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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. Click here to see the 2009 Program. (pdf)

Click on the picture to enlarge.

What's Happening

The Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund is now accepting applications for grants for 2010. 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 the following dates:

• December 18, 2009
• March 19, 2010
• May 14, 2010

Please contact Melanie English at 603-669-3100, Ext. 166 or menglish@rcbm.org if you have any questions.

The 2009 campaign, under the volunteer leadership of Ronald and Jane Rioux, surpassed its goal and achieved a total of $176,583.67. The conclusion of this year’s campaign was celebrated at the annual summer reception on September 10 at Trudel House with approximately 350 participants.

Ron and Jane Rioux have agreed to honor us again as co-chairs for the 2010 campaign

BCAF Grant Recipients

(October 1, 2009 – September 30, 2010)

Bridges
Claremont Soup Kitchen, Inc.
Farnum Center, c/o Easter Seals New Hampshire
Manchester Continuum of Care, c/o Heritage United Way
MooreMart
New Hampshire Humanities Council
New Life Home for Women & Children
The Day Resource Center, c/o South Congregational Church
The Greater Manchester Family YMCA
The Union Leader Santa Fund
The Upper Room

(October 1, 2008 – September 30, 2009)

10 Bricks
B.R.I.N.G I.T.!!! (Bringing Refugees, Immigrants, and Neighbors Gently into Tomorrow), c/o Southern New Hampshire Services
Birthright of Southern New Hampshire
Boys and Girls Club of Manchester
Boys and Girls Club of the Lakes Region
Camp Allen
Claremont Soup Kitchen, Inc.
Concord Multicultural Coalition, c/o United Way of Merrimack County
Court Appointed Special Advocates, CASA New Hampshire
Dental Connection
Division of Veteran Services, c/o Pastoral Counseling Services
Dover Share Fund
Eddie B. Foundation
Emergency assistance to former workers of Ethan Allen Factory in Northern, New Hampshire, c/o NH Catholic Charities
Greater Manchester Chapter of the American Red Cross
Harbor Homes, Inc.
Kearsarge Regional Ecumenical Ministries
Langdon Mill Campaign, c/o Granite State Organizing Project
Meds for Manchester Program, c/o Catholic Medical Center
Merrimack County Coalition of Advocates for Refugee Support
Moore Center Services, Inc.
New Americans Program, c/o Saint Anselm College
New Hampshire Minority Health Coalition
New Horizons for New Hampshire, Inc.
NH Council of Churches
NH Gateway Chapter of the American Red Cross
Open Hearts, c/o St. Pius X Parish
Seacoast Interfaith Hospitality Network
Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc.
Strafford County Family Reception Center
The Care Givers, Inc.
The Children’s Place
The Friends Interfaith Caregivers Program
The Greater Manchester Family YMCA
The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester
The Union Leader Santa Fund
The Upper Room
VNA Community Services, Inc.
Winchester Scholarship Foundation

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 as Adobe downloads.

BCAF Newsletter

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

Contact Us

Patrick F. McGee, Sr.
Director of Planning and Development
603-669-3100, Ext. 166
pmcgee@rcbm.org