Apply for a Grant
THE 2026 GIVING CIRCLE GRANT PRE-APPLICATION OPENS JULY 1, 2025, AND CLOSES NOVEMBER 30, 2025.
The Catholic Community Foundation Giving Circle Grant Program awards grants to qualifying organizations and nonprofits. Twenty-five qualifying organizations and nonprofits that meet the pre-application criteria will receive the opportunity to “pitch” their granting needs directly to the Catholic Community Foundation Giving Circle Members. After grant pitching, Giving Circle donor members will vote and decide which organizations will receive funding and how much will be granted.
Download the Giving Circle Toolkit to learn more about the application process, requirements, and deadlines.
The Giving Circle Grants Offer Awards In Three Categories:
Community Forever
The Community Forever Fund grant category supports organizations wanting to make capital improvements to their infrastructure or programs that enrich educational opportunities, leadership, promotion of Christian virtue, and academic enhancement. Past awards include playground equipment, security fencing, electrical upgrades and fixes, and new equipment to fulfill the mission.
MUSIC GRANT OPPORTUNITY: Granting opportunities are also available through the Community Forever Fund for organizations looking to improve their music ministry. The Music subcategory is specific to music-related improvements or programs only.
Life Forever
The Life Forever Fund grant category supports ministries and nonprofit organizations dedicated to protecting human life from conception to natural death. Past grants have funded increased capacity to serve addiction programs, purchases of much-needed medical equipment and supplies, and more!
Funding through the Life Forever Fund is available to organizations that help with mental health and overcoming addiction so individuals can live the quality of life God wants.
Care Forever
The Care Forever Fund supports organizations focusing on the Corporal Works of Mercy. These include solutions to the issues of poverty, feeding, clothing, housing, and lack of basic medical care, as well as outreach and direct care for the poor. Past grants have included the installation of showers for the unhoused, funding for materials and programs that provide educational resources to escape poverty, providing life-saving medications, and more!
The Care Forever Fund also has opportunities to award to organizations serving vulnerable populations and addressing the following needs: food insecurity and/or access to healthy foods, preventative health and wellness, health education, access to health resources, and recreation and physical activity.
Funding Priorities
The Giving Circle seeks to fund project proposals that:
Has a well-planned approach, addressing a clearly identified need with clearly stated goals, objectives, and means of measuring outcomes
Helps fulfill the primary mission of the applicant organization
Is likely to continue and expand after the grant period, becoming self-sustaining
Provides innovative and creative solutions and demonstrates efficiency in its use of funds
Supports the mission of the Church and its ministries
Eligibility
Organizations applying for a grant through the Catholic Community Foundation's Giving Circle must meet all the following eligibility criteria:
The organization must be a 501(c)(3) public charity registered with the Federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The organization serves primarily within the geographic region of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, which includes Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai, and Coconino counties (excluding the territorial boundaries of the Navajo Indian Reservation) and the Gila River Indian Reservation in Pinal County.
The organization's values align with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
The organizations that received the previous year's grant must take a one-year hiatus before reapplying to the Giving Circle for a new program/project grant request.
Other Considerations
The grant process consists of two phases:
Phase 1 is the Pre-Application, where organizations submit a 500-word proposal to the Foundation summarizing their grant, including a statement of need, methodology, and other funding sources.
Only those organizations that submit the pre-application that most closely align with the Giving Circle funding priorities for the year will be invited to complete a full grant application and participate in Pitch Day, Phase 2.
The project will be fully funded within one year of the grant award.
Grant monies must be used for the purpose for which funds were applied and approved.
Organizations are limited to one grant proposal for consideration during a single grant cycle.
Grant-making cannot focus on any of the following areas:
Debt reduction
Fundraising initiatives
Galas or events
Operating costs, such as administrative costs, hiring staff, or filling vacancies
Scholarships or tuition assistance
Organizations must complete and return a Grant Agreement before funds are released from the Foundation.