MADISON — Applications are now being accepted for local grants to be distributed through the local Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).
To download the Catholic Campaign local application form, click here.
The deadline for submitting applications is May 2.
The Diocesan CCHD Committee will screen the applications and make recommendations to Bishop Robert C. Morlino, who will announce the funding decisions.
What is the CCHD?
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic Church.
CCHD promotes and supports community-controlled, self-help organizations and provides transformative education. A portion of CCHD funding is distributed through the Diocese of Madison to organizations for local anti-poverty and social justice projects.
The local Catholic Campaign for Human Development application form is available on the diocesan Web site at www.madisondiocese.org and on the Catholic Herald Web site at www.madisoncatholicherald.org
Criteria for grants
Criteria for grants distributed by the Diocese of Madison include:
• The applicant and project must be located in the Diocese of Madison.
• The project must address the basic social, economic, and political causes of poverty in order to bring about permanent, sustainable change.
• The principal beneficiaries of the project must be poor, and poor persons should have a dominant voice in planning and implementing the project. Specifically, at least 50 percent of the recipients must be poor, and priority will be given to projects in which 50 percent or more of the persons involved in such leadership roles are involuntarily poor.
Persons are considered poor if their household income is less than 80 percent of the area median income, as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• The project and the work of the sponsoring organization must not be in conflict with Catholic social and moral teaching. CCHD seeks to fund projects that are consistent with and advance the themes of Catholic social teaching, including respect for human life and dignity; priority for the poor; participation; subsidiarity; solidarity; and strengthening family and building community.
• It is essential that projects involve participation by the Diocese of Madison, Catholic parishes, and/or Catholic leadership.
• The applicant should be, or be affiliated with, an incorporated nonprofit organization.
• Grants typically are for up to $5,000.
• An organization may receive funds for the same project for up to three years.
Eight copies of the completed form should be mailed with a postmark no later than April 29, 2011, to Office of the Chancellor, Diocese of Madison, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719.
For more information, contact Fr. Jim Murphy, diocesan director for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, 309 W. Cook St., Portage, WI 53901; telephone: 608-742-6998; e-mail: [email protected]