The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has published a review of the first year of operations of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, noting that regulatory changes may be its future focus. [Please take a moment to vote in our informal poll on churches and political activity]

In 1999 Congress passed the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999, requiring federal agencies to develop common grant application and reporting procedures. Many nonprofits are frustrated with the administrative burdens imposed on receipt of federal funds, including different reports to multiple agencies for essentially the same programs. Moreover, nonprofits are also frustrated with different types of grant application forms for essentially the same program or type of program. But help should be on the way.

In campaign speeches last summer, both Governor Bush and Vice President Gore have stated that they would remove barriers so that faith-based organizations are fully able to compete for federal funds to provide social services, and would allow religious organizations to use faith-based initiatives and programs in the provision of federally funded services. New legislation may beat them to the punch.

A Letter from OMB Watch to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on Community Capacity Centers December 7, 2001 Terence S. Donahue, Acting Administrator Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention n United States Department of Justice 810 7th Street NW Washington, DC 20531 Re: Proposed Program Plan Comments Dear Mr. Donahue