The CRS Diocesan Capacity Building Grant Program

Grant Program Background and Context

Catholic Relief Services considers the partnership with diocesan directors to be critical to the fulfillment of its mission. Those directors, appointed by diocesan bishops, serve as a primary link to U.S. Catholics, the key CRS, U.S. Operations constituency. Often overextended, CRS diocesan directors are called upon to attend to a variety of CRS responsibilities, especially through parishes, in order to make the CRS mission come alive in a diocese. This modest grant program has been created to partially address the problem of the "stretched thin" capacity of diocesan directors to do that work.

Grant Program Purpose/Objectives

Help increase capacity for CRS Diocesan Directors to...

• Establish CRS as the 'go to' agency for the diocese' international peace and social justice mission;
• Build relationships with and provide resources to parish leaders and Catholic institutions in new, creative and innovative ways so as to more effectively carry out their responsibilities to build global solidarity, peace and justice through CRS;
• Organize diocesan, parish and other Catholic institutional structures to participate in global solidarity programs through/with CRS;
• Raise the profile of CRS within the diocese, especially around CRS priorities, programs and campaigns;
• Educate Catholics, particularly parishioners, in the Catholic Social Teaching theme of (global) Solidarity;
• Stimulate greater collaboration among diocesan offices, such as the Missions, Diversity, and Respect Life Offices, on behalf of global solidarity, peace and justice
• Encourage closer collaboration of diocese with CRS regional operations

Funding Criteria and Funding Conditions

1. Grants funded to a maximum of $6,000 (except as indicated).
2. Projects can be funded for up to 2 years but must be renewed on an annual basis. Renewal is also conditioned upon the completion of an end- of-year report.
3. The proposed project is consistent with CRS` priorities, programs and campaigns and taps into/builds on other diocesan offices, resources and/or programs. Priority funding will be given to activities which seek to build relationships with diocesan diversity offices and involve diverse communities, especially Latino communities, in CRS efforts in the diocese.
4. The project has a plan that leads to action, i.e. encourages action on the CRS mission in a systematic and strategic manner;
5. The project is replicable within the submitting diocese and/or by other dioceses;
6. The project substantially advances the diocesan international social justice mission carried out through and with CRS
7. The proposal must be judged feasible (within the reality of the diocese submitting the proposal), with consideration of steps towards eventual sustainability;
8. There is a clear, demonstrative commitment of support from the diocese;
9. Funding preference will be given to proposals for two organizing efforts. Requests for these proposals can be for up to $8,000. The two organizing activities are:
   • The establishment of a diocesan Global Solidarity Advisory Team, with representation from parishes across the diocese, that provides assistance to the diocesan director for a wide range of CRS programs and activities that advance the mission of global solidarity.
   • The development and implementation of a strategy to organize `global solidarity ministry teams' in parishes. Such committees would be integrated into the parish's existing social ministry effort and would have responsibility to plan, initiate and coordinate a wide variety of CRS programs and activities on behalf of international peace and justice.
10. EXAMPLES of fundable projects may be, but are not limited to... hiring of interns or part-time staff to implement grant strategy; development of an innovative Catholic Social Teaching adult education strategy that emphasizes Global Solidarity; a process to systematically engage participants of the JustFaith Program in activity focusing on global solidarity; development and implementation of a strategy to introduce a CRS program or advocacy network into parishes that currently do not have it.