To be eligible for local 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.
Typically, local CCHD grant amounts are limited to a maximum of $5,000 per one-year funding period.

Applications are accepted throughout the year, and funds will be distributed as available. Local grants are limited to a total of three years of eligibility per project.

There are two categories of CCHD-funded projects: Community Organizing and Economic Development. The criteria for each type of grant are described below.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PROJECTS – Institutional change and leadership development

CCHD considers for funding Community Organizing projects in which groups of people participate in solving problems that affect their lives. A common theme in community organizing is building an organization that can effectively influence decision-making processes so that people working together can bring about needed change in policies, institutions, and/or laws.

CCHD also looks for initial and continued development of leaders. Activities such as leadership skill training in areas of organizational development, issue identification, social analysis, and community organizing are examples of local projects that may be considered for CCHD funding.

A. Criteria
1.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. (Low income is defined as 80% of the area median income or less.)
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, etc.) should be persons who are low-income.
For projects that do not presently meet this criterion, applicants must document the following in the proposal narrative:
1.Why members of the poverty group do not have the dominant role in planning, implementing and policy-making at the time of application
2.How members of the poverty group were involved in determining their need for the project
3.What time schedule is planned for the poverty group to assume leadership and control of this project
3.It is not within the intent or purpose of CCHD to fund projects that could, with reasonable efforts on the part of the applicant, access project funds from the private or public sector. However, it is recognized that many prospective applicants for CCHD funds have not yet developed the capability and/or capacity to obtain funds
from these sources. In a circumstance in which private or public sector funding for an applicant’s project may be available, the applicant will be requested, as part of the CCHD application process, to assess its capability and/or capacity to access the private or public sector funds.
Proposals applying for “seed money” or “matching money” from CCHD will also be considered. However, in requesting “seed money” or “matching money” from CCHD, applicants should present documentation that other funding sources will commit their funds to the project if the applicant raises the “seed money” or “matching money”.
4.The project activity for which funding is requested must conform to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, but the applicant for CCHD funds need not be or represent a Catholic organization. Respect for the life and dignity of every person is the foundation of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. A principle goal of CCHD is promoting respect for the lives and dignity of the poor and vulnerable, those without power or status. This essential principle is why CCHD will NOT fund organizations that engage in activities that conflict with Catholic teaching on human life and dignity, such as the promotion of abortion, birth control, euthanasia, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, racism, war, or discrimination.
5. CCHD encourages activities that promote civic engagement. However, organizations that participate in partisan activities (including the endorsement of particular candidates) and/or take stances that promote in any way (including voter guides and other written material) legislation, propositions, or ballot initiatives that contradict the moral or social teaching of the Catholic Church are ineligible for CCHD funding.

B. Guidelines
1.CCHD seeks to help change the social structures and policies that undermine or diminish human life and dignity, especially for the poor and powerless. Proposed projects must be 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:
1. Modification of existing laws and/or policies;
2.Establishment of alternative structures and/or redistribution of decision-making powers.
2. Directly benefit a relatively large number of people rather than a few individuals.
3.Generate cooperation among and within diverse groups in the interest of a more integrated and mutually understanding society.
4.Demonstrate that as a result of CCHD funding there are possibilities of generating funds from other sources or of becoming self-supporting within the timelines established in the proposal.

C. Projects Not Meeting CCHD Criteria and/or Guidelines

The following general classifications do not meet CCHD criteria and/or guidelines:
1. Projects structured without opportunities for participation and leadership by low-income people
2. Projects controlled by government (federal, state, local) bodies.
3.Research projects, surveys, planning and feasibility studies, etc.
4.Individually owned, for-profit businesses.
5.Projects engaged in partisan political activities, or projects sponsored by organizations whose major focus is in partisan political activity.
6.Organizations that would use CCHD money to fund other organizations.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

CCHD supports economic development initiatives (EDI’s) that significantly include the voice of the poor and marginalized, developing new businesses that offer good jobs, and/or developing assets that will be owned and enjoyed by low-income people.

A. Criteria
1.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.
2. The applicant has a clear, comprehensive, and detailed strategic plan that establishes how the EDI will develop and operate over the next three to five years. This component must include
1.Program description with goals, objectives, and the anticipated outcomes for job creation and/or asset development (see Guidelines, below)
2.An EDI ownership structure that results in asset ownership within the low income community
3.A multi-year financial strategy for the start-up and ongoing viability of the EDI.
3.The project activity for which funding is requested must conform to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, but the applicant for CCHD funds need not be or represent a Catholic organization. A principle goal of CCHD is promoting respect for the lives and dignity of the poor and vulnerable, those without power or status. This essential principle is why CCHD will not fund organizations that engage in activities that conflict with Catholic teaching on human life and dignity, such as the promotion of abortion, birth control, euthanasia, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, racism, war, or discrimination.
4. CCHD encourages activities that promote civic engagement. However, organizations that participate in partisan activities (including the endorsement of particular candidates) and/or take stances that promote in any way (including voter guides and other written material) legislation, propositions, or ballot initiatives that contradict the moral or social teaching of the Catholic Church are ineligible for CCHD funding.

B. Guidelines
1. EDIs must create five or more new jobs that pay a living wage or must develop asset ownership for more than five individuals or families while also benefiting the larger community.
2. The EDI plan needs to relate the anticipated outcomes for asset development to the specific economic conditions of the EDI’s community.
3. An application should establish that its EDI team—staff, consultants, institutional partners, and board—has the organizational capacity needed to ensure implementation.
4. An applicant organization should demonstrate a growing base of support (both financial and/or in-kind resources) that reflects valuable relationships in the community.
5. Priority to encourage collaboration:
1. An applicant organization should describe how it collaborates or plans to collaborate with other organizations in the course of implementation.
2. An applicant organization should demonstrate a willingness to participate in CCHD’s education and promotion efforts.
6. CCHD funds may be used for general operating expenses, including staff salaries/training, procurement of technical assistance, board development costs and other overhead costs.
7. For business development, CCHD funds may be used as part of a financing package for start-up or expansion, including start-up costs or working capital.
8. For real estate development, CCHD funds may be used for pre-development or continuing operating expenses.

C. Projects Not Meeting CCHD Criteria and/or Guidelines

The following general classifications do not meet CCHD criteria and/or guidelines:
1.Individually owned, for-profit businesses.
2.EDIs owned or controlled by governmental agencies (federal, state, or local)
3.EDIs not structured to stand on their own as sustainable institutions
4.EDIs that intend to re-grant CCHD monies to other organizations.