Independent Sector, National Council of Churches to Host Briefing on Faith and Philanthropy

6/17/2002

From: Carla Bundy or Patricia Nash, 202-467-6100, both of INDEPENDENT SECTOR; or Pat Pattillo or Carol Fouke, 212-870-2141, both of the National Council of Churches

News Advisory:

WHO: -- Harris Wofford, past president of the Corporation for National and Community Service and chair of America's Promise, -- Reverend Wilson Goode, former mayor of Philadelphia and director of Public/Private Ventures, -- Brent Blackwelder, president of Friends of the Earth, -- Sara E. Melendez, president and CEO of INDEPENDENT SECTOR, -- Robert Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, -- Eileen Lindner, editor of the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, the National Council of Churches -- Chris Toppe, senior research analyst of INDEPENDENT SECTOR

WHAT: Release of a new report, Faith and Philanthropy: The Connection Between Charitable Behavior and Giving to Religion, by INDEPENDENT SECTOR

WHEN: Thursday, June 27 9 a.m., Continental Breakfast 9:30-11:30 a.m., Briefing

WHERE: Boardroom of Carnegie Corporation of New York, 437 Madison Avenue, between 49th and 50th Streets, New York City

CONTACTS: Carla Bundy or Patricia Nash, INDEPENDENT SECTOR, 202-467-6100 Pat Pattillo or Carol Fouke, the National Council of Churches, 212-870-2141

INDEPENDENT SECTOR and the National Council of Churches will release new information detailing the connection between giving to religious congregations and its influence on giving and volunteering to secular organizations. Faith and Philanthropy: The Connection Between Charitable Behavior and Giving to Religion measures and compares the generosity of givers to religion to those who contribute time and money to secular causes.

The impact of faith-based giving and volunteering is compelling. Fifty percent of all households give to both religious congregations and secular organizations but their gifts account for 81 percent of all charitable donations. 8.6 percent of all volunteers who give time to both religious congregations and secular organizations account for 30 percent of all volunteering hours.

Harris Wofford, Wilson Goode and other experts on philanthropy and religious congregations will investigate the implications of the findings. Representatives from various nonprofits will illustrate how they reach out to these highly motivated givers.

A preview press-conference call will give an overview of this report on Wednesday, June 26. For more information on the conference call or event, contact Carla Bundy or Patricia Nash at INDEPENDENT SECTOR.