Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the national anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, working to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ "... to bring glad tidings to the poor ... liberty to captives ... sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free." (Luke 4:18)
The belief that those directly affected by unjust systems and structures have the best insight into knowing how to change them is central to CCHD. CCHD works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families, and communities. CCHD offers a helping hand. Your support of the CCHD changes lives. Please give at the Give to CCHD button by Venmo, by Text, Online, or by check noting CCHD in for or memo. Our parish contributions combine to make a difference! Every gift helps. Thank you!
The future of humanity does not lie solely in the hands of great leaders, the great powers and the elites. It is fundamentally in the hands of peoples and in their ability to organize. It is in their hands, which can guide with humility and conviction this process of change. I am with you. Each of us, let us repeat from the heart: no family without lodging, no rural worker without land, no laborer without rights, no people without sovereignty, no individual without dignity, no child without childhood, no young person without a future, no elderly person without a venerable old age.
- Pope Francis, Address at the World Meeting of Popular Movements Bolivia
Grounded in Our Catholic Faith
CCHD was created in response to a mandate from the U.S. Catholic bishops in 1969 to address the root causes of poverty in the United States.
CCHD provides funding to groups whose activities are consistent with Catholic moral and social teaching and who work to help persons who are poor help themselves.
More than 683 Catholic priests, 776 Catholic parishes, 18 Catholic Charities agencies, and 51 religious communities are involved in the work of groups around the country that receive funding from CCHD.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “The Eucharist commits us to the poor” (#1397). The Eucharist, celebrated as a community, teaches us about human dignity, calls us to right relationship with God, ourselves and others and sends us on mission to help transform our communities, neighborhoods and world. The work of CCHD is an example of “Eucharistic” living.