February 17, 2005 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Politically conservative foundations have helped to increase the influence of religion in U.S. politics by giving millions of dollars to evangelical Christian nonprofit organizations, says a new report by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, a liberal group in Washington that seeks to hold grant makers accountable to the public.
According to the report, 37 foundations from 1999 to 2002 provided $168-million to about 700 evangelical Christian organizations that focus on such issues as making abortion illegal, banning same-sex marriage, and promoting school prayer.
While the amount donated to such religious causes is a fraction of what the 65,000 grant makers nationwide dole out annually — estimated to be $30.5-billion in 2001 alone — the committee says the support has helped to make evangelicals a powerful political voice in the country.
“They seem to have an increasing influence on the administration,” says Jeff Krehely, deputy director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. He points to President Bush’s effort to allow religious charities to apply for more government social-service programs as a sign of that influence.
Terms Defined
The report defines evangelicals as Christians who support personal salvation, biblical infallibility, and a commitment to proselytizing.
The grant recipients examined in the report include Campus Crusade for Christ, Prison Fellowship Ministries, and Focus on the Family.
The report does not include foundation grants made to “mainline religious charities,” such as the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities.
The report says many of the grant recipients are exempt for religious reasons from reporting their finances annually to the federal government. It urges federal authorities to eliminate the exemption.
“Allowing religious organizations like Campus Crusade for Christ or a local rescue mission to keep their finances secret is a recipe for financial malfeasance — or in a worst-case scenario, physical or psychological harm to people seeking services from these organizations — in the name of religion,” the report says.
The committee’s report, “Funding the Culture Wars: Philanthropy, Church, and State,” is $12.50 for committee members and $25 for nonmembers.
It can be obtained by contacting the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, 2001 S Street, N.W., Suite 620, Washington, D.C. 20009; (202) 387-9177; fax (202) 332-5084; http://www.ncrp.org.
