Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services Local Grants

This cycle has ended. For more information about the CCHD and CRS local grants, contact Deacon Lucio Caruso at lcaruso@archlou.org or (502) 637-9786.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Created by the U.S.C.C.B. in 1970 to address the root causes of poverty. CCHD funds projects that bring poor and low-income people together to work for change in their communities. Since its beginning, more than $300 million in CCHD grants have funded over 7,000 community-based self-help projects that create jobs, fight crime, ensure decent wages, reform schools, and provide affordable housing. Catholic Charities coordinates the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).

This effort to end poverty and economic injustice is made possible through an annual parish collection on the weekend before Thanksgiving.  The Archdiocese of Louisville evalustes and recommends local organizations that have applied for CCHD national grants.  In addition, a Catholic Charities of Louisville committee of board members and staff advise the Archdiocese on the distribution of the local funds, which is 25% of the overall collection.

CCHD Local Grant Criteria

  1. Projects which are innovative and demonstrate a change from traditional approaches to poverty by attacking the basic causes of poverty and by effecting institutional change.
  2. Projects which directly benefit a relatively large number of people rather than a few individuals.
  3. The project must benefit a poverty group. At least fifty percent (50%) of those benefiting from the project must be from the low-income community.
  4. Grants are made on an annual basis and do not imply subsequent years of funding.
  5. Projects which document, that as a result of CCHD funding, there are possibilities of generating funds from other sources or of becoming self-supporting.
  6. No proposal that excludes on the basis of race, color, gender, or religion will be considered.
  7. The project activity for which funding is requested must conform to the moral teaching of the Catholic Church.
  8. Those programs, projects, or organizations that receive CCHD funds will be asked to submit a mid-point and final report outlining the use of the grant.

Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and disadvantaged outside the country. Catholic Charities of Louisville coordinates the annual Parish Rice Bowl Collection. A Catholic Charities of Louisville committee of board members and staff advise the Archdiocese on the distribution of the local funds, which is 25% of the collection.

CRS Local Grants Criteria

  1. A majority of local Rice Bowl Funds will be allocated to food programs and projects that respond to the root causes of hunger.
  2. Local Rice Bowl Funds may also be allotted for other direct service needs that reflect the corporal works of mercy. E.g. utility assistance, housing, clothing, transportation, etc.…
  3. Programs, projects, or organizations to be considered for Rice Bowl funds will be those supported primarily by the local community – churches, pantries, volunteers, and donations.
  4. Grants are made on an annual basis and do not imply subsequent years of funding.
  5. No proposal that excludes on the basis of race, color, gender, or religion will be considered.
  6. The project activity for which funding is requested must conform to the moral teaching of the Catholic Church.
  7. Those programs, projects, or organizations that receive Rice Bowl funds will be asked to submit a mid-point and final report outlining the use of the grant.