Basic Needs: Food Distribution
Direct food or prepared meal distribution
With a desire to meet the most critical needs of individuals and families, the Connelly Foundation supports direct food distribution efforts for those living in deep poverty.
Food distribution programs will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Service to individuals or families living in poverty
- Preference for full choice model and/or other evidence of prioritizing dignity and respect for those served
- Extent to which individuals are referred and connected to other complementary resources
- Priority given to Catholic service providers
Preferred measures of evaluation include (relative to size of organizational budget):
- Number of individuals served, pounds or meals distributed
- Number of referrals to other services/ providers
- Number of volunteers engaged
Basic Needs: Emergency Shelter
Safe, immediate short-term overnight shelter, with a primary focus on chronically homeless individuals
The Connelly Foundation believes every individual should have safe and warm overnight shelter, and the opportunity to build stability and self-sufficiency through connections to other services.
Emergency shelter providers will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Specific population served
- Additional services provided
- Low-barrier entry for participants
Preferred measures of evaluation include (relative to organizational budget):
- Number of individuals served
- Percentage connected to housing
- Percentage connected to other services
Basic Needs: Clothing
Distributing clothing, essentials, or career basics
The Connelly Foundation sees adequate clothing as an essential need, critical to one’s dignity, and supports the distribution of quality, appropriate clothing.
Clothing providers will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Population served
- Community partnerships
- Focus on dignity and respect for those served
Preferred measures of evaluation include (relative to organizational budget):
- Number of participants served
- Number of products distributed
- Number of volunteers engaged
Basic Needs: Critical home repair
Critical home repairs to address safety and health concerns
The Connelly Foundation supports Critical Home Repair as an investment in our local communities that ensures a dignified and safe home environment and builds generational wealth through the preservation of a homeowner's largest asset.
Critical home repair providers will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Population served
- Community partnerships
- Volunteer engagement
Preferred measures of evaluation include:
- Number of home repairs completed
- Health and safety concerns resolved
- Improvements in quality of life, mental or physical health