What kinds of projects does CCHD fund?

CCHD is committed to supporting groups of low-income individuals as they work to break the cycle of poverty and improve their communities. By helping the poor to participate in the decisions and actions that affect their lives, CCHD empowers them to move beyond poverty.

CCHD funds two categories of projects: Community Organizing and Economic Development Initiatives

In COMMUNITY ORGANIZING projects, people work together to address the needs of their community. Poor and marginalized people are empowered by joining together to make decisions, seeking solutions to local problems, and finding ways to improve their lives and neighborhoods. These projects assist individuals to develop as community leaders and to mobilize the community’s resources.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES assist poor and low- income people to develop new businesses and create new jobs or assets. Projects provide the potential for low-income people to achieve greater ownership of assets and participate in decision-making.

CCHD funds two types of grants – local and national.

LOCAL: for community organizing and economic development projects. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis makes local CCHD grants to qualified applicants within the geographic area of the archdiocese. These local grants complement CCHD’s national grants by supporting community organizing initiatives and economic development institutions that are smaller in scope or are in the early stage of development. Generally, the local grants are limited to less than $5000.

NATIONAL: for community organizing and economic development projects that are well established yet need funding in order to grow and become self-sufficient. The national grants are for amounts of $25,000 to $75,000.