Indirect Government Funding

According to the U.S. Supreme Court, when the government funds a service “indirectly,” then religion can be part of that service.  With “indirect” funding, the government gives a voucher or scholarship to the person who needs help, and that person chooses which organization will provide the help (once the help is given, the organization turns the voucher or scholarship over to the government and receives payment).  Because the person, and not a government official, selects the provider, there is no danger of an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion if the chosen provider is a faith-based organization offering “brownie” services that include religion. 

The person seeking help is free to choose a thoroughly religious provider, and the organization is free to incorporate prayer, religious instruction, and scripture study into the service that the government is “indirectly” funding—as long as the person gets the “this-worldly” help they need and not just “other-worldly” religious training. Most federal funds for child care go to parents in the form of vouchers, allowing those parents to choose, if they wish, child care from a religious organization. But most government funding for social services is “direct” and not “indirect.”

If the services your faith-based organization offers are “brownie” services that include religion, then do not accept “direct” funds but only seek government funds that will come to you “indirectly” because of the choice of the person needing help and not because of a government contract or grant official.  Can’t find “indirect” funds for the kinds of services you provide?  Talk to government officials, including your elected representatives, and ask them to reconfigure their programs to use “indirect” government funding, so that the needy will be able to make choices, and faith-based providers will be able to offer holistic help that integrates religion into the services.

For more on “indirect” funding, go to: Indirect government funding: why and how.