Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)

CCHD is the Catholic Church's domestic anti-poverty program established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1969. The CCHD philosophy emphasizes empowerment and participation for low income people. By helping low income people to participate in the decisions and actions that affect their lives, CCHD empowers them to move beyond poverty.

National Web site: www.usccb.org/cchd

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory gives the opening remarks as the annual Good Friday Pilgrimage begins in front of the Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta. (Photo by Michael Alexander, The Georgia Bulletin)

Local CCHD Information

(Funded from 25% kept locally from the CCHD annual national second collection in November and administered by the Parish & Social Justice Ministries Program of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Atlanta with the local CCHD volunteer committee.)

CCHD Grant Information

Local CCHD Parish Grants

Mini parish grants (up to $1,000) are awarded to parishes with projects that educate parishioners about Catholic Social Teaching and the root causes of poverty. These projects should also strive to empower local parishioners or local community members, particularly those who are low income, to develop leadership skills and participate in planning to change the social and public policy systems that contribute to poverty. Such projects may include efforts to bring isolated groups of the parish or community together with larger groups. Projects must take place in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Parish grant applications are available in the summer. The application deadline is in early November. For further information contact Colleen Smith at csmith@archatl.com or 404-885-7472.

Local CCHD Community Grants

Community grants  (up to $4,000) are awarded to smaller community organizations with 501-c3 status, or a fiscal agent with such status, to support projects which are created with leadership and input from low-income people and that are directed at changing the social and public policy systems that contribute to poverty. Projects must benefit a significant number of people in North Georgia, be consistent with Catholic Social Teaching, be non-partisan and cannot focus on charitable services to individuals.

Community grant applications are available in the fall and must be submitted by the end of the first full week of January. Applicants can access the funding guide For further information contact Colleen Smith at csmith@archatl.com or 404-885-7472.

National CCHD Grants

(funded through CCHD annual national second collection)

National CCHD grants, (up to $50,000) for local projects which focus on the same empowerment and systemic change framework as the community grants described above, are available through the national CCHD office. First time applicants must complete a qualification quiz found at http://www.usccb.org/cchd/grants/process.shtml between Sept. 1 and Nov.1.

Local Events

Annual Good Friday Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage has journeyed through downtown Atlanta for the last 28 years on the Friday before Easter. An interfaith event with stops at 14 sites, the experience includes prayer, song and reflections to help participants see the suffering of Jesus present in the world today and our call to compassion and action. The pilgrimage begins at the State Capitol at 9 a.m. and ends in the early afternoon at the Martin Luther King Jr. grave site.

Slideshow of the 28th Annual Good Friday Pilgrimage

Reflections of the 28th Annual Good Friday Pilgrimage

To be added soon. Thank you for your patience.

Contact Information

Archdiocese of Atlanta, CCHD Diocesan Director
Susan Stevenot Sullivan
Parish & Social Justice Ministries
680 West Peachtree St., N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 885-7208
Email: ssullivan@archatl.com

CCHD in the Archdiocese of Atlanta is part of the Parish & Social Justice Ministries of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Page last updated: April 15, 2008