70% of Grants made go to Catholic Organisations

Every year, the Catholic Caring Foundation distributes funds raised to organisations that help families and individuals that need a helping hand in our communities.  

Funds raised are distributed through a grants application process and demand for available funds always exceeds supply. In 2010, there was funding sufficient to support only 37 out of 97 organisations that applied for grants to the Catholic Caring Foundation.

Many agencies advise that the recent recession has resulted in an increase in the number of individuals and families needing help and support, sometimes because of circumstances beyond their control.  At the Catholic Caring Foundation, we have seen the need for the continuation of funding for community organisations at the coal face of our society.

“The annual grants review process has been streamlined over the last 6 years and is very efficient,” says Leanne Tiscornia, General Manager of the Catholic Caring Foundation. “There are five of us on the grants committee, including a priest, and we have more than 100 years combined relevant experience in social services. This is a very experienced committee, and that is crucial to the grants review process,” says Leanne.

All applications received are prioritised against criteria that are set annually by the Foundation’s Board.  First and foremost, 70% of funds are ear marked for Catholic agencies and programmes. “We are after all the Catholic Bishop of Auckland’s charitable Foundation and we make no apologies for channelling the bulk of funds raised by the Catholic Community back into Catholic agencies,” says Leanne Tiscornia.  The priorities for 2010’s grant allocation were food, clothing and family support services. Leanne adds, “Agencies that serve communities in areas that had restricted access to social services were also prioritised over others; either for socio-economic reasons or for geographical reasons e.g. rural communities”.

For a list of successful grant applicants in 2010, please click here.

For Grant Applicants
Please note that applications via the contestable funds for 2010 closed on 31 May 2010. However, if you would like to view a copy of the grants distribution policy or a copy of the application form for 2010, please click here.  

Both these documents are subject to change and the finalised copies for 2011 will only be made available by 28 February 2011.