In September 2014 at the impetus of Bud Heckman, the GHR Foundation, the El-Hibri Foundation, and the Jewish Funders Network collectively invited several dozen funders from across the foundation world – including funders from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East – to examine the development of a new funders group focusing on interfaith matters. It was a first-of-its-kind meeting. Two dozen funders attended the inaugural gathering. Two dozen more expressed interest in the emerging group.
The group began to outline some of the things that might define how they would see their purpose of being together as they evolved. To begin with, they articulated an interest in taking time and care to learn about each other, to develop relationships thoughtfully, and to regularly examine alongside one another emerging insights for the field of interfaith relations that might stimulate their philanthropic thinking. They continued to meet over the next few years.
The funders wanted to know the same sorts of things most interfaith leaders want to know, like “who exactly are the ‘nones’ and ‘nons’ and why?” and “how can we reduce discrimination and conflict on the basis of faith?” They challenged themselves to start by looking at emerging research and asked, e.g. “what does it mean for imaging of Muslims and Islam that seventy percent of Americans have never met a Muslim and only a measly six percent have ever had a meaningful, regular relationship with one?”
Relationships advanced between a wide array of faith-based and secular foundation representatives and individual donors, this new affinity group became a respite to the many in philanthropy who had long labored for more positive relations between people of different faith perspectives. The funders understand that better philanthropic coordination and investment is one key building blocks – along with healthy nonprofits, government engagement, and thriving nonprofits – towards interfaith cooperation becoming a public movement on a broad scale.
In 2018, the ongoing engagements of the affinity group gave way to a consulting group with colleagues in the field providing technical support to individual nonprofits and foundations working to advance interfaith cooperation.
Other Efforts
In 2019-20, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations started engaging large funders to consider what could be done together in two key areas of their work: religious literacy and interfaith leadership. This work may constitute a new affinity group as it evolves.
There are also at least two other groups have had the name “Interfaith Funders” that we are aware of. IFG is not be confused with:
- “Interfaith Funders” which is a local “Center for Combatting Drug Abuse in Chicago, IL.” See: http://www.interfaithfunders.org/.
- “Interfaith Funders” which was (now dormant) “a network of faith-based and secular grantmakers committed to social change and economic justice…which “began as a working group of the National Network of Grantmakers in 1997, evolving out of an ecumenical grant review board of the National Council of Churches.” See: https://www.givingcommunities.org/networks.php?network=Interfaith-Funders_67.