Supporting Religion Newswriters

Religion Newswriters partners with foundations, corporations and individuals who care about the way religion is reported. They look for significant and measurable returns on their investments.

We have nearly 60 years of experience, and we understand the needs of journalists for knowledge about the critical issues that intersect religion. Whether they seek facts about Islam or information about faith and politics, race or the environment, we provide them with sources who have the answers.

Many ways to invest

When you become part of Religion Newswriters’ commitment to balanced and accurate religion journalism, you can choose the philanthropic approach that suits you best. Will you support a current project? Or are you seeking a specially designed resource to close an information gap? Whichever option you prefer, we will put your investment to work wisely. 

Why do our partners choose Religion Newswriters?

• Experience. We have decades of experience developing timely and insightful resources for journalists about religion. Over the past eight years alone, we have developed $6 million worth of initiatives to help journalists do a better job.

• Expertise. As our partner, you will have access to our seasoned staff of nine specialists, including seven nationally located journalists who have covered religion extensively. Our resources link journalists to hundreds of scholars around the world who possess in-depth knowledge about religion and its relationship to politics, health, science, education, the arts and more.

• Cost efficiency. Religion Newswriters spends 87 cents of every dollar on resource development. You will realize the greatest possible return on your investment.

• Focus. Our resources focus on specific issues in religion and public affairs Each project has its own goals, which we monitor and measure to ensure we have meet our objectives.

We would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about becoming a partner. Please contact Ruth Sternberg Portnoy, our development director, at 614-891-9001, ext. 5#, or Ruth@RNA.org.

Our projects

• ReligionLink – an Internet religion news resource featuring national and regional experts. We e-mail these news tips to more than 7,000 journalists and interested readers each week. Another 30,000 people read the resource online. In 2007, we produced 146 tips. Tips in science and religion were developed with support from the John Templeton Foundation. Other tips have received support from the Lilly Endowment and Pew Charitable Trusts.

• Lilly Scholarships in Religion for Journalists — Journalists will receive scholarships for up to $5,000 each to study religion at any accredited college, university or seminary. Scholarships cover expenses including tuition, registration fees and books. Scholarships are funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. More than 100 journalists have taken courses through this program.

• Religion Stylebook – The John Templeton Foundation has provided the means to create the most extensive, continually updated guide to the correct spellings and usage of hundreds of religious terms, geared especially for journalists and others interested in faith issues.

• ReligionLink Source Guides—These in-depth guides explain the issues on a particular topic and provide sources organized by region. Subjects include Religion & Politics, Hinduism, Bioethics and African Americans & Religion. Partners in development most recently include the Fetzer Institute.

• Books and other publications—including our popular “Reporting on Religion: A Primer on Journalism’s Best Beat.” Each has been distributed to more than 10,000 journalists, journalism students and professors across the country. Both are available online. This resource was developed with the help of individual and foundation donors with an interest in helping journalists understand this beat.

• Individuals and foundations have also helped us with these resources:

  Training—held regionally each year on a variety of newsworthy topics on religion in public affairs, including Pop Culture and the Presidential Elections.

  The Religion Newswriters Annual Conference—More than 200 journalists, scholars, publishers and communications professionals gather each year to meet major newsmakers, learn nuances within religion stories and form valuable connections with peers. Donations support scholarships for journalists who could not otherwise afford to attend.

How to invest with us

Now is a great time to invest in Religion Newswriters. We are at a crossroads in our project planning. As 2008 approaches, we are diversifying our funding to build on the outstanding resources we have developed and expand them for new audiences with a passion for how faith and values are reported in the news.

Religion Newswriters Foundation offers multiple avenues for giving:

• Cash gifts

• Employer matching funds

• Multi-year pledges

• Gifts of appreciated stock

• Planned gifts

Please call our offices if you have any questions.

Donor Bill of Rights