Overview
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops. It was founded in 1969 with two purposes. The first purpose was to raise funds to support "organized groups of white and minority poor to develop economic strength and political power." The second purpose was to "educate the People of God to a new knowledge of today's problems . . . that can lead to some new approaches that promote a greater sense of solidarity."
The CCHD philosophy is rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and emphasizes empowerment and participation of the poor. By helping people who are poor participate in the decisions and actions that affect their lives, CCHD empowers them to move beyond poverty.
During its history, CCHD has funded more than 4,000 self-help projects developed by grassroots groups of people living in poverty. Each year CCHD distributes national grants to more than 300 projects based in local communities. Additional projects are funded by a share of the CCHD money collected that is retained by the diocese through the
Christian Sharing Fund or CSF 
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Collection
The 2012 Collection is being held at most parishes the third weekend in November. Contact our office with any questions.
Catholic parishioners are the principal source of CCHD’s funds. The CCHD collection is typically held annually on the weekend before Thanksgiving.
To ensure the successful collection of funds in the Archdiocese, you can help by doing the following:
- Sign-up to be a CCHD Parish Ambassador, contact Elizabeth Fairbairn if interested
- Explain CCHD to members of your parish and urge them to give generously
- Make sure the promotion materials and envelopes are distributed
- Invite a member of the CCHD local advisory board or a representative of a funded group to speak for 2-3 minutes at the Sunday masses in order to tell the story of CCHD
The local CCHD office can assist you in promoting the collection in your parish or answer any questions about CCHD. Call 651-647-2588 for more information.
Materials for the collection are available from the national CCHD site
If you missed your parish collection, and would still like to donate make checks payable to CCHD and send to the Office for Social Justice or to your parish office.
Grants
Catholic Campaign for Human Development empowers low-income individuals through community and economic development by financially supporting low-income controlled organizations. Grants are provided to organizations that demonstrate leadership and economic development, fulfillment of criteria and guidelines, and a commitment to catholic moral and social teaching.
Applicants participate in two rounds of applications, which are screened by the selections committee which includes local and national staff along with Catholic clergy and parishioners. Recommendations are made by the selections committee to the Archbishop, if approved these recommendations are finally approved by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
National CCHD Grants:
Application materials for CCHD are available on the national CCHD site and include:
Local CCHD (Christian Sharing Fund) Grants:
To apply for Christian Sharing Fund grants, you may complete a grant pre-application between November 1 and December 15.
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Current Grants
All Parks Alliance for Change (APAC) is a statewide association of manufactured home park residents that works to improve the quality of park neighborhoods through a philosophy of helping people help themselves. The work of APAC helps maintain manufactured mobile home communities as a viable low income housing option.
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL) is a center for low-income, immigrant workers united in the struggle of organizing for better wages and working conditions in the Twin Cities. CTUL partners with any low-wage worker who is facing a violation of their rights in the workplace. Over the past three years, workers have successfully organized to recover over $500,000 in unpaid wages and damages, and have inspired employers to change corporate policies to improve wages and working conditions for over 1,100 workers. They are also working to establish institutional changes in the retail cleaning industry where workers earn wages well below the poverty line and routinely have wages unfairly deducted from their paychecks.
City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT) provides and fosters stewardship of perpetually affordable home ownership opportunities for low-income individuals and families throughout Minneapolis. CLCLT helps people who couldn't otherwise purchase a home achieve homeownership, keeps homes affordable for future homeowners when or if a homeowner decides to sell, and provides a support system to homeowners.
Rondo Community Land Trust (Rondo CLT) provides permanently affordable, quality housing for families and individuals below 80% of the median income and promotes the community land trust model as a viable method for preserving affordable houses. Rondo CLT focuses on securing affordable, quality housing, educating the community on foreclosure prevention and advocating for public policy which supports community land trusts and affordable housing.