Category Three: Building Churches and Other Facilities
Download the entire Catholic Extension Funding Guidelines.
GOAL
To meet the facility needs of evolving or growing Catholic communities through construction, expansion, or renovation of critical facilities.
SUMMARY
Catholic Extension funds the construction, expansion, or renovation of churches and facilities that enable the dynamic practice of faith and promote the experience of church community. In this category, Catholic Extension will consider the facility needs of a diocese, to help ensure that spaces are adequately-sized, safe, and that they meet the needs of the local populations. Catholic Extension will favor those projects where the communities have urgent facility needs, a convincing funding strategy and business plan, demonstrated strong local support for the proposed project, and evidence of their limited means to raise all of the funds themselves. Catholic Extension only supports active building and renovation projects and does not give funds to service debt on projects where work has been completed. Therefore, the ideal point at which Catholic Extension should be engaged for this funding is when a parish/organization is still actively raising funds and the project is within one year or less from starting.
QUALIFYING FUNDING AREAS
Catholic Extension will consider funding minor and major facility requests only for the following types of facilities:
- Churches - places where liturgy is regularly celebrated.
- Community space - places where community can convene outside of liturgy (i.e. parish halls and parish community centers).
- Program space - facilities where services and religious education are provided.
- Residential facilities for ministers - in extremely under-resourced communities, modest housing will be provided if the local community lacks the means to provide it.
- Temporary structure - for communities in transition due to population changes, recent disaster, etc.
Minor Requests
Catholic Extension will consider funding up to 100% of the following minor projects only for the most under-resourced applicants:
- Repairs - periodic improvements that are urgently needed to keep an essential church facility usable or energy efficient.
- Equipment/Small Furnishing needs - audio equipment, chairs, other basic furnishings etc.
Major Requests
Catholic Extension will consider funding a portion of a major project's total budget, the amount of which is handled on a case by case basis. Funding amounts generally range up to $100,000. Projects that will be considered include the following major projects for all applicants in mission dioceses:
- Renovation - major enhancement or restoration of existing space, needed as a result of the passage of time, weather-related facility needs, new safety-code requirements, or a natural disaster.
- Expansion - enlargement of space, necessitated by community growth.
- New Construction - a new building where community needs justify its construction.
Major funding requests will be handled in two ways.
- Matching Challenge - This funding approach is intended for expansion, renovation, and new construction projects. After presentation and approval of the request, funding strategy and business plan, Catholic Extension will pledge a specific amount and lay out the matching challenge benchmarks and conditions. The duration, funding amount and aggressiveness of the matching challenges will be handled on a case by case basis. Such factors will be considered: financial capacity of the parish, fundraising to date, and the actual project timeline. The qualifying matching dollars must be raised after the date of approval of the matching challenge. Savings and funds already raised and pledged prior to the approval of the matching grant will not count toward the matching challenge. However, these savings and funds can serve as a demonstration to Catholic Extension of the project's momentum and feasibility. A matching offer will be rescinded if the intended recipient fails to raise matching dollars in the agreed upon period of time.
- Final Dollars - This funding approach will be used for both small and large-scale expansion, renovation, and new construction projects. If approved, Catholic Extension will pledge the last portion of funding. The size of the agreed upon commitment will be largely dependent upon the following factors:
- the financial need of the community
- the urgency of the facility request
- the community's demonstration of initiative and participation in the fundraising and/or building process
- an analysis of how the construction investment could energize the community or enhance its mission
- the availability of funds
DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS*
Document Requirements for small equipment and minor repairs
- Online funding request form
- Letter of endorsement from diocesan bishop (one letter is sufficient for simultaneously submitted applications, but a copy of that letter should be attached to each application)
- Financial statements of parish/community sponsoring the project
- Project Budget - Delineation of repair or equipment cost estimates and relevant documentation to support such estimates, and other sources of revenue.
- Any relevant documentation on fundraising activity to date, if applicable
Document Requirements for Renovation, Expansion and New Construction
- Online funding request form
- Letter of endorsement from diocesan bishop (one letter is sufficient for simultaneously submitted applications, but a copy of that letter should be attached to each application)
- Financial statements of parish/community sponsoring the project
- Project Budget - Delineation of construction cost estimates and relevant documentation to support such estimates
- Drawings or sketches of current structure and proposed end product
- Business plan for building, which details plans for ongoing maintenance and uses of the facility
- Funding plan and any relevant documentation on fundraising activity to date
- Relevant insurance documentation, if building was destroyed or damaged
*Please explain fully in writing if any document is either unobtainable or would be excessively burdensome to procure.