Friends of the Poor ® Grants

Friends of the Poor® is an original SVdPUSA program to provide direct service to the poor in the United States, coordinated by the National Council through the national volunteer network of SVdP Conferences and Councils. The purpose of the Friends of the Poor® Fund is to raise significant amounts from the general public for direct service to the U.S. poor, through the wide variety interventions of the 100,000+ volunteer members of the Society nationwide.
Information on applying for a Grant can be found in the Grant Guidelines and Schedules document below.


Grant Application and Guidelines

Recent Grant Recipients

Conference Name

Blessed Savior
Guardian Angels
Our Lady of Good Counsel
St. Anthony
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Luke
St. Thomas More
Good Shepherd
St. Andrew
St. Catherine Laboure
St. Francis of Assisi 
St. James
St. Joseph
St. Katherine Drexel
St. Margret Mary
St. Rita
 
Region

North Central
North Central
North Central
North Central
North Central
North Central
North Central
Southeast
Southeast
Southeast
Southeast
Southeast
Southeast
Southeast
Southeast
Southeast
 
City, State

Milwaukee, WI
Crystal Falls, MI
Aurora, IL
Niagara, WI
West Dundee, IL
Carol Stream, IL
Elgin, IL
Newport, TN
Cape Coral, FL
Jefferson, GA
Blairsville, GA
Gadsden, AL
Huntsville, AL
Newnan, GA
Slidell, LA
Dade City. FL
 
Purpose

Stoves/Refrigerators
Back to School Program
Hope in Action Workshop
Utility/Rental Assistance
Food, Eye, Dental Care
Utility/Rental Assistance
Utility/Rental Assistance
Transportation/Housing/Medical
Utility Assistance/Bus Passes
Rental Assistance/Emergency Shelter
Utility/Rental Assistance
Low Interest Loans
Backpack Program
Utility/Rental Assistance
Utility/Rental Assistance
Utility/Rental Assistance, Reentry Program
 
Award Amount

$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$4,000.00
$3,000.00
$3,000.00
$3,000.00
$5,000.00
$2,850.00
$3,000.00
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
 

We received 43 grant proposals totaling $211,795. Grant awards for this round total $68,850. Thank you to an anonymous foundation for providing an additional $48,850 in grant funding.

Through a standardized, simple application process, SVdP Conferences can apply for up to a $5,000 grant from the National Council’s Friends of the Poor® Fund. The total Friends of the Poor® Program budget is normally limited to the amount raised and/or approved by the National Council budget process. Individual grant award amounts may vary from the application amount, but will NOT exceed $5,000.

Grants are targeted to specific, current needs of the poor, above and beyond available conference resources. Preferred interest areas are: systemic change, rental/housing assistance, utility assistance, food, clothing, transportation, baby/children needs and medical.

Systemic Change is a new area of interest.