So what I did a few weeks ago was I went and got myself a job as a grantwriter. Now at work I get a daily update of headlines from the Chronicle of Philanthropy. (Something funny about the url "philanthropy.com")
There's a world of nonprofits that you never hear about, and I don't know why. It's just as interesting as for-profit business, and there are even more colorful characters.
Here's a news story that fell into my work mailbox today. It contains several fascinating observations in a compact space.
Federal Aid Reaches Few Black Churches, Report Says
Fewer than 3 percent of black churches have received federal funds under the Bush administration's effort to help religious charities, reports The Washington Post.
A survey by the Joint Center for Political Empowerment and Economic Studies concluded that because black churches have a limited ability to run social programs, very little of the estimated $2-billion in federal money available for philanthropic work each year ends up in their hands. One quarter of the 750 black churches surveyed have annual revenue of less than $250,000, the study found.
The survey also examined the political affiliation of religious organizations that received federal grants. Liberal churches tended to view President Bush's attempts to help churches with skepticism, but they were also more likely to apply for and receive money, the report said.
On the other hand, far fewer conservative churches, despite supporting President Bush politically, have sought federal aid.
The Bush administration might inadvertently have done some Democrat-style work while appealing to a Republican Christian constituency. I'm glad someone's doing it.
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