White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

The initiative sought to strengthen faith-based and community organizations and expand their capacity to provide federally funded social services, positing that these groups were well-situated to meet the needs of local individuals.

The first person named as director of the OFBCI was John DiIulio, a University of Pennsylvania political science professor.

Faith-based organizations are eligible to participate in federally administered social service programs to the same degree as any other group, although certain restrictions on FBOs that accept government funding have been created by the White House to avoid violations of the Establishment Clause.

[7][8] In May 2018, Trump started the Faith and Opportunity Initiative, a new White House office to help faith-based organizations get equal access to government funding.

[9] On February 14, 2021, President Joe Biden reestablished the Office with Melissa Rogers again serving as executive director.

Former White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives building on Jackson Place in Washington, D.C.
President Barack Obama greets and thanks members of the President's Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships during a drop by in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, March 9, 2010.