HUMAN
SERVICES
The Connelly Foundation’s Human Services grantmaking reflects the compassion and respect for human dignity of our Founders, John and Josephine Connelly. Inspired by our Catholic heritage, we seek to alleviate urgent needs and create pathways to stability and independence through investments in workforce development and youth.
Areas we fund
Basic Needs
Alleviating urgent needs through access to food, emergency shelter, clothing, and critical home repair.
Building Pathways to Employment
Creating pathways to sustainable employment and stability through job training and foundational skill building.
Investing in Youth
Supporting evidence-based or outcome-focused youth out-of-school programs.
BASIC NEEDS
The Connelly Foundation embraces the charitable aspect of philanthropy by meeting people in their time of need, alleviating urgent needs through access to food, emergency shelter, clothing, critical home repair, and Cecilia Fund grants.
Direct food distribution to individuals or families experiencing deep poverty.
Applications are evaluated based on population served, extent to which individuals are connected with other complementary resources, and use of full choice distribution model.
Supporting short-term overnight shelter providers, with a primary focus on serving chronically homeless individuals.
Applications are evaluated based on population served, additional services offered, and connections to housing or other resources.
Distributing clothing or essentials for individuals to attend school or work.
Applications are evaluated based on population served, community partnerships, and focus on dignity and respect for those served.
Providing critical home repairs to address safety and health concerns, allowing people to remain in their homes with dignity.
Applications are evaluated based on outcome measurement, community partnerships, and volunteer engagement.
investing in youth
The Connelly Foundation invests in youth across multiple portfolios. As a complement to support for Catholic Schools and their students, the Foundation supports high-quality, community-based, out-of- school time programs.
The Connelly Foundation supports evidence-based programs for young people outside of school.
Applications are evaluated based on outcome measurement, youth attendance and retention, and accessibility for students from Catholic schools.
Workforce Development
The Connelly Foundation creates pathways to sustainable employment and stability through workforce development programs, including job training and foundational skill building.
Foundational skill building such as GED or ESL programs that can lead to future employment or additional job training.
Applications are evaluated based on population served, complementary support services, and measurable outcomes in skill building, quality of life improvement, or employment.
Job training, entrepreneurship, or employment programs that include skill building, elimination of employment barriers, and a direct connection to new or improved employment.
Applications are evaluated based on population served, technical skill building, and participants' job placement and retention rates.
THE Cecilia fund
In honor of co-founder, Josephine Cecilia Connelly, we award unsolicited grants to organizations to support the individuals and families they serve. This allows trusted organizational leaders to provide person-to-person support for those who may be facing specific challenges or need assistance with basic needs. It is a joyful, anonymous, small act of kindness.
Over $3.5 milllion and 900 grants has been distributed in Josephine's name since 1998.
explore our other focus areas
Catholic Education
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Culture
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