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Frequently Asked Questions

Who determines the position Virginia Interfaith Center will take on legislative issues?
The Center’s members and faith community leaders are polled annually to determine priorities. The poll is tabulated and reported to the Board, which in turn establishes the legislative agenda and legislative concerns.

How does the Virginia Interfaith Center promote its legislative agenda?
When the priorities have been determined (usually by mid August), statistics and ”talking points” are developed and a brochure is produced. After editing and printing, the agenda then is mailed to all of the Center’s membership for their local proactive work with legislators.

The legislative agenda is also mailed to each legislator. Further, press releases to the religious and secular press promote the agenda.

Click here to read about our 2012 legislative priorities

How does the Virginia Interfaith Center develop specific legislation to be introduced at the legislature?
Interfaith Center staff, in consultation and collaboration with partner religious and advocacy groups assist in the selection of specific issues for which legislation is written, introduced and promoted. We do not merely react to legislation, we help create and support legislation.

Are there public policy issues that the Virginia Interfaith Center does not address?
The Interfaith Center follows legislative issues set by its membership. The Board affirms the annual polling of the Center's members and directs the staff on policies and issues. Typically, issues where there is no clear agreement between religious traditions are not tracked closely.

How is the Virginia Interfaith Center governed?
The Virginia Interfaith Center is governed by a Board of Directors. Some directors are elected at the annual general membership meeting by members in attendance and by proxy ballots. Other directors are appointed by sponsoring faith communities. The Board hires the Executive Director, sets the budget priorities, and approves the legislative agenda.

Is the Virginia Interfaith Center tax exempt?
YES! The Interfaith Center is a non-profit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organization, therefore membership dues, contributions to the endowment fund, and all other contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.  Click here to make your tax deductible donation today.

IRS regulations permit the participation of tax-exempt, faith based organizations in limited, defined lobbying efforts.

Most of our activities, such as our research and flagship educational program, Social Justice U., are not considered “lobbying” by the IRS. Advocacy trainings and issue oriented forums are actually educational events, not lobbying.

Examples of lobbying are meeting with a legislator or legislators discussing specific legislation and distributing action alerts to our grass roots network regarding specific legislation. Simply put, lobbying is trying to influence a legislator to vote a particular way on a specific bill.

Do you endorse candidates?
As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, the Virginia Interfaith Center is prohibited from endorsing candidates for any political office. We may and do engage in issue oriented discussions with candidates, but never endorse any candidate or political party.

Do you have questions not answered here? Contact the office.

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Richmond, VA 23223
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