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 typically hosts an annual Local CCHD Grants Program, which is available to nonprofits fighting poverty in the Diocese of Charlotte. Grant funds come from funds raised in the November CCHD collection. Grant applications must target the root causes of poverty, conform to Catholic social doctrine, and require a local parish endorsement. Final decisions aim to reflect the geographic spread of the Diocese.
2026 Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte Local CCHD Grants….With financial support from 25% of the funds raised in the November CCHD Collection, Catholic Charities annually offers local grants to fund non-profit projects in the Diocese of Charlotte that are fighting poverty at the grassroots level. Funded grant projects must target the root causes of poverty and related social concerns. All grant applicants and projects are reviewed for their conformity to Catholic social doctrine and require a local parish endorsement. It is advised that the grant apwplicant request the letter of endorsement with enough time to ensure that it is part of the final application submitted. Final grant decisions aim to reflect the geographic spread of the Diocese of Charlotte. The Grant Guidelines and Application are available to download at www.ccdoc.org/cchd-crs and are available here in WORD and PDF. The deadline for receipt, via email, of 2026 Local CCHD Grant Applications, is Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.
National CCHD Grant procedures and applications…Should National CCHD Grants be offered by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, information will be available on the CCHD web page of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-campaign-human-development.
Local Catholic Charities CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grants – Fall Round Open Now
Does your parish or ministry participate in an initiative that helps combat poverty and hunger? Examples include running a food pantry, providing food assistance for students in the summer or on weekends, offering meals for the homeless, or sponsoring a community garden that gives fresh produce to those in need. If so, parishes and ministries in the Diocese of Charlotte 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 Lenten 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.
Submit your completed PDF application (signed by the pastor, principal, or director) via email by Friday, October 31, 2025.