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HAF PUBLISHES GUIDE FOR HINDU GROUPS TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL GRANTS

HAF PROTESTS CHRISTIAN APPROPRIATION OF YOGA

HAF 2ND ANNUAL WASHINGTON, D.C. LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

HAF AND AJC PRESENT THE FIRST PROGRAM OF THE "HINDU-JEWISH FRIENDSHIP SERIES"

UPCOMING FAITH BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TRAINING SESSIONS
 

HAF Releases Faith Based and Community Initiatives Guide for 2005 CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

HAF Publishes Guide for Hindu Groups to Apply for Federal Grants

Date: September 2, 2005

TAMPA, FL: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) released today a guide intended to assist Hindu religious organizations in participating in the federal Faith-based and Community Initiatives (FBCI) program. Entitled “Faith-based and Community Initiatives in the United States: A Guide for Hindu Organizations”, HAF members stated that report is aimed at offering a single point of reference to an otherwise complex FBCI program and specifically informing Hindu Faith-based Organizations (FBOs) of the steps required to prepare for the grant process, identify funding sources, write grant proposals and comply with post application rules and regulations.

“Hindu organizations have been absent from the list of grantees under the FBCI program thus far, primarily because of a lack of awareness of the FBCI program and the associated grant application process,” said Nikhil Joshi, a member of the HAF Board of Directors. “This report will facilitate the active participation of Hindu FBOs by providing a step by step instructional resource for the FBCI process.”

Hindu participation in the FBCI program has been absent thus far according to the leaders at HAF.  They felt that this absence reflects a relative lack of integration of Hindus into the mainstream.  Acknowledging some concerns that the FBCI process is dominated by Judeo-Christian groups and that the entire program compromises separation of church and state, HAF members nevertheless felt that as the program enters its sixth year, participation is necessary to actually confirm a Hindu presence in the mainstream and increase general understanding about Hinduism.

“If explicitly Hindu FBOs actively reach out to the community at large and engage in the FBCI process, Hindus will benefit from increased awareness of their continuing service projects and spread understanding of their pluralistic and tolerant ideals,” said  Swaminathan Venkataraman, member of HAF’s Executive Council and chief contributor to this report.  “Hindu FBOs are widely involved in their community, and FBCI funding will help expand these programs without compromising religious identity.”  

This report provides a comprehensive guide for navigating the FBCI grant application process and provides links to important training resources that will enable any interested Hindu organization to develop a professional and sustainable FBCI program. “Hindu FBOs should fully expect to take several training sessions, mostly available for free or a nominal fee, in matters such as grant proposal writing, accounting and book keeping tasks, in order to prepare themselves for the program,” said Mr. Venkataraman. “Other key skills that Hindu FBOs must seek to develop include the ability to form partnerships, building an effective project evaluation plan into the proposal and proper accounting of funds and documentation so as to maintain eligibility for future funding.”

HAF representatives will be available to help Hindu FBOs with their initial applications. The guide is eventually intended to be a self-help tool and training programs that are referenced in this guide will be the primary source of learning. HAF will also publish occasional ongoing updates on the FBCI program, important policy changes and  special programs that are relevant to Hindus.

Hindu organizations interested in obtaining a copy of the report should visit http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/Inquiry/FBCIInquiry.aspx and provide contact information.  The report will be emailed to them shortly afterwards.

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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HAF Protests Christian Appropriation of Yoga

September 5, 2005

Dear Editor:

Your coverage of the growing concept of "Christian Yoga" in American churches was timely ("Stretching for Jesus", Time, August 29, 2005).  Hindu Americans are rightfully outraged by the brazen appropriation of one of their vibrant faith's most lasting contributions to this country's health, well-being and popular culture.  Hindus are increasingly sensitive to this intellectual property theft, as they have long endured evangelical and proselytizing groups co-opting Hindu icons, rituals, music and other traditions in efforts to deceive, dominate and fraudulently convert too many throughout the Hindu Diaspora. 

Hinduism teaches that yoga, which literally means union of the body and mind in a quest to unite the soul with God, is comprised of eight steps of which the popularly practiced postures are an integral part.  Indeed, the ultimate goal of yoga and Hinduism is one and the same: union with God.  As a pluralistic and tolerant religion, Hinduism teaches-and every yoga teacher can attest-that one need not become a Hindu or repudiate their own faith to practice yoga and reap its immense benefits.  It is a sad irony that some churches seek to exploit Hindu pluralism, and its gift of yoga, to increase their own legion of churchgoers.

Sincerely, 

Swaminathan Venkataraman
Mihir Meghani
Hindu American Foundation

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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HAF 2nd Annual Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference

For more information, please contact Rajan Patel at rajan.patel@hinduamericanfoundation.org or contact us through our website at www.hinduamericanfoundation.org.

HAF and The American Jewish Committee Present the First Program of the "Hindu-Jewish Friendship Series"

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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Upcoming Faith Based and Community Initiatives Training Sessions

Title: Grants 101: Professional Grant Proposal Writing Workshop
Source: The Grant Institute
Location: University of Central Florida
Date: September 26 - 28, 2005
URL: http://www.thegrantinstitute.com

Description: The Grant Institute's Grants 101 Course is an intensive and detailed introduction to the process, structure, and skill of professional proposal writing. This course is characterized by its ability to act as a thorough overview, introduction, and refresher at the same time. In this course, participants will learn the entire proposal writing process and complete the course with a solid understanding of not only the ideal proposal structure, but a holistic understanding of the essential factors, which determine whether or not a program gets funded. Through the completion of interactive exercises and activities, participants will complement expert lectures by putting proven techniques into practice. This course is designed for both the beginner looking for a thorough introduction and the intermediate looking for a refresher course that will strengthen their grant acquisition skills. This class, simply put, is designed to get results by creating professional grant proposal writers.

Participants will become competent program planning and proposal writing professionals after successful completion of the Grants 101 course. In three active and informative days, students will be exposed to the art of successful grant writing practices, and led on a journey that ends with a masterful grant proposal.

Interested development professionals, researchers, faculty, and graduate students should register as soon as possible, as demand means that seats will fill up quickly.

For more information call: (888) 824 - 4424

Title: Grant Writing for Faith-Based Programs and Projects
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Date: August and September 2005 - see detailed list below
URL: http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/faith/

Description:  "The Art & Science of Grant Writing" training sessions will provide personal instruction from key HUD staff on how to become more competitive for federal grant funds, how to qualify for 501c3 nonprofit status, and how to structure an organization to secure government funds. Each session will be held at local facilities such as universities, community centers, churches and hotels.

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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