USAID funding to Faith Based organizations

S. Lankford, FOIA Team Leader:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All records which provide guidance or policy on the awarding of grants to faith based organizations both in general and in particular for the $15 Million promised to Indonesia through “Inisiatif Kemitraan Asia Tenggara – United States (IKAT-U.S.)” or “Southeast Asia – U.S. Partnership: Civil Societies Innovating Together.”

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Jason Smathers
Filed via MuckRock.com
185 Beacon St. #3
Somerville, MA 02143

Daytime: (857) 488- 3081
E-mail: requests@muckrock.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on November 10, 2010. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

——————

From Jason Smathers on Nov. 10, 2010:
S. Lankford, FOIA Team Leader:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All records which provide guidance or policy on the awarding of grants to faith based organizations both in general and in particular for the $15 Million promised to Indonesia through “Inisiatif Kemitraan Asia Tenggara – United States (IKAT-U.S.)” or “Southeast Asia – U.S. Partnership: Civil Societies Innovating Together.”

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Jason Smathers
Filed via MuckRock.com
185 Beacon St. #3
Somerville, MA 02143

Daytime: (857) 488- 3081
E-mail: requests@muckrock.com

Yes, please submit this request. Thank you.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 14, 2010. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

Re: FOIA Request No. F-00158-13

Dear Mr. Smathers:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) regrets the delay in responding to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Unfortunately, USAID is experiencing a substantial backlog due to staff shortages that we are committed to resolving.

This acknowledges receipt of your February 14, 2013, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Specifically, you requested all records which provide guidance or policy on the awarding of grants to faith based organizations both in general and in particular for the $15 Million promised to Indonesia through “Inisiatif Kemitraan Asia Tenggara – United States (IKAT-U.S.)” or “Southeast Asia – U.S. Partnership: Civil Societies Innovating Together.” You indicated that this request was a follow-up to your November 2010 submission for the same information. You also requested a fee waiver.

We conducted a search of our database. Regrettably, we did not locate the November 2010 submission you referenced. Additionally, due to the significant delay in acknowledging your request, all fees will be waived.

Your request has been assigned to Ms. Antionette (Toni) Robertson. You may contact Ms. Robertson by phone on (202) 712-0859 or by email at anrobertson@usaid.gov, and reference F-00158-13 in your correspondence.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Alecia S. Sillah
Team Lead, Government Information Specialist
Bureau for Management
Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division