 Headlines
Foundations Boost Funding for Study of Religion
Lilly Endowment Awards Grants to Explore Role of Faith
in Career
Gay Rights Advocates Express Concern Over Case Donation
to School
RealNetworks Creates Charitable Foundation
Digital Divide Volunteer Groups Grow in Popularity
Gates Says Access to Technology Not Priority for
World's Poorest
Computer Game Puts Philanthropic Skills to the Test
San Francisco's Arts Community Sees Both Sides of Boom
Economy
Boston Housing Fund Helps Poor Residents Cope With
Rising Rents
Corporate Mergers Have Nonprofits Concerned Over
Funding Cuts
Horizon Foundation Focuses on Community Health
Correction in Generosity Index Moves Minnesota From
41st to 15th Place • • • • • • |
PHILANTHROPY NEWS DIGEST
According to the Times, a long-standing academic bias
against religion had caused social researchers to overlook
its role in American life. Now, however, the subject is
increasingly the focus of study within departments of
sociology, political science, and international relations.
Interest in the study of religion is being driven by a
number of factors, the Times reports, including renewed
interest in spirituality on the part of aging baby boomers
and recent political support for faith-based initiatives.
As part of this trend, a growing number of mainstream
foundations are providing money for religious research.
The Ford Foundation, one of
America's largest foundations, has awarded roughly 50
grants totaling $10.5 million over the past several years
through a religious program created in 1997. Other major
funders include the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment and
the Philadelphia-based Pew Charitable Trusts,
which is funding a multimillion-dollar initiative to
create 10 academic "Centers of Excellence" to study the
intersection between religion and a range of contemporary
issues.
"Religion was often seen as soft, too ephemeral to be
included in serious scholarship," said Kimon Sargeant, a
Pew program officer. "We want to help provide a broader
public understanding that religion can be a remarkable
force for common good."
FCnote: The Ford Foundation (NY) had assets of $11,938,709,000 and made grants totaling $511,825,000 in the fiscal year ending 9/30/99.
FCnote: The Lilly Endowment Inc. (IN) had assets of $10,418,127,226 and made grants totaling $558,287,507 in the year ending 12/31/99.
FCnote: The Pew Charitable Trusts (PA) had assets of $4,894,417,637 and made grants totaling $211,053,071 in the year ending 12/31/99.
Watanabe, Teresa. "The New Gospel of Academia." Los
Angeles Times 10/18/2000. (Free registration required.)
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