First Joint Conference Of The Ministry Of Economic Development Of Russia And The Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra Held At The Academy

The first joint conference of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra on the interaction of religious organizations with government authorities and charitable foundations was held in the Elizabethan Hall of the Moscow Theological Academy on March 20, 2026.

The conference was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the regional team of the Moscow Region government, the Presidential Grants Fund, the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, the X5 "Vyruchayem" charitable foundation, and the "Bank Edy Rus" (Rus Food Bank) charitable foundation.

The Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra was represented by its abbot and Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, Bishop Kirill of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov.

Participants of the conference included representatives of religious organizations, heads of social service departments of the Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov Diocese, students of the Moscow Theological Academy, rectors of parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church, and representatives of the administration of the Sergiev Posad urban district.

"In Russian spiritual centers, crafts are traditionally developed, food is prepared, and household farming is conducted, along with preparations for church sacraments for parishioners and pilgrims. Therefore, knowledge of key areas of work and the development of the non-profit sector can be a great help in the activities of both the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and other religious centers". 

"Today, 1,167 religious organizations are registered in the register of socially oriented non-profit organizations maintained by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, with 69.1% of them receiving financial support". 

"The contribution of the NGO sector to the country's economy is about 1.5% of GDP. Over the nine months of this year, religious organizations received donations totaling 1.4 billion rubles from legal entities".

"Today's conference is the first step in our cooperation. I am sure it will be expanded to other areas - tourism, creative industries", noted Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Tatyana Ilyushnikova.

Speakers at the conference included Elena Ivanitskaya, Deputy Director of the Department for Social Sphere Development and the Non-profit Sector of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia; Igor Sobolev, First Deputy of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives and advisor to the General Director of the Presidential Grants Fund; Lyudmila Lisyatnikova, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Moscow Region; Yulia Nazarova, President of the "Bank Edy Rus" charitable foundation; and Anna Skorobogatova, President of the "Vyruchayem" charitable foundation.

Among the key topics of the event were state support measures for non-profit organizations in Moscow and the Moscow Region. In particular, the mechanism for including religious organizations in the register of socially oriented non-profit organizations (SONKO) and obtaining grants and subsidies.

Thus, if religious organizations are classified as socially oriented, they have access to all existing support measures for non-profit organizations in the country: financial in the form of subsidies and grants, property-related, educational, and consultative-informational. 

During the conference, the algorithm for working with private foundations and specific priority social groups - SVO participants and their families, the elderly, and mothers on maternity leave - was discussed separately. 

"We received detailed expert information that will help open a new page for the development and prosperity of various social diocesan projects. The Church has always been not only a place of prayer but also of feasible material support. Our special attention today is focused on the rehabilitation of SVO veterans, as well as various youth personal development programs", noted Bishop Kirill of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov.

For religious organizations, reduced insurance contribution rates of 7.6% are in effect until 2036.   

According to tax legislation, religious organizations are currently exempt from taxation regarding property used by them for religious activities. 

In accordance with the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, income in the form of property, including funds and (or) property rights received by a religious organization from the performance of religious rites and ceremonies, is not taken into account when determining the tax base. 

Furthermore, the sale of religious items and religious literature produced by religious organizations or associations is also not subject to taxation. 

MThA Press Office