TranslateCatholic Campaign for Human Development
-
WHAT IS CCHD?
"CCHD" stands for the "Catholic Campaign for Human Development." It is a subcommittee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, with the collective aim of reducing poverty in the United States. CCHD has a dual mission of education and empowerment.
The education initiative
teaches about the prevalence and the severity of poverty,
offers options and opportunities to work towards social and institutional change
The empowerment initiative
works with those experiencing poverty to enable full participation in decisions impacting their lives.
Rather than providing handouts that meet immediate needs, CCHD works towards long-term systemic change, furthering Catholic Social Teaching’s goal of authentic human development. It's all about a "hand-up."
-
THE ANNUAL CCHD COLLECTION
The annual CCHD collection is usually taken up in the Fall, generally during the weekend just before Thanksgiving. 75% of monies collected are sent to the national office of CCHD BUT 25% is retained by the Diocese of Trenton to be awarded in grants.
PLEASE BE AS GENEROUS AS YOUR MEANS ALLOW!
-
LOCAL GRANT OPPORTUNITY:
The diocesan office of CCHD offers grants annually in the amounts of $2,000-$10,000 each. The focus of grants should be how they are providing a HAND UP towards getting out of poverty, and not focused on a hand out.
The application period starts in September 1st of each year with all applications being due by the
first Monday of October. No applications will be accepted after the first Monday of October.
The instruction form and writable application form can be found at the link below. Grants are reviewed and awarded by the DD for CCHD-DOT with assistance of a review committee.
CCHD Instructions for Grant Applications
CCHD FORM for Diocesan Grant Application.
writable PDF ======================
Grant recipients are required to submit a CCHD FINAL REPORT for the Diocesan Grant received. The final report is DUE August 31st in the year after receipt.
Word
PDF
-
CONTACT
Rev. John Testa
CCHD Diocesan Director
[email protected]
Brenda L. Rascher, MSW, JD
Diocesan Liaison [email protected]Diocese of Trenton Office of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development
701 Lawrenceville Road
P.O. Box 5147
Trenton, NJ 08638-0147Office: 609-403-7180
Fax: 609-406-7422
-
Thank you for your support to the CCHD national collection.
-
Applications for Grants from CCHD - DoT may be submitted starting September 1st, 2025 and ending October 6th, 2025.See required application form below on left.
-
Begin to explore our
Catholic Social Teaching
by clicking on the videos below: -
CCHD MISSION STATEMENT
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops.
Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education.
Founded in 1969, CCHD's pastoral strategy is empowerment of the poor through a methodology of participation and education for justice, leading toward solidarity between poor and non-poor as impelled by the Church's biblical tradition, modern Catholic social teaching, and the pervasive presence of poverty in the United States. This ministry for justice is rooted in our baptism and faith commitment.
The grants, economic development, and education for justice programs of the Campaign, implemented in collaboration with local dioceses, are supported from an annual collection in U.S. Catholic parishes.
-Approved by the USCCB-CCHD Committee, November 1992
-
-
Poverty USA is a unique poverty education initiative launched by CCHD to provide resources to individuals and communities with the aim of acknowledging and addressing the root causes of poverty and economic injustice in the United States, as well as promoting solidarity and social awareness among people of all economic statuses.