Grants Focus on Religion, Public Policy

The Pew Charitable Trusts, in Philadelphia, has committed $10-million for a new program intended to encourage religious congregations to get more involved in shaping public policy.

The grants program, called “Religious Communities and the Public Square,” has been authorized for three years and the foundation expects to spend more on it after that.

Three grants of $1.25-million each have already been made to researchers studying the civic involvement of mainline Protestant, black, and Jewish congregations around the country. Other grants are expected to be awarded soon for studies of Catholic, evangelical Christian, Latino, and Muslim congregations. The grant money will also pay for the dissemination of the studies’ findings, and for meetings among religious, community, and government leaders.

For more information contact Luis Lugo, Director of the Religion Program, Pew Trusts, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia 19103-7017; (215) 575-4800 or check the foundation’s Web site at http://www.pewtrusts.com.