Economic Grant Guidelines

CCHD supports economic development initiatives (EDI’s) that significantly include the voice of the poor and marginalized, developing new businesses that offer good jobs, and/or developing assets that will be owned and enjoyed by low-income people.

A.  Criteria

1. The project must benefit a poverty group.  At least fifty percent (50%) of those benefiting from the project must be from the low-income community.
   
   
2. The applicant has a clear, comprehensive, and detailed strategic plan that establishes how the EDI will develop and operate over the next three to five years. This component must include
   1. Program description with goals, objectives, and the anticipated outcomes for job creation and/or asset development (see Guidelines, below)
   2. An EDI ownership structure that results in asset ownership within the low income community
   3. A multi-year financial strategy for the start-up and ongoing viability of the EDI.
      
      
3. The project activity for which funding is requested must conform to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, but the applicant for CCHD funds need not be or represent a Catholic organization. A principle goal of CCHD is promoting respect for the lives and dignity of the poor and vulnerable, those without power or status.  This essential principle is why CCHD will not fund organizations that engage in activities that conflict with Catholic teaching on human life and dignity, such as the promotion of abortion, birth control, euthanasia, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, racism, war, or discrimination.
   
   
4. CCHD encourages activities that promote civic engagement. However, organizations that participate in partisan activities (including the endorsement of particular candidates) and/or take stances that promote in any way (including voter guides and other written material) legislation, propositions, or ballot initiatives that contradict the moral or social teaching of the Catholic Church are ineligible for CCHD funding.

B.  Guidelines

1. The EDI plan needs to relate the anticipated outcomes for asset development to the specific economic conditions of the EDI's community.
   
   
2. An application should establish that its EDI team—staff, consultants, institutional partners, and board—has the organizational capacity needed to ensure implementation.
   
   
3. An applicant organization should demonstrate a growing base of support (both financial and/or in-kind resources) that reflects valuable relationships in the community.
   
   
4. Priority to encourage collaboration:
   1. An applicant organization should describe how it collaborates or plans to collaborate   with other organizations in the course of implementation.
   2. An applicant organization should demonstrate a willingness to participate in CCHD's education and promotion efforts. 
      
      
5. CCHD funds may be used for general operating expenses, including staff salaries/training, procurement of technical assistance, board development costs and other overhead costs.
   
   
6. For business development, CCHD funds may be used as part of a financing package for start-up or expansion, including start-up costs or working capital.
   
   
7. For real estate development, CCHD funds may be used for pre-development or continuing operating expenses.

C.  Projects Not Meeting CCHD Criteria and/or Guidelines

The following general classifications do not meet CCHD criteria and/or guidelines:

1. Individually owned, for-profit businesses.
   
   
2. EDIs owned or controlled by governmental agencies (federal, state, or local).
   
   
3. EDIs not structured to stand on their own as sustainable institutions.
   
   
4. EDIs that intend to re-grant CCHD monies to other organizations.