The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the official anti-poverty program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Founded in 1969, the U.S. Catholic Bishops wanted to create an intentional response that would help lift communities out of poverty.
CCHD is funded in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee during our annual Combined Collections campaign held in June. People throughout the archdiocese have the opportunity to invest in groups that animate the Social Teachings of the Church in the public arena with their financial support.
- CCHD works to support community-controlled, self-help organizations through local and national grants.
- CCHD educates Catholics on the conditions and causes of poverty.
- CCHD invites youth in 7th - 12th grade to learn more about poverty and the programs that are supported through CCHD here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Youth are invited to participate in our annual "Creating on the Margins Contest," which provides a new theme and new learning materials on social justice issues. The CCHD intern or Rob Shelledy can provide details related to the contest.
Central to CCHD is the belief that those who are directly affected by unjust systems and structures have the best insight into knowing how to change them. CCHD works to break the cycle of poverty by supporting low-income people as they participate in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities.
CCHD funds non-profit organizations that are dedicated to addressing the root causes of poverty, and invests in powerful leadership development led by the people who are most affected by these issues. These organizations enable low-income individuals to join together to identify problems, make decisions, and improve their communities.
General information about Catholic Campaign for Human Development and all of its programs is found at the USCCB.
Educational Opportunities for Catholics
Our office offers a number of educational opportunities for Catholics to learn about the conditions and root causes of poverty.
- Poverty USA is an interactive website that includes a poverty quiz, a virtual tour, and "education center" with poverty awareness lesson plans for youth, young adults, and adults.
- Speakers on a variety of topics (e.g, Social Justice, Two Feet of Love in Action, etc.)
- Meet and greet with diocesan-wide community groups that empower their communities
- "Creating on the Margins Contest" is designed for 7th - 12th grade students. The entry deadline is usually the first week of March. The complete contest packet includes links to videos, reading material, reflection questions, guidelines for entry, and the application form. Contact our office for more details.
CCHD National Grant Pre-Application Process
All organizations that are interested in applying for a national Catholic Campaign for Human Development Community Organizing grant or an Economic Development implementation grant (and who are not receiving that type of grant in the current grant year) are required to submit a pre-application prior to submitting a national grant application. Organizations who pass the pre-application phase will be invited to submit a full proposal. The pre-application opens annually in September and closes on November 1. Instructions for completion and submission can be accessed through the Community Organizing and Economic Development Grants criteria pages.
CCHD Local Grants - Highlights
In the spirit of the CCHD national grant program, the CCHD Local Grant Program seeks to aid smaller, local non-profit organizations within the 10 counties of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. We award grants to organizations that practice Solidarity, which means standing "with and for" those who are poor, and Subsidiarity, which refers to "the people who are living closest to the problem are the first ones to design solutions and work towards eradicating it".
Questions should be directed to Susan L. McNeil, CCHD Diocesan Director, mcneils@archmil.org or 414-758-2214.
Local Grant Application & Details