Grant Program

Guidelines

The Office for Social Ministry, Diocese of Honolulu is offering Grants to qualifying parish programs/projects which foster the social mission of the Catholic Church. Our ministry affirms that ...

Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for justice,
for they shall have their fill…

Funds for the grant program derive from two primary sources and they are;

• The annual Operation Rice Bowl diocesan collection conducted each Lenten Season.
  • 25% of the annual collection remains in the diocese for use by programs and projects that foster the social mission of the Catholic Church in parishes.
• Weinberg Kokua Fund
  • Interest generated annually by an endowment fund awarded to OSM and Catholic Charities Hawaii by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
• Parishes are eligible to apply for a grant to the Parish Social Ministry Section once a year. This however does not imply subsequent years’ funding.
• Those programs, projects or parish organizations who are awarded a grant will be asked to submit a simple activity report 12 months following the receipt of a grant award.
  • Reports to be submitted to OSM should explain the use of the grant and other related outcomes (see attached Activity Report).
  • No proposal which excludes on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation will be considered.
  • The Office for Social Ministry Team will recognize the ordinary standards with respect to potential conflict of interest in considering allocations to programs/projects related to any committee member.
  • A signature is required on the application form by either the Pastor or Parish Administrator indicating his/her knowledge and approval of the grant application.

How Does the Grant Program work?
Parishes submit grant applications using a simple form explaining the use of the funds. Grants are to be used strictly for programs/projects which foster the work of charity, justice and peace.

Requesting parishes are to submit a grant application based upon one of the three categories listed below:

• Seed Grant (a fresh new idea!) = up to $2,000.
• Supplemental Grant (nurture existing social ministry program!) = up to $3,000.
• Individual Grant (direct assistance to individuals and/or families) = up to $4,000. * Note: “Individual Grants” will only be awarded to parishes already engaged in intake processing and financial assistance or to those who are willing to undergo training in this area of ministry. Special consideration will be given to requests accompanied by appropriate documentation.
• Grant applications are available from the Office for Social Ministry – Oahu, Hawaii and Maui. Applications to Kauai, Moloka’i and Lana’i will be mailed, faxed or emailed – whichever is your preference.
• A committee will review all grant applications and awards will be made directly to the parish. Applicants will be notifed of their award within 4-6 weeks of the application submittal.
• All grant recipients are strongly encouraged to provide an activity report to OSM on the anniversary date that funding is received (see attached report form).
• In order that a renewal/supplemental application be considered for funding, a written report must first be submitted and received by OSM.

A few ideas for possible grants…these are simply ideas!

A parish may want to collect school supplies for a parish community that has faced a disaster (e.g. Thailand) and use a grant to help defray shipping charges.

A parish or cluster of parishes may want to finance an immersion experience for youth of the parish. Grants could be used to help defray some of these expenses.

A parish may want to purchase materials in Spanish to initiate faith formation classes for low-income Hispanic members in their parish.

A parish may want to develop a “twinning relationship” with a parish with low-income neighborhoods. A seed grant could help a project like this get started.

A parish may want to use a grant to start up an outreach program in their parish, providing emergency food, clothing, etc.

A parish may want to use the grant to purchase listening devices for the hard-of-hearing who attend weekend masses.

A parish may want to organize a Register to Vote Campaign for those who come to your outreach program.

A parish may want to purchase garden supplies to start a sustainable project donating fresh produce to the parish food pantry or nearby meal program.

A parish offering Deaf Ministry may use the grant to purchase resources such as sign language videos or books for education and awareness purposes.

A parish could use funds to defray costs for hosting workshops in bereavement, prison ministry, disabilities, caregiving, etc.

Use your creativity to start a new project (Seed), support an existing program (Supplemental) or provide outreach services to individuals and families in need (Individual).

To request more information or a grant application, contact the Office for Social Ministry at the following:
Phone (Oahu) (808) 203-6700, (Big Island) 935-3050, (Maui) 877-4678
Toll Free 1-877 263-8855 ext. 702 or 1-877-935-3050
Email cignacio@rcchawaii.org, itamashiro@rcchawaii.org, renomoto@rcchawaii.org