Establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

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Establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to better serve people in need through partnerships with civil society, while preserving our fundamental constitutional commitments, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Policy. Faith-based and other community-serving organizations are vital to our Nation's ability to address the needs of, and lift up, low-income and other underserved persons and communities, notably including persons of color. The American people are key drivers of fundamental change in our country, and few institutions are closer to the people than our faith-based and other community organizations. It is important that the Federal Government strengthen the ability of such organizations and other nonprofit providers in our communities to deliver services effectively in partnership with Federal, State, and local governments and with other private organizations, while preserving our fundamental constitutional commitments guaranteeing the equal protection of the laws and the free exercise of religion and forbidding the establishment of religion. The Federal Government can preserve these fundamental commitments while empowering faith-based and secular organizations to assist in the delivery of vital services in our neighborhoods. These partnerships are also vital for the success and effectiveness of the United States' diplomatic, international development, and humanitarian work around the world.

Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (White House Partnerships Office) within the Executive Office of the President, supported by the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Public Engagement, that will have lead responsibility in the executive branch for establishing policies, priorities, and objectives for the Federal Government's comprehensive effort to enlist, equip, enable, empower, and expand the work of community-serving organizations, both faith-based and secular, to the extent permitted by law.

Sec. 3. Functions. The principal functions of the White House Partnerships Office are, to the extent permitted by law: