Social policy issues, such as welfare reform and President Bush’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative, have increased the need to know more about religious charity. A number of recent studies have gathered data on congregations' social ministries. However, many religious congregations throughout the United States channel their social outreach through faith-based coalitions. These coalitions are separate organizations from the congregations that support them. However, their success often depends on enthusiastic support from local congregations, not only for financial resources, but also for volunteers. The Coalition Ministries and Congregations Study is a three-year national research project that will examine the organization and scope of these ministries and the relationship that exists between coalitions and their local congregations.