Check out the national website at USCCB - Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Diocesan Counties Served: Mercer, Burlington, Ocean and Monmouth
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is an instrument of the Catholic Church working to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ, “…to bring good news to the poor…release to captives...sight to the blind,
And let the oppressed go free.” (Luke 4:18) The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty program of the United States Catholic Bishops and works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. CCHD offers a hand up, not a hand out.
It has a complementary mission of educating on poverty and its causes. This dual pastoral strategy of education for justice and helping people who are poor speak and act for themselves reflects the mandate of the Scriptures and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
CCHD also provides the Catholic faithful with concrete opportunities to live out the love of God and neighbor in ways that express our baptismal call and continuing Eucharistic transformation.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is made possible by the generous support of Catholics in the United States, especially through an annual parish collection. CCHD’s grants to local anti-poverty efforts are screened, awarded and monitored in close partnership with local Catholic dioceses. CCHD grants to groups in a local community require the explicit approval of the bishop of that diocese.
CCHD IS a Catholic Social Service office within the Diocese of Trenton that offers a yearly grant.
The grant monies are received from the collection that is taken by each parish within the Diocese of Trenton the weekend before Thanksgiving (75% of monies collected by CCHD – DoT is sent to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops national office of CCHD and 25% is retained by the Diocese of Trenton and awarded in grants).
Each year 3-5 grants are awarded in the amounts of $2,000-$10,000 each. A grant can be received for two consecutive years. If a grant is awarded for two consecutive years, one year must pass before another grant application is submitted.
The three major criteria the Diocese of Trenton uses in evaluating CCHD grant applications are:
Applications are due by the first Monday of October each year. Application forms can be found at the link below with specific deadline date specified. Grants will be reviewed and awarded by the acting Diocesan Director for CCHD-DT, Brenda Rascher with the assistance of the review committee.
Brenda L. Rascher, MSW, JD
Acting Diocesan Director
Catholic Campaign for Human Development
701 Lawrenceville Road, P.O. Box 5147
Trenton, NJ 08638-0147
1-609-403-7180
Fax: 609-406-7422
brasch@dioceseoftrenton.org