Programs
Black Faith and HIV: A Social Justice Imperative
The Black Faith and HIV initiative is powered by the Faith COMPASS Center at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. We partner with Black-led, faith-based organizations and connect them to local and/or state healthcare systems to address health inequity and promote whole-person wellbeing.
The Black Faith and HIV initiative is informed and inspired by the legacy website, Black Church and HIV: A Social Justice Imperative led by the NAACP. We aim to carry forward their commitment to mobilizing Black faith leaders in the cause of HIV at Blackfaith.org
Blackfaith.org is a dynamic hub for Black faith communities to access educational and communications resources, online professional development opportunities, and sustainable learning collaborations for addressing the HIV epidemic in their communities.
HIV & Faith Ambassadors
This HIV & Faith Ambassador initiative is a collaborative endeavor of faith leaders/communities, and health providers to reduce stigma, disseminate HIV education, and link vulnerable populations to care. The primary goal of this program is to assist in developing impactful health ministries in faith communities, and to improve the quality of care for persons living with HIV and their families. We believe the best way to improve the health of congregations is by mobilizing individuals in faith communities to meet the needs of their faith families.
There are three primary components that serve as the foundation of the HIV & Faith Ambassadors Initiative:
- Amplification: Black faith leaders, Ambassadors and Black medical providers across the twelve Southern states will collaborate with FCC for anti-stigma HIV initiatives and campaigns
- Capacity Building Training: Faith leaders will receive capacity building and cultural competency training that will provide them with the necessary skill set for organizational resiliency
- Proclamation at the Intersections: – empowers leaders to engage with a theological framework to proclaim at the intersections to address harmful narratives about HIV.
- Certification: Ambassadors will receive a non-credit bearing certificate of completion through Wake Forest University School of Divinity
- Empowerment: Black faith leaders and faith communities will be empowered to have leading HIV health & wellness ministries and outreach programs
- One on One Coaching: Ambassadors will receive One on One Coaching to discuss challenges they may experience implementing HIV programming and connect them to institutional partners to elevate their work and ensure sustainability
- Community Engagement: Ambassadors will engage with leading medical professionals who are leading and organizations across the country
To apply for the 2024-2025 HIV & Faith Ambassador Cohort:
Applicants must be located in one of 12 Southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas.
Community Investments and Grantmaking
The Faith COMPASS Center is committed to addressing the HIV epidemic in the Southern United States through strategic community investments and grantmaking with faith communities and nonprofits engaged in faith-based projects.
Effective community partnerships require that we take seriously the various assets that faith organizations possess. Thus, we start our philanthropic endeavor understanding that communities already bring their gifts, talents, and local knowledge to any partnership. Faith communities and organizations who want to change longstanding cultural narratives often need added resources, financial and leadership support. Further, we understand our grantmaking as an extension of our theological education endeavors to equip agents of justice, reconciliation, and compassion. We focus our community-centered grantmaking at the intersections of faith, race, gender, and sexuality, and how intersectionality is at play with issues of HIV. We will promote and identify faith-oriented organizations in the southern US whose impact can be expanded and amplified through grant support.
100+
Funded Partners
1,200+
Community Partners
$3
Million+
Grants support projects that increase education and awareness, increase access to HIV testing and care, reduce stigma and discrimination, and empower communities to respond to the HIV epidemic. By leveraging the unique reach and trusted relationships of faith communities, we aim to reduce HIV-related health disparities and improve health outcomes in minoritized communities.
Grant Opportunities
Faith Action Grants ($25,000 – $50,000) CLOSED
Provides resources for nonprofit organizations for action-oriented projects centered around faith to help reduce stigma, engage in spiritually integrated trauma-informed care, and aid in changing the perception of HIV/AIDS in the south. We are seeking to fund organizations committed to the with and affected by HIV that provide opportunities for physical, emotional, and financial wellness. If you are applying for $50,000, you need to make the case that your organization has the infrastructure (e.g., employees, accountant, etc.) and reach (e.g., statewide or regional engagement) to be competitive for that amount. We reserve the right to not award the full amount of the proposed budget if your organization is selected for funding.
Learning It Together (LIT) Artist Cohort Grant ($10,000) CLOSED
Supports the creation and amplification of arts-based projects centered around faith to help reduce stigma and aid in changing the perception of HIV/AIDS in the south. The Center will provide potential opportunities for amplification in collaboration with GLADD and other local, statewide and national media outlets.
Transformative Grants (up to $100,000 for 15 months) Opens February 26, 2024
Provides resources for faith-based organizations and/or nonprofit organizations to develop and scale faith-focused programs and initiatives or conduct research to enhance health ministries, communications, trauma informed care, and other programs that promote positive and transformative health outcomes throughout the Southern region of the United States, specifically in the area of HIV. Due to limited funds and high volume of applicants, we reserve the right to fund organizations at or below $100,000.
Through our work, we seek to promote an inclusive theology, health and wellness, social justice, and community empowerment in ways that are consistent with the values and mission of the Center and our faith-based partners
Application Deadline: Thursday, April 11, 2024, 11:59PM CST
Faculty Fellows Program
The Faculty Fellows program supports a community of learning and inquiry of faculty members who share research and teaching on new knowledge at the intersection of faith and health. Each faculty contributes to the life and mission of the Faith COMPASS Center and engages in evidence-based practices for community engagement and transformation. Faculty appointments can be by semester or academic year.
Community Health, Environmental, and Faith Justice Fellows
The Community Health and Environmental Justice Fellows program is designed for leaders, activists, and organizers who engage in community health focused on health promotion, and engagement with faith communities and faith-driven justice movements. Fellows are appointed for the summer. Fellows apply for an appointment and indicate a specific issue or topic related to Faith and community health transformation to pursue during their appointment.