding religious practice from which many formal service organizations developed.
Secular Nonprofit: A nonprofit organization whose mission and governance are not based on religious affiliation. It provides a comparison for distinguishing religious identity from charitable purpose.
Religious Freedom: The right to hold, change, practice, or reject religious beliefs without coercion. Organizations rely on religious freedom to maintain their identity, practices, and mission.
Faith-Based Healthcare: Health services delivered by institutions affiliated with religious traditions. Religious organizations operate clinics, hospitals, and community health programs in many settings.
Religious Order: A community whose members follow shared religious vows or rules of life. Religious orders can establish and govern institutions whose service work reflects their traditions.
Monasticism: A religious way of life centered on disciplined communal or solitary devotion. Monastic communities historically maintained institutions for hospitality, care, and education.
Government Social Services: Public programs that provide assistance or care under government authority. Faith-based providers may complement, compete with, or receive contracts alongside public agencies.
Charitable Choice: U.S. policies allowing religious organizations to compete for certain publicly funded social-service contracts. These policies define conditions under which faith-based providers can participate in government programs.