Plan ahead what you will do if government funding dries up or an unacceptable condition becomes the price of continued funding. Establish a maximum percentage of funds from any single source. Your congregation will be protected from unwanted government rules and prying, and a separate structure can be specifically designed for effective services for the community. If no one is yet active, get busy, but draw in others who share your vision and can bring their own expertise and connections. Be Careful About Religion.
Faith undergirds the solution.
So let faith be resource, guide, and connecting point, not the end of the story. And respect, without ignoring, the alternative faiths many will bring. Get into the Loop. Government contracting and policy making are long-standing operations with their own language, information channels, and players. Find out what the loop is and get into it.