Grants

Each spring and fall, The Catholic Foundation awards Dallas-area Catholic schools, churches and non-profit 501(c)3 organizations grants through our Philanthropy Fund as well as endowment funds which support specific purposes.

Additional grants, enabled by the generosity of our donors, are provided throughout the year that help fund projects that enhance our community by supporting programs and projects of substance and value.

The Catholic Foundation grant application process begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI). The LOI helps us determine whether your organization and project are of interest and eligible for grant consideration. Before proceeding with your LOI, please read through the grant guidelines to determine eligibility.

To register and submit your LOI, click here: Grant Registration.

An LOI is not required for tuition assistance requests.

After committee review of your LOI, you'll be notified whether to proceed, or not, with a grant application.

The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is June 15 for the fall 2023 grant cycle. The grant application deadline is August 15.

Grant Guidelines

The Catholic Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, distributes grants only to qualified public entities or 501(c)(3) charities, and neither lends nor grants money to individuals or political organizations.

Awards from the Foundation's unrestricted philanthropy fund are designated specifically to help meet the needs of the people of the Diocese of Dallas, and are made in one of three categories – educational, charitable, or religious.

An organization receiving a grant may not submit another grant request for 2 years since approval of their last grant request. Churches and schools will be treated as separate organizations. Organizations with an open grant may not apply until the grant has been completed, fully funded and the final report submitted to the Foundation. Grant requests up to $100,000 will be considered. Due to the length of grant cycles, applicants needing immediate funding should purse other resources.

Elements of the grant application include: a project description, project cost, signatures of the church pastor, school principal, or agency head; a narrative description of the organization, a specific funding request, the budget for the project, including bids and proposals; and a list of all sources of income for the project.

The grant application will also include the organization's most recent financial report, current operating budget, list of board of directors or parish finance council, a copy of the most recent 501(c)3 letter of determination, and in some instances, two competitive bids or proposals for purchases of computer or other major equipment.

Applications for Tuition Assistance are accepted for the Spring cycle only.

Grants made from donor advised and designated funds, while similarly restricted to qualifying 501(c)(3) charities, are not restricted to Diocesan organizations, but can be distributed to fulfill any philanthropic purpose the donor envisions. For more information, see Grantmaking from Donor Advised Funds.

Grants from The Catholic Foundation are awarded on the basis of one or more of the following conditions:

Foundation support would be vital to the proposed project's success
A collaborative network exists that multiplies the impact of the grant
The proposed project is likely to continue and expand after the grant period, becoming self-supporting
The proposal is innovative and efficient in its use of funds
Expenses are reduced by sharing resources with other agencies or groups
The project is a well-planned approach to solving a problem and delivering services
The project promotes better human relationships and a sense of community
The project helps fulfill the mission of the applicant organization
The project will be funded within one year of the grant (unless Grant Contract specifies otherwise)

Grants from The Catholic Foundation are NOT made to, or for, the purposes of:

Annual fund-raising events or drives
Organizations not supported or endorsed by the Catholic Church or not serving an identifiable Catholic population
Funding more than one year of a program's cost
Endowments, Individuals, or Political Organization
Operating costs, unless related to a new initiative or program
Tuition Assistance (generally made only from Restricted Funds, if available)

Grant Guidelines 2023

Letter of Intent

Understanding The Catholic Foundation

Very few projects are funded 100 percent.
Proactive grants are of interest to The Catholic Foundation, particularly those that address issues before something breaks or those that resolve a long standing concern.
The Catholic Foundation is unable to fund operating expenses.

Check List For First Time Applicant

Have a 501(c)3 status
Include a brief history of your non-profit and its programs
Include your target population and geographic area
State how your organization's mission lines up with The Catholic Foundation's interests
Provide a short description of the project including approximate cost and financial support being requested
Describe the plan that will provide long term sustainability of the project
Describe how outcomes will be measured
Provide organization contact information including name, title, address, phone and email
Keep the inquiry to a maximum of two pages
To submit your LOI, visit our web portal at https://tcfd.spectrumportal.net/#/accounts/signin

Check List For Past Recipient Of Catholic Foundation Grant

Provide a short description of the project including approximate cost and financial support being requested
Summarize the proposal and issue you are addressing
Describe the plan that will provide long term sustainability of the project
Describe how outcomes will be measured
Discuss other sources or potential sources of funding for your project
Provide organization contact information including name, title, address, phone and email
Keep the inquiry to a maximum of two pages
To submit your LOI, visit our web portal at https://tcfd.spectrumportal.net/#/accounts/signin