What is the Catholic Campaign for Human Development?

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the Catholic Church’s domestic anti-poverty agency and the largest private funder of anti-poverty programs initiated and led by poor people in the United States. Established in 1970 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Catholic campaign embodies both Scripture and the church’s social teaching by working to end poverty and injustice.

CCHD’s mission is two-fold: (1) to raise funds to support organized groups of poor and low-income people to develop economic strength and political power, and (2) to educate Catholics about the church’s social teaching and poverty in the United States and to promote a greater sense of solidarity with the poor.

CCHD is unique because the projects it supports are controlled by the poor and low-income people they serve. The Catholic campaign’s goal is to build community empowerment by helping individuals and families to help themselves. Building solidarity among people of different social and economic backgrounds is also a key objective. All funded projects must help grantees develop a sense of self-determination, which affects the attitudes, habits, and structures that perpetuate the cycle of poverty.

For over three decades, the Campaign has been a significant vehicle for social change, addressing the root causes of poverty and empowering those it serves. CCHD supports community-controlled organizations that create jobs, businesses, affordable housing, childcare - and many other solutions to poverty.