Projects are supported with grants (up to $5,000), which are available for one year.

The local CCHD committee evaluates the organization's or parish's demonstrated progress in bringing about institutional change and the number of applicants and available funds when considering to continue funding to a past grant recipient.

• To be eligible for CCHD funds, an organization must satisfy ALL the following criteria and guidelines.
• Please bear in mind that because CCHD has limited financial resources available for grant making -- eligibility does not guarantee funding.
• If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Life, Justice & Peace at justiceandpeace@archdpdx.org The Office values the relationships with CCHD applicants and CCHD-funded organizations.

Criteria

• The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is Catholic! The activity for which funding is requested must conform to the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church.
• The organization must demonstrate the intention (and should demonstrate the capacity) to effectively work toward the elimination of the root causes of poverty and to enact institutional change. ​

1. Modification of existing laws and/or policies
2. Establishment of participatory and just social structures and/or redistribution of decision-making powers so that people living in poverty can be involved in policy-making that affects their lives.

• CCHD practices the Church's priority for the poor, helping low-income and vulnerable people improve their lives and communities by their own actions. At least 50% of those benefiting from the organization's efforts must be people experiencing poverty.
• CCHD emphasizes self-help, participation and decision-making by poor people themselves to address their own situations. People living in poverty must have the dominant voice in the organization. The goal is that at least 50% of those who plan, implement and make policy, hire and fire staff (e.g., the Board of Directors, etc.) should be persons who are involuntarily poor (VISTA volunteers, students, etc. are considered by CCHD to be voluntarily poor).
• CCHD is a sign of solidarity, seeking to build bridges between those who are poor and those who are not. The organization should generate cooperation among and within diverse groups in the interest of a more integrated and mutually understanding society
• The organization must be fully nonpartisan when engaging in political activities. Organizations engaged in partisan political activity are not eligible.
• Applicants must demonstrate a willingness to include and collaborate with the Office in promoting and facilitating the organization's efforts and events, and to participate in promoting CCHD. 

Guidelines

• The organization's efforts should directly benefit a relatively large number of people rather than a few individuals.
• Because it is central to CCHD’s principles of empowerment and it is essential to the strength, depth and sustainability of organizations, the organization should demonstrate a commitment to ongoing human development through skills building and training. 

Ineligible for Funding

The following general classifications do not meet CCHD criteria and/or guidelines for community organizing grants:

• Organizations with primary focus on direct service (e.g., daycare centers, recreation programs, community centers, scholarships, subsidies, counseling programs, referral services, cultural enrichment programs, direct clinical services, emergency shelters and other services, refugee resettlement programs, etc.).
• Advocacy efforts where only staff, a few individuals or middle to upper-income people are speaking for a particular low income constituency without the direct involvement and leadership of low income individuals.
• Organizations controlled by governmental (federal, state, local), educational, or ecclesiastical bodies.
• Research projects and surveys
• Individually owned, for-profit businesses.
• Organizations that would use CCHD money for re-granting purposes or to fund other organizations.