Interfaith Funders (IF) is a network of faith-based
and secular grantmakers working to advance the
field of congregation-based community organizing
(CBCO), to strengthen democracy and justice.
What is CBCO? Learn More
CBCO in the News:
May 11, 2009: (Toledo, OH): Nearly 1200 rallied as TUSA, a
DART affiliate, called for consistent school discipline, green jobs,
and remediation of abandoned housing. Find out more
April 12, 2009: (New York, NY): Community organizing featured
as Career, with such fashion trend setters as Marshall Gans, in
the Style Section of the New York Times.
March 11, 2009 (Washington, DC): CBCOs, other clergy and
churches with the Transportation Equity Network push for
stimulus funds for public transit projects and jobs. Find out more
March 10, 2009: (Antioch, CA to Washington, DC) PICO's
"Recovery Express" cross-country caravan arrives in DC for rallies
and lobby days, after visiting 8 cities hard-hit by the economic
crisis. Find out more
March 6, 2009 (Phoenix, AZ): Arizona Interfaith and ACORN press
for remediation of substandard jail conditions and reform of
immigration practices by notorious local sheriff.
Feb. 5, 2009: (Washington, DC): The Washington Post reports
on the Center for Community Change mobilizing grassroots
activists to maximize the impact of Pres. Obama's first 100 days.
Read more
Feb. 4, 2009: (Washington, DC): As President Obama signs the
Children's Health Care (SCHIP) bill into law, the PICO National
Network celebrates victory for a long campaign with great
meaning for their members. Find out more
January 20, 2009 (Washington, DC): Millions watch as the United
States inaugurates the first President, Barack H. Obama, with
training in community organizing. Read his article on organizing
in Illinois (1990) and find out more about his history with the
Gamaliel Network.
Dec. 4, 2008 (Washington, DC): Obama senior advisor Valerie
Jarrett calls on 2500 grassroots leaders to hold the new
administration accountable, at the "Realising the Promise Forum
on Community, Faith and Democracy," organized by the Center
for Community Change and Gamaliel Foundation. Find out more
Dec. 4, 2008 (Santa Fe, NM): Funding community organizing
pays, according to a new report presented by the National
Committee on Responsive Philanthropy to the NM Association of
Grantmakers. Albuquerque Interfaith (IAF) among the 14 NM
organizations leveraging $157 per grant dollar. Find out more
Nov. 17-18, 2008 (Washington, DC): Hundreds of PICO leaders
and clergy from over 30 cities call on congressional offices and
the Obama transition team for swift passage of SCHIP, and hold
prayer vigil at the Treasury Dept. to spotlight the need for relief
from foreclosures. Find out more
Oct. 29, 2008 (Washington, DC) In response to attacks on its
voter registration practices, ACORN fights back with lawsuits and
a 30 sec ad, and works to turn out 1000s of voters. Find out more
September, 2008: Organizing is in the news following statements
made by AK gov. Sarah Palin at the Republican National
Convention. Interfaith Funders has created a digest to debunk
the insults. Link here
September 1, 2008: The PICO National Network rallies
congregational members nationwide to support ther counterparts
as the Gulf Coast evacuates for Hurrican Gustav. Find out more
July 9, 2008 (Chicago, IL): Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF)
Affiliate United Power for Action and Justice calls on Obama
campaign advertising firm to drop contract opposing
constitutional reforms, cited in Chicago Sun Times editorial read
it here
July 8, 2008: Organizing with Obama: Faith and Action By IRA
CHERNUS on Religion Dispatches. read it here
July 6, 2008 (New York) The Long Run: Obama's Organizing
Years, Guiding Others and Finding Himself, By SERGE
KOVALESKI in the New York Times. read it here
July, 2008: "Will Obama Inspire a New Generation of
Organizers," by Peter Dreier, in Dissent read it here
June 18, 2008 (Oakland, CA): PICO Network News features
campaigns across the country and beyond with victories for
housing, health care, youth and more. Find out more
June 4 (Los Angeles): Found in Translation: PICO Affiliate LA
VOICE's community leadership development in Ramona
Gardens is documented in a series by author MARTIN
LASTRAPES. read it here
May, 2008 (San Francisco): PICO affiliate San Francisco
Organizing Project (SFOP), together with ACORN and the San
Francisco Labor Council, announced a major binding benefits
agreement that includes over 3,500 units of affordable housing
and $17 million in workforce development. Find out more
April 24, 2008: (Washington, DC) Jewish Funds for Justice
director SIMON GREER's guest article "Sharing Hardship and
Prosperity" in the Washington Post "On Faith" Blog read it here
April 23, 2003: (Los Angeles) PICO Affiliate LA Voice leaders rally
to celebrate zoning victory keeping alcohol and related
businesses away from schools. Find out more
April 9, 2008: (St. Petersburg, FL) Catholic Bishop Robert Lynch
congratulates thousands of DART leaders attending FAST and
HOPE actions. Read his letter and find out more about DART
April 9, 2008: (Philadephia, PA) Annenberg Institute for School
Reform at Brown University just released a study showing that
sophisticated grassroots community organizing produces major
improvements in student achievement. Find out more about this
report, and other news from the PICO National Network.
April, 2008: "Organizing Hope: Tapping the reservoirs of church
and community" shows new influence of CBCO on politics, by
Danny Duncan Collum in Sojourners Magazine Find out more
March 31, 2008: "Faith and Power" article by Henry G. Brinton on
how congregations can achieve justice by getting comfortable
with power, in The Presbyterian Outlook. Find out more
March 9, 2008: (San Diego, CA) Over 1300 gather to kick off "Year
of the Youth" campaign lead by San Diego Organizing Project.
Find out more
February 10, 2008 (Denver): PICO Colorado and Metro
Organizations for People rally with allies to proclaim, "All Kids
Covered by 2010!" Find out more about this campaign, and other
news from the PICO National Network.
News Archive
GOOD FOR THE SOUL
GOOD FOR THE WHOLE
Resources for funders faith leaders
congregations and researchers showing
how community organizing can strengthen
congregations Link
Inter-Religious Organizing Initiative (IOI)
leadership team strategy training brings
over fifty diverse denominational and CBCO
leaders to American Baptist College
Find out more
Read the UUA report
Interfaith Funders in the News
March, 2009 (international): E-Journal USA:
Democracy Heard Around the World: Giving
Citizens a Voice edition. What Do
Community Organizers Do? By Kathy
Partridge, Interfaith Funders
October 15-17, 2008 (Minneapolis, MN):
Forty local and national funders convene for
Focus MN: One State, Twin Cities, Multiple
Perspectives. Link
July 9, 2008 (Boulder, CO): Community
Organizing's influence on the presidential
candidates Interfaith Funders director and
KGNU radio producer Kathy Partridge
interviews Mike Kruglick, Richard Male, and
Marissa Graciosa Hear it now
Congratulations! Jewish Funds for Justice
for your 2008 Gold Metal in the Wilbur Rich
Awards of the Council of Foundations, for
outreach materials on CBCO! We are proud
to have you in Interfaith Funders
Louisiana organizers awarded post-Katrina
respite fellowships; Interfaith Funders
members support Louisiana Disaster
Recovery Foundation effort.
Find out more about the LORA Fellows.
"Youth add their voices to community
organizing" Report on the Interfaith Funders'
Nov. 2005 Los Angeles site visit, in April
2006 Mott Mosaic magazine of the Charles
Stewart Mott Foundation. Find out more
"Praise the Lord and Pass the Petition"
Ira Chernus on the Lutheran CBOSS III
(Congregation Based Organizing Strategy
Summit) at TomDispatch of the Nation
Institute 3-1-06. Read the story

Interfaith Funders
Interfaith Funders
NEW REPORT:
Focus Minnesota: One State
Twin Cities Multiple Perspectives
Read it Here