Bishop's Charitable Assistance Fund

About the BCAF

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.

Left to right: Deacon Frank Ottaviano, recipient of the 2019 Vita et Caritas Award; his wife, Margaret; Bishop Libasci; and the 2019-2020 co-chairs, Lisa and Alex Walker.

BCAF Reception

On Thursday, September 5, 2019 Bishop Libasci hosted approximately 380 guests at the Summer Reception for the Bishop's Charitable Assistance Fund, held this year on the grounds of St. Pius X Parish in Manchester. The Summer Reception, held annually, marked the end of another successful campaign for the BCAF, which this year raised some $240,000 that will be distributed during the coming year to non-profit agencies that help meet the needs of the most vulnerable of our fellow citizens throughout the state. This is the highest amount raised since the 2001 campaign. Bishop Libasci also presented the 5th annual Vita et Caritas Award to Deacon Frank Ottaviano, Assistant Chaplain, at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester.  With the award, a $2,500 grant was presented to the Wilson Street Integrated Health which is a service of the Health Care for the Homeless Program of Manchester, a collaboration between CMC and the Manchester Health Department.

See Photo Gallery (Photography by Charlene Graham)

For 2020, after much prayer and discussion, the BCAF board of directors has decided to cancel the Bishop’s Reception due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The BCAF board and campaign committee are committed to still hold our annual fundraiser so we can continue helping organizations through this crisis and into next year. The fundraiser will begin after July 4th and run until September 10, 2020. Although we will not be celebrating under a large tent at St. Pius X Parish, as we did in 2019, our donors will be invited to participate in a virtual celebration on Thursday, September 10, 2020. We hope you will join us again this year so we can help all those who are in need and that we can continue Christ’s work in New Hampshire.

Make a Donation

Make a donation to the BCAF using the PayPal button below. If you would like to mail in a donation, please make the check out to the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund, 153 Ash Street, Manchester, NH 03104. If you have questions, please contact Melanie English at menglish@rcbm.org or (603) 663-0166.

BCAF Grants

Grant Applications

The Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund is now accepting applications for grants for 2020. 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 through the BCAF grant application form.

The board meets quarterly to review grant applications. If your organization is interested in applying for a grant we need your request on September 16, 2020, December 16, 2020, February 24, 2021, or April 21, 2021.

Grant Recipients

View a list of BCAF grant recipients from October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020.

View our 2019 BCAF Newsletter

Vita et Caritas Award

The Vita et Caritas Award is presented to a non-profit organization’s volunteer who makes significant contributions to the organization. This award, which includes a grant to the organization, honors the memory of Ruthie Ford, whose life reflected tireless dedication to service to help women, children and families. Read more about the Vita Caritas Award.

Board of Directors

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