About Us
Who We Are
Founded in 1986*, the Interfaith Federation is a gathering point for people of all faith traditions in the Baton Rouge region. Though we may have different beliefs, all our traditions have a common core tenet – to love and help our neighbor in need. We bring people together, and leverage our togetherness to cultivate Unity, Justice and Peace in our community and beyond!
Our Mission
Cultivate interfaith understanding and cooperation to reduce human suffering in Greater Baton Rouge.
Our Vision
A Baton Rouge community where every person is treated with love and respect, where people of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds can understand our differences, but choose to come together around the things that unite us.
Our Goals
We Cultivate UNITY through dialogue, education, and shared experiences. We Cultivate JUSTICE through shared work in the community. We Cultivate PEACE one person at a time.
Our Opportunity
Baton Rouge sits in the Bible Belt of the United States with over 600 diverse faith communities—including Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i, Unitarian Universalist, Catholic, Protestant and many more. Faith is not a peripheral part of life in Baton Rouge – it is an integral part of our foundation and history, and remains a central aspect of community life today.
Our community faces significant challenges—COVID-19, poverty, racial tension, violence, and inequity in education and health services. Because they are such an integral part of our city, faith communities are an ideal place to join our resources to meet these challenges.
The Interfaith Federation is positioned to serve as a catalyst for communication, coordination, and collaboration among the local faith community and in partnership with others to address human suffering. We leverage our community-wide connections to bring positive change to Baton Rouge.
Our Strengths
Inspiration: Events like our annual Community Prayer Breakfast and Sounds of CommUNITY Concert inspire, encourage and invite people to expand their understanding of our community.
Holy Grill Feeding Program: Founded in the Zion City neighborhood of North Baton Rouge, the Holy Grill has been feeding hot meals to the hungry since 1987. More than just food, the Grill offers support, promotes healthy lifestyles, and seeks to bring transformation to this historic neighborhood.
Community-Wide Connections: We have a history of connecting diverse people of faith and goodwill, bearing witness that love is stronger than hate. Our network comprises faith communities, fellow non-profits, local businesses and government agencies to serve as a catalyst for change.
Innovation and Creativity: Our work is ongoing, and new challenges await. Since our founding, we have leveraged the talent and creativity from a broad spectrum of people and organizations. We invite people to listen, discover and re-discover our shared humanity. We strive for transformed and changed hearts, attitudes, and behavior.
Long-term Presence: Interfaith Organizations are rare – especially in the Deep South. Our long-term presence has garnered respect in the community, and puts us in a unique position to connect our beautiful past with a vibrant future!
Our Funding
The Interfaith Federation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Funding includes:
- Dues and gifts from Member Congregations
- Contributions from individuals or businesses
- Grants from foundations and government agencies
Please support us – our work depends on partners like you who want to make a difference in the community!
Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN # 72-1072489.
* Our original name – Greater Baton Rouge Federation of Churches and Synagogues – was changed in 2008 to reflect the increasing religious diversity in the community. Visit our History Page to learn more.
find us
3112 Convention St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Call us
(225) 267-5600
Hours
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
