- Family foundations are an important source of grant funding. For example, the Koch Foundation is a private, Catholic family organization established by Carl and Paula Koch to spread the Catholic faith through project and program grants worldwide. Only Catholic organizations recognized by the Catholic hierarchy in Rome are eligible for these capital grants and other funding. Each grant provides one year of funding, with priority given to financially-needy, underdeveloped areas. Applications must be in English and include a letter of request that describes the proposed project in detail, such as estimated start and completion dates and the project goal. On approval, the applicant receives an official application form to be completed within 90 days. It must include particulars of additional funding sources. Grant values are undisclosed.
- Catholic churches and parishes receive preferential consideration for capital grants from some community foundations. For instance, the nonprofit Keweenaw Community Foundation established by the residents of Keweenaw in Michigan, awards charitable grants to improve the quality of life in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties and to promote philanthropy. Grants go primarily to Roman Catholic parishes and missions of the counties. The grants pay for capital improvements and other eligible projects proposed by the applicant churches, and come from permanent endowments.
- Some grant foundations cater exclusively to Catholic applicants. In Columbus, Ohio, for example, The Catholic Foundation administers endowments and grants resulting from The Challenge in Changing Times Campaign. The only eligible applicants are Catholic church parishes, including parish programs and ministries that meet the funding criteria. The Catholic Elementary School Assistance category is for parishes with active schools while the Capital for Parishes category accepts applications from parishes with school buildings, also used for non-school activities. Grants enable conversion projects for those buildings to proceed. At the time of publication, the grant value was a maximum of 25 percent of the total funds allocated to each category.
- Some grant donors prefer to fund selected capital projects anonymously. An example is Chicago's St Benedict Parish which comprises a church, schools and community ministries. Dating back to 1902, the original church and school building served primarily German Catholic families living in the area. Meeting the needs of population growth, the parish facilities underwent extensive construction and refurbishing over the years, including a new church structure in 1918 and a convent, commercial school and high school. In 1999, the parish received a major capital grant valued at $4.6 million from an anonymous trust, for the construction of a 40,000-square-foot building that included preschool classrooms, science labs, a music center, lunchroom, kitchen, chapel and a nurse’s station.
- Catholic churches are among the organizations to qualify for small capital grants as part of an overall program to fund projects of benefit to the community at large. In Saskatchewan, Canada, for instance, the Community Initiatives Fund is a special purpose fund under the watch of the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport. Its programs take the form of grants that bring about improvements to the communities of Saskatchewan. Funding for community projects derives from proceeds of the Moose Jaw and Regina casino profits as provided for by The Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation Act. The Community Initiatives Fund allocates small capital grants. In 2010, a $7,000 grant went to the Albertown St. Peter & St. Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in the town of Hafford. The award was part of the Community Vitality Program covering projects that require construction or improvement to facilities. At the time of publication, the maximum value of the small capital grant was $50,000, with funding provided on a matching basis of up to 50 percent of qualifying costs.
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