Voluntary Survey on the Equal Treatment Rule

USDA Rural Development Survey on the Equal Treatment Rule

1. Which USDA Rural Development program(s) did your organization apply for? Please check all that apply.

RD-Community Facilities Direct Loans RD-Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Loans

RD-Community Facilities Guaranteed Loans RD-Mutual Self-Help Housing Grants

RD-Community Facilities Grants RD-Rural Housing Preservation Grants

RD-Rural Community Development Initiative Grants RD-Rural Rental Housing Loans

RD-Farm Labor Housing Loans RD-Technical and Supervisory Assistance Grants

RD-Farm Labor Housing Grants RD-Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants

RD-Rental Assistance Grants RD-Rural Business Enterprise Grants

2. Did your organization receive any Federal funding prior to applying to USDA Rural Development?

Yes No

3. How did your organization learn about the USDA Rural Development Program(s) to which it applied?

Public Notice/Advertisement Rural Development Informational Meeting

Faith-Based and Community Initiative Conference Word of Mouth

Other: ________________________________________________________________

Questions 4-8 relate to the application process and guidance outlined in regulation 7CFC Part 16:

4. When applying for funding (grant, direct loan, or guaranteed loan) from USDA Rural Development, does an organization have to revise its mission or purpose statement to remove religious references?

Yes No

5. When applying for funding (grant, direct loan, or guaranteed loan) from USDA Rural Development, does an organization have to change the structure or membership of its board of directors if there is an underlying religious affiliation or requirement for either the structure or the membership of its board?

Yes No

6. When applying for funding (grant, direct loan, or guaranteed loan) from USDA Rural Development, does an organization have to revise any part of its by-laws to remove religious references?

Yes No

7. When applying for funding (grant, direct loan, or guaranteed loan) from USDA Rural Development, does a religious organization have to create a separate 501(c)3 organization to administer the funds?

Yes No

8. When applying for funding (grant, direct loan, or guaranteed loan) from USDA Rural Development, does an organization have to change its hiring practices based upon religious affiliation?

Yes No

9. When applying for funding (grant, direct loan, or guaranteed loan) from USDA Rural Development, does an organization have to remove religious symbols from the space in which the social services are provided?

Yes No

10. Please tell us about your non-profit organization. This information will help us to understand how we can better serve you through outreach and technical assistance activities.

1. Is your organization (please check one):

Faith-based Secular

2. Annual budget for Organization (please check one):

Less than $10,000 $150,000-$499, 999

$10,000-$49,999 Greater than $500,000

$50,000-$149,999

3. Number of paid staff: Full-time________ Part-time________

4. Year organization was established: __________

This survey is voluntary and not required by law, although we greatly appreciate your participation and opinions. You are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is ________. Estimated time for you to complete this survey is 5 minutes.