The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), programs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, are offered in the Diocese of Charlotte through Catholic Charities. The programs are coordinated by the Director of Social Concerns and Advocacy, who serves as the Diocesan Director for both.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is an initiative to end poverty at the grassroots level. Since 1970, it has funded over 4,000 programs across the United States. The annual CCHD national collection distributes 75% of funds to the national headquarters and 25% to the Diocese of Charlotte to support local grants. These grants are used to fight poverty in the geographic area of the Diocese of Charlotte. All applications must be endorsed by a local Catholic entity.
Catholic Relief Services is the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of Caritas Internationalis. It works to alleviate suffering and provide assistance to people in need in over 100 countries, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. The diocesan program raises awareness of global inequity and poverty. Lenten Rice Bowl activities in parishes and schools promote prayer, fasting, learning, and giving. Funds raised by the Rice Bowl collection benefit CRS, and 25% stays local for mini grants that support nonprofit organizations with poverty and hunger initiatives.
CRS Rice Bowl Collection – Funds Remittance Procedures
Parish and school coordinators for CRS Rice Bowl are encouraged to remind parishioners and students to submit their collections to their parish/school. The funds should be sent to the Diocese of Charlotte Finance Office by May. Checks should be made payable to the Diocese of Charlotte, and the memo section should indicate CRS Rice Bowl. Alternatively, parishes and schools can send the funds directly to CRS headquarters in Baltimore. Still, it is important to email Joe Purello with details of the transfer. Questions? Call 704-370-3225.
Local CCHD Grants
Catholic Charities offers local grants to nonprofits fighting poverty in the Diocese of Charlotte from funds raised in the November CCHD collection. All grants must target root causes, conform to Catholic social doctrine, and require parish endorsement. Final decisions aim to reflect the geographic spread of the Diocese. The deadline for submission of Spring 2024 Local CCHD Grants was Thursday, February 15, 2024. Please check this web page in December 2024 with news about a Spring 2015 Round of Local CCHD Grants. Find the 2023 Local CCHD Grant evaluation here. Find the 2024 Local CCHD Grant evaluation here.
Information on National CCHD Grants is available on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website.
Local Catholic Charities CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grants
Does your parish or ministry participate in any initiatives that help combat poverty and hunger? Examples include running a food pantry, providing food assistance for students in the summer or on weekends, offering meals for those who are homeless, or sponsoring a community garden that gives fresh produce to those in need. If so, parishes and ministries may apply for grants of up to $1,000 to help fund programs that fight hunger and poverty in their local communities. For every $3 of Rice Bowl funds given to Catholic Relief Services for overseas projects, $1 is put back into the Diocese of Charlotte to help fund local projects combatting hunger and poverty. Applications (available in PDF and WORD) must be signed by the pastor, principal, or director and received via email by Friday, April 12, 2024.