To be eligible for CCHD funds, an organization must satisfy ALL the following criteria and guidelines.

Please bear in mind that because CCHD has limited financial resources available for grant making, eligibility does not guarantee funding.

CRITERIA

1. The activity for which funding is requested must conform to the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church.
2. The applicant organization must demonstrate both the intention and capacity to effectively work toward the elimination of the root causes of poverty and to enact institutional change. CCHD defines institutional change as:
   
   
   1. Modification of existing laws and/or policies;
      
      
   2. Establishment of participatory and just social structures and/or redistribution of decision-making powers so that people living in poverty can be involved in policy-making that affects their lives.
      
      
3. The organization’s efforts must benefit people living in poverty. At least 50 percent of those benefiting from the organization’s efforts must be people experiencing poverty.
4. People living in poverty must have the dominant voice in the organization. At least 50 percent of those who plan, implement and make policy, hire and fire staff (e.g., the Board of Directors, etc.) should be persons who are involuntarily poor (clergy, VISTA volunteers, students, etc. are considered by CCHD to be voluntarily poor).
5. The organization should demonstrate ongoing leadership development because it is considered essential to the strength, depth and sustainability of the organization.
6. The organization should demonstrate a clear vision for development of financial capacity that might include membership dues, grassroots fundraising, foundation and/or corporate support.
7. The organization must be fully nonpartisan when engaging in political activities. Organizations engaged in partisan political activity are not eligible.

GUIDELINES

1. The organization’s efforts should directly benefit a relatively large number of people rather than a few individuals.
2. The organization should generate cooperation among and within diverse groups in the interest of a more integrated and mutually understanding society.
3. An applicant organization seeking "seed" or "matching monies" will also be considered. If requesting these monies, applicants should present positive documentation that other public and/or private sources will commit their funds to support the organization’s efforts.

INELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING

1. Organizations with primary focus on direct service (e.g., daycare centers, recreation programs, community centers, scholarships, subsidies, counseling programs, referral services, cultural enrichment programs, direct clinical services, emergency shelters and other services, refugee resettlement programs, etc.).
   
2. Advocacy efforts where only staff, a few individuals or middle to upper-income people are speaking for a particular low income constituency without the direct involvement and leadership of low income individuals.
   
3. Organizations controlled by governmental (federal, state, local), educational, or ecclesiastical bodies.
   
4. Research projects, surveys, planning and feasibility studies, etc.
   
5. Individually owned, for-profit businesses.
   
6. Organizations that would use CCHD money for re-granting purposes or to fund other organizations.

Any questions of clarification for the these guidelines, please contact us.