WASHINGTON (RNS) — President Bush on June 26 touted the successes of his initiative to partner faith-based and community organizations with government funds, calling it a key part of his presidency.

The White House announced that faith-based organizations won more than 3,200 grants in fiscal year 2007, totaling $2.2 billion of the $15.3 billion in grants awarded to nonprofits. The total amount of grants increased by 3.9 percent from $14.7 billion in the previous fiscal year.

“I truly believe the faith-based initiative is one of the most important initiatives of this administration,” Bush said in a keynote speech to some 1,100 clergy, government staffers and nonprofit leaders attending a national conference sponsored by the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives.