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Catholic Campaign for Human Development

CCHD

The message at the heart of Catholic social teaching has always been justice and hope for the poor

. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is Catholic social teaching in action.

CCHD Mission

CCHD is the domestic anti-poverty campaign of the U.S. Catholic Bishops. It was established in 1969 to be an educational and action program to address the root causes of poverty in our country. The CCHD philosophy emphasizes empowerment and participation for the poor. By helping the poor to participate in the decisions and actions that affect their lives, CCHD empowers them to move beyond poverty.

CCHD funds are raised by an annual collection each fall. The funds are disbursed in two ways. 75% of the money collected is sent to the national office of CCHD to be awarded to grant recipients whose work addresses conditions of poverty in areas such as community organizing and development. 25% of the annual collection remains in the Diocese of San Jose to be distributed through a local grant process. All grants are reviewed by a Diocesan committee of experienced community leaders who make recommendations to the Bishop for his approval.

Grant Application Procedure:

Local diocesan grants are available annually. The maximum award is $10,000. Applications are due on May 15 and must be received by 5:00 pm.