Chapter 2 - Faith-Based Philanthropy
Religious charities are organizations based on faith that cater towards members of the community who follow, or are comfortable, with a particular faith. Each religion has an associated culture that is unique. Faith-based charities are important because they understand these cultures and can target specific needs of the community. People may also feel more comfortable seeking help from organizations that are affiliated with their culture or beliefs in some way.
A young man whose brother had been killed in New Jersey needed a shirt and tie to wear to the funeral. Since he’d grown up in a catholic household, the man went to a catholic charity, and was given a brand new pair of clothes.
In addition, holocaust survivors in nursing homes may fear taking showers, because of the link to the holocaust, and a Jewish nursing home would be best suited to care for such patients. This sense of bonding and kinship is what makes faith-based charities so effective.