CCHD Grants
The Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is an action-education program sponsored by the Catholic Bishops of the United States. Since its inception, CCHD has funded projects throughout the country which aim to attack the basic causes of poverty and empower the poor. Funds are allocated on a non-denominational basis. Projects operating within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties) are eligible to apply for CCHD local grants. The Campaign for Human Development encourages the submission of proposals describing projects that will aid poverty organizations to bring about institutional change.
CCHD Criteria and Guidleines
It is the policy of the Campaign for Human Development to allocate funds only to organizations which are incorporated and which have an Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) designation. If the applicant organization is not incorporated and federally tax exempt, then CCHD may allow the use of a fiscal agent to receive the grant funds and to distribute them to the funded group. To qualify as a fiscal agent, an entity must be incorporated and have a current IRS 501(c)(3) designation. A fiscal agent does not direct a funded project. It transmits the CCHD funds and oversees their proper use.To be eligible for CCHD funds, a project must satisfy all of the following criteria and guidelines simultaneously. However, due to limited financial resources, eligibility does not guarantee funding.
A. Criteria
1. The project must benefit a poverty group. At least 50% of those benefiting from the project must be from the low-income community.2. Members of the poverty group must have the dominant voice in the project. At least 50% of those who plan, implement and make policy (e.g., the Board of Directors) of a project, should be persons who are involuntarily poor. (Clergy, VISTA volunteers, students, etc., are considered by CCHD to be voluntarily poor). For projects which do not presently meet this criterion, you must document the following in the proposal narrative:
- Why members of the poverty group do not have the dominant role in planning, implementing and policy making at the time of application.
- How members of the poverty group were involved in determining their need for the project.
- What time schedule is planned for the poverty group to assume leadership and control of this project.
3. Funding will not be considered for projects which can be funded by monies available from the private or public sector, unless applicants document that they are unable to obtain funds from these sources. However, proposals which call for "seed money" or "matching money" will be considered. In requesting "seed money" or "matching money" from CCHD, applicants should present positive documentation that other public and/or private sources will commit their funds to this project.
4. No CCHD funds will be granted to organizations that would utilize CCHD money to fund other organizations.
5. The project activity for which funding is requested must conform to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.
B. Guidelines
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. CCHD defines institutional change as:
- the modification of existing laws and/or policies;
- the establishment of alternative structures and/or redistribution of decision-making powers;
- to a lesser extent, the provision of services which result in the achievement of, or focus on (a) and/or (b).
2. Projects which directly benefit a relatively large number of people rather than a few individuals.
3. Projects which generate cooperation among and within diverse groups in the interest of a more integrated and mutually understanding society.
4. Projects which document that CCHD funding can leverage funds from other sources or that they can become self-supporting within a given timeline. (Note: Local CCHD projects are eligible for funding totaling a maximum of three years.)
C. Projects not Meeting CCHD Criteria and Guidelines
(The following do not meet CCHD criteria and/or guidelines)
1. Direct service projects (e.g., day-care 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. Projects controlled by government (federal, state, local), educational or ecclesiastical bodies.
3. Research projects, surveys, planning and feasibility studies, etc.
4. Projects which have been operating for several years on funds from other funding agencies, or for three years from local CCHD.
5. Projects sponsored by organizations which at present receive substantial sums from other funding agencies, unless the applicant documents that this project cannot be funded by these agencies.
6. Individually owned, for-profit business.
7. Projects engaged in partisan political activities, or projects sponsored by organizations whose major focus is in partisan political activity.
