Addressing Challenges in Faith-Based Advocacy: Strategies for Resilience, Legitimacy, and Sustainability
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: 10.64357/neya-gjnps-fth-bs-advc-10
This material forms part of the NEYA Global knowledge architecture. Institutional, organizational, professional, training, consulting, curriculum, program design, or implementation use requires an active license from NEYA Global
Explore Architecture →
Module Overview →
Request Institutional Access →
About the Article
Faith-based advocacy plays a vital role in advancing justice and equity, particularly in marginalized and resource-constrained contexts. Yet such efforts face recurring challenges, including limited resources, community skepticism, political resistance, cultural and religious tensions, and lack of media visibility.
This article examines strategies that enable faith-based organizations to address these barriers while maintaining resilience, legitimacy, and sustainability. Drawing on case studies from the GreenFaith Initiative, the Sikh Coalition, EcoSikh, the Hindu American Foundation, and the Black Church Food Security Network, the analysis demonstrates how FBOs overcome opposition, ensure compliance with legal and ethical frameworks, and build sustainable advocacy models. Practical recommendations emphasize stakeholder engagement, transparent communication, coalition building, diversified funding, and leadership development as pathways to long-term impact.
Key Topics
- Challenges in faith-based advocacy
- Strategies for resilience and adaptation
- Legal compliance and ethical accountability
- Stakeholder and community engagement
- Coalition building and alliance strategies
- Sustainable models for advocacy impact
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Addressing Challenges in Faith-Based Advocacy: Strategies for Resilience, Legitimacy, and Sustainability. NEYA Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-fth-bs-advc-10
References
Ebrahim, A. (2003). Accountability in practice: Mechanisms for NGOs. World Development, 31(5), 813–829.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(03)00014-7
Green, D. (2016). How change happens. Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198785392.001.0001
Haynes, J. (2019). Faith-based organizations at the United Nations. Global Society, 33(1), 21–39.
Hudson, A. (2000). Making the connection: Legitimacy claims, legitimacy chains, and northern NGOs' international advocacy. Millennium, 29(1), 77–100.
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Faith-Based Advocacy. NEYA Global Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.64357/faith-based-advocacy-2025
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Evaluating faith-based advocacy efforts: Frameworks, methods, and case studies. Neya Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies.
https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-fth-bs-advc-09
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Media relations and public engagement in faith-based advocacy. Neya Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies.
https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-fth-bs-advc-06
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Mobilizing faith communities for advocacy: Strategies, coalitions, and case studies. Neya Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies.
https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-fth-bs-advc-07
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Organizational Legitimacy: Earning & Sustaining Public Trust. NEYA Global Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.64357/legitimacy-2025
Keck, M. E., & Sikkink, K. (1998). Activists beyond borders: Advocacy networks in international politics. Cornell University Press.
Tarrow, S. (2011). Power in movement: Social movements and contentious politics (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511973529
Tomalin, E. (2013). Religions and development. Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203831175
