Bishop's Charitable Assistance Fund

The Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund is a not-for-profit organization within the Catholic Church in New Hampshire. The Fund enables the Bishop of Manchester, through a board of directors, to make grants to not-for-profit organizations without regard to religious affiliation for projects that help people in New Hampshire meet their basic needs. Volunteer lay men and women, who serve as Directors, make recommendations to the Bishop of Manchester for grants with an emphasis on meeting basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, heat and other necessities. The grants go to organizations in New Hampshire whose mission and operations are consistent with the mission of the Roman Catholic Church.

Each year the bishop hosts a Summer Reception at Trudel House. The proceeds from this reception provide the means for the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund to make its grants throughout the year.

What's Happening

The Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund is now accepting applications for grants for 2012. The BCAF gives preference to tax-exempt organizations that assist with basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing and home heating. Guidelines and instructions on how to apply are available though the application form.

The board meets quarterly to review grant applications. If your organization is interested in applying for a grant we need your request in by March 23, 2012 or May 18, 2012.

Please contact Melanie English at (603) 663-0166 or at menglish@rcbm.org if you have any questions.

The 2011 campaign, under the volunteer leadership of Ronald H. Covey, Jr., achieved a total of $166,764.97. The conclusion of this year’s campaign was celebrated at the annual summer reception on September 8 at Trudel House.

BCAF Grant Recipients

(October 1, 2010 - September 30, 2011)

After School Academic Program, c/o Inti Soccer Academy of Manchester, Ltd.
American Red Cross
Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua
Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support
Caleb Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers
Easter Seals New Hampshire
Farmsteads of New England, Inc.
Friends of Forgotten Children
Good News Garage-LSS, Inc.
Granite Pathways
Greater Nashua Council on Alcoholism, Inc.
Group Workcamps Project, c/o New Hampshire Catholic Charities Littleton Office
Harbor Homes, Inc.
Liberty Garden Project, c/o Students In Free Enterprise Chapter, Saint Anselm College
Marguerite's Place
Monadnock Family Services, Inc.
Nashua Pastoral Care Center, Inc.
New Hampshire Food Bank
New Hampshire Humanities Council
Open Hearts
PECAN (Program of Emergency Church Assistance in Newport)
Meds for Manchester Program, c/o Catholic Medical Center
NH Children’s Trust Fund, c/o Prevent Child Abuse NH Chapter
New Horizons for New Hampshire, Inc.
SHARE Outreach, Inc.
Somersworth Share Fund
Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc.
St. Joseph Community Services, Inc.
Strafford County Family Reception Center
The CareGivers, Inc.
The River Center
The Union Leader Santa Fund
West Central Behavioral Health
YMCA of Greater Manchester

Board of Directors

The BCAF has a volunteer board of directors that is responsible for both raising funds and reviewing and approving grant applications.

Guidelines and Application

Information on the types of grants made by the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund as well as an application form are available to download.

BCAF Newsletter

The latest edition of the newsletter and listing of recent grants.

For more information, please contact:
Patrick F. McGee, Sr.
Secretary for Communication, Planning, and Development
(603) 663-0166
pmcgee@rcbm.org