Grants

Through grantmaking, we are able to strengthen our community and allow focus to shift from financial insecurities to remain on Catholic ministry.

Grant making is the ultimate measure of success at the Catholic Community Foundation. We focus on strengthening the community through fund development and grant making in support of Catholic ministry. Our grants are made possible through the generous philanthropy of the donors who contribute to the funds of the Foundation.

Types of Grants

We make grants from a number of different sources. Below are the main types of grants that the Foundation generates:

Spring Grant Cycle - Open Application

The Spring Grant Cycle is the Catholic Community Foundation’s annual open application grant process. Parishes and parish schools in the Diocese of San Jose are invited to apply for grants in our 7 grant categories.

Learn more about the Spring Grant Cycle >>

Designated Endowment Grants

These grants come from Designated Endowments – endowments that support one organization or ministry FOREVER. A Designated Endowment will always only grant to one organization for the purpose set out at the creation of the fund. The Foundation grants from these endowments once a year and there is no application required.

Learn more about Designated Endowment grants >> More information coming soon.

Catholic Impact Scholar Award

The Catholic Community Foundation of Santa Clara County is proud to offer one outstanding high school junior the Catholic Impact Scholar Award. We invite the Catholic high schools located in Santa Clara County to nominate one junior student who exemplifies Catholic values and actively participates in his/her community. The winner receives $5,000 toward their senior year tuition.

Learn more about the Catholic Impact Scholar Award >>

Donor Advised Fund Grants

Many individuals and families use Donor Advised Funds at the Foundation to realize their philanthropic goals. Fund holders can recommend grants to Catholic and non-Catholic non-profit organizations all over the United States. Fund holders can recommend grants at any time. The Foundation educates DAF holders about local opportunities and organizations to which they may be interested in recommending a grant.

Learn more about Donor Advised Funds >>

Family Endowment Grants

A Family Endowment is a permanent fund created by an individual or family which will grant in their name to the organizations they love FOREVER. The family that creates the fund decides who the recipients of the fund will be. Many times, this type of endowment is funded using a bequest and the granting does not begin until after the donors’ lifetimes. The recipients of grants from Family Endowments are notified via letter of the grant and do not need to fill out any application to receive these grants.

Learn more about Family Endowments >>

Grant History

Grant Stories

Listening to the Needs of the Community

Aug 26, 2022

Thursday evenings are full of activity at Saint Leo the Great Parish in San Jose, but they weren’t always that way. When Fr. Steve Kim came to the parish, he wanted to offer free hot meals for people in need. The parish wasn’t currently offering a program like that,...

Grant for the Parent Engagement Academy

May 15, 2021

By Marie Galetto-Dugoni, Marketing Manager In 2019, the Foundation awarded the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, Saint Leo the Great Parish and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish a Two-Year Grant for their upcoming Parent Engagement Academy. No one knew just how much...

Technology Upgrades Increase Parish’s World-Wide Reach

Apr 6, 2021

By Marie Galetto-Dugoni, Marketing Manager A cell phone, a make-shift tripod, and a laptop were the extent of the technology available to Five Wounds Parish for livestreaming masses at the beginning of the pandemic. And for a time, the parish made that work. Like many...