The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops designed to be an educational/action program to address poverty in the U.S.

Founded in 1969, CCHD's pastoral strategy is empowerment of the poor through a methodology of participation andeducation for justice, leading toward solidarity between poor and non-poor as impelled by the Church's biblical tradition, modern Catholic social teaching, and the pervasive presence of poverty in the United States. This ministry for justice is rooted in our baptism and faith commitment.

The grants, economic development, and education for justice programs of the Campaign, implemented in collaboration with local dioceses, are supported from an annual collection in U.S. Catholic parishes.

CCHD funds are raised through an annual collection each fall throughout the nation. The national funds are disbursed in two ways. 75% of the money collected each fall is sent directly to the national office of CCHD to be awarded to grant recipients whose work addresses conditions of poverty in specific critical areas such as community organizing and development, economic development, education and economic justice. 25% of this annual collection remains in the Archdiocese of San Francisco to be distributed through this local grant process.

CCHD is supported solely by private donations. The program owes its success to Catholic parishioners whose contributions to the annual parish appeal have made meeting CCHD's objectives possible over the years. Most funds come from the once-a-year CCHD collection, scheduled in most dioceses for the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Eighty-nine cents out of every dollar received by CCHD goes directly to community empowerment, economic development and education programs that work to break the cycle of poverty.

Diocesan bishops, whom collaborate regularly with the national CCHD staff, appoint directors (in our case, George Wesolek) to manage the full range of CCHD's activities at the local level. These responsibilities include reviewing and evaluating national and local funding applications, monitoring funded programs, supporting seedling organizations, providing educational resources, and promoting the diocesan fund-raising campaign to support the annual collection. CCHD continues a tradition of strong local-national collaboration.

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