Sarah Mitchell
Catholic Charities is a human services provider with a presence in several states across the US. It is linked to the Catholic Church but financially independent from it. The organization has a long history of charitable work and political activism, with a strong donor base. Catholic Charities receives federal funding, and in 2022, more than half a billion dollars of its annual spending came from federal grants. However, in 2025, Catholic Charities agencies across the US were impacted by a federal funding freeze, leading to layoffs and program closures. The organization has urged the government to reconsider the freeze, highlighting the critical services they provide to millions of Americans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Federal funding received | Yes |
| Amount of federal funding | More than half a billion dollars of federal grants alone |
| Percentage of annual spending from government sources | Two-thirds |
| Funding freeze | Yes |
| Amount blocked due to the freeze | $600,000 |
| Number of employees laid off | 26 |
| Number of social service efforts supported by Catholic Charities | 170 |
| Number of people served annually | Several million |
| Amount raised in contributions and grants in 2013 | $24 million |
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What You'll Learn
Funding freeze by the federal government
Catholic Charities agencies across the United States have been affected by a funding freeze enacted by the federal government. The freeze was a result of a directive issued by President Donald Trump, halting all foreign aid for a 90-day review. This has resulted in federal funding being blocked for Catholic Charities programs, particularly those serving migrants and refugees.
Catholic Charities is a significant human services provider, with a long history of aiding those in need. It is a go-to partner for government and civic leaders, especially during challenging times. However, with stretched budgets, government support for human services has decreased. Catholic Charities has experienced a more than 20% decline in government support over the last decade, despite a growing demand for its services.
The funding freeze has had a significant impact on Catholic Charities agencies across the country. For example, Catholic Charities Jacksonville in Florida had to lay off 26 employees from its refugee program due to a loss of over $600,000 in expected federal funding. Similarly, Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas faced an agency-wide financial crisis after the federal government blocked reimbursements for its migrant relief program, amounting to a loss of nearly $500,000.
Catholic Charities USA President and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson issued a statement urging reconsideration of the freeze on aid, highlighting that 92% of the services provided by Catholic Charities agencies cover basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and other vital support for individuals and families struggling to get by. The freeze on federal aid threatens the continuity of these essential services, causing potential harm to the millions who rely on them.
In response to the funding freeze, Catholic Charities agencies have appealed to donors and foundations for direct assistance to continue their work. They have also urged community members to donate or volunteer to support their local agencies in continuing to provide critical services to those in need.
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Catholic Charities' push to object to state taxes
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Catholic Charities, which was pushing to object to state taxes on religious grounds. The Wisconsin chapter of Catholic Charities had previously been denied an exemption from the state's unemployment taxes. The Catholic Charities Bureau and four affiliate organisations claimed that this denial was a violation of the First Amendment's religious protections. This is because churches are already exempt from these taxes, and Catholic Charities argued that religiously affiliated entities that don't perform traditionally religious functions should also be exempt.
The Supreme Court's decision has cleared the way for the Wisconsin chapter of Catholic Charities to secure an exemption from certain state taxes. This decision could expand the type of religious entities entitled to tax breaks under the First Amendment's protections for religion. The Trump administration sided with Catholic Charities, expressing concern that a broad ruling might affect similar federal laws.
In response to the ruling, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote:
> "It is fundamental to our constitutional order that the government maintain 'neutrality between religion and religion.' There may be hard calls to make in policing that rule, but this is not one. When the government distinguishes among religions based on theological differences in their provision of services, it imposes a denominational preference that must satisfy the highest level of judicial scrutiny."
Justice Clarence Thomas, a member of the court's conservative wing, wrote separately to argue in favour of a doctrine of "church autonomy" that would further insulate religious institutions from taxes and government regulations. Thomas argued that the state court had interfered too much by looking into how Catholic Charities was structured. He wrote:
> "The First Amendment's guarantee of church autonomy gives religious institutions the right to define their internal governance structures without state interference."
The case raised fundamental questions about the ability of courts to assess the religiosity of certain organisations. Chief Justice John Roberts questioned whether a vegetarian restaurant might be entitled to an exemption from state taxes if its owners claimed they were following a religious tenet against eating meat. The decision could also have implications for religiously-affiliated hospitals.
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Catholic Charities' sources of funding
Catholic Charities is a centralized anti-poverty effort that was launched in 1910 by the president of Catholic University in Washington, D.C. It currently supports about 170 social service efforts across the United States, serving several million people each year.
The organization is financially independent from the Catholic Church in Chicago, and it does not receive funds from the Archdiocese of Chicago unless donors specifically designate their funds for the organization's work. Catholic Charities has a diverse donor base, representing a full range of faith backgrounds. The group also receives funding from government sources, with about two-thirds of its annual spending coming from the government in the form of grants and loans. In 2013, Catholic Charities USA raised $24 million in contributions and grants.
Catholic Charities agencies across the United States have been affected by a funding freeze enacted by the Trump administration, which blocked federal funding for the organization's programs, particularly those supporting migrants and refugees. Catholic Charities Jacksonville, for example, laid off 26 employees from its refugee program after the funding freeze resulted in a loss of over $600,000 in federal funding. Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas also experienced an agency-wide financial crisis due to the funding freeze, which blocked reimbursements of nearly $500,000 that the organization was expecting to receive.
In response to the funding freeze, Catholic Charities USA President and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson issued a statement urging reconsideration of the freeze on federal aid. She highlighted that 92% of the services provided by the 168 independent Catholic Charities agencies across the country covered basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and other necessities for families and individuals struggling to get by.
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The impact of the funding freeze
In 2025, the Trump administration attempted to freeze federal aid to nonprofit organizations, including Catholic Charities agencies across the US. This funding freeze was part of the administration's effort to enforce its immigration policies.
Other programs impacted by the freeze included food pantries, childcare programs for low-income families, meal deliveries for homebound seniors, job training resources for veterans, temporary and permanent housing, and mental health services. Catholic Charities agencies were forced to lay off employees and scale back program operations.
To compensate for the funding freeze, Catholic Charities agencies appealed to donors and foundations for direct assistance. They also urged their supporters to contact their congressional representatives and make donations or volunteer their time to help ensure that critical services could continue to be provided to those in need.
On January 29, 2025, a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze on federal grants and loans, and the White House rescinded the memo. However, the initial funding freeze had a significant impact on Catholic Charities agencies and the vulnerable communities they serve across the country.
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Catholic Charities' political involvement
In the United States, charities and churches are banned from engaging in political campaign activity. This ban was created by Congress over half a century ago and has been strengthened over the years, with the most recent amendment clarifying that the prohibition includes statements opposing candidates. This ban is on political campaign activity regarding a specific candidate; charities can engage in a limited amount of lobbying and advocate for or against issues in the political arena.
Catholic Charities is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and is therefore subject to this ban. Catholic Charities has not reported any outside spending in the 2024 election cycle. However, it is worth noting that Catholic Charities has been involved in political activity outside of election campaigns. For example, Catholic Charities USA urged the reconsideration of a freeze on aid for nonprofit service organizations, which would have impacted the vital services they provide to millions of Americans. Additionally, Catholic Charities has been involved in legal cases with political implications, such as their push to object to state taxes on religious grounds, which was backed by the Supreme Court.
The USCCB Office of General Counsel provides guidelines to Catholic organizations to assist them in distinguishing between permitted and prohibited activities during election campaigns. These guidelines are intended for Catholic organizations that are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and described in section 501(c)(3). The focus is on maintaining federal income tax exemption by prohibiting participation or intervention in a political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate.
While Catholic Charities as an organization cannot contribute to candidates or party committees, it is important to note that its affiliates may engage in political spending. Figures and charts on affiliate contributions and spending are available from organizations such as OpenSecrets, which tracks money in U.S. politics and provides data on contributions to members' presidential committees.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholic Charities does receive federal funding. In 2013, Catholic Charities USA raised $24 million in contributions and grants. More than half a billion dollars of this was from federal grants.
Catholic Charities is a 501(c)(3) coordinating body that supports about 170 social service efforts across the US.
Catholic Charities provides a range of services, from food pantries, childcare programs, meal deliveries, job training resources, temporary and permanent housing, and mental health services.
Catholic Charities was founded in 1910 by the president of Catholic University in Washington, D.C. who invited Catholic clergy and laity to gather on his campus. It was officially established in 1917 by the Catholic Bishop of Chicago.
Catholic Charities is financially independent from the Catholic Church in Chicago. They do not donate to the Archdiocese of Chicago and do not receive funds from them unless donors specify that their funds are to be used for Catholic Charities' work.
