IHM Empowerment Fund

About the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Empowerment Fund

Established in 1988, the Empowerment Fund makes grants to empower our brothers and sisters to improve their lives, not by charity alone for today’s need, but by helping to break the cycle of poverty so that a person can become self-reliant.

Requests come through IHM parishioners, or directly from agencies and groups, and are considered by the Social Action Coordinating Commission. The person making the request is asked to provide information on the group or agency, including any printed brochures or personal information they have from working with the group.

Guidelines for Empowerment Fund Applications

Please keep in mind the following points as you complete your application:

Be concise and type or print clearly.
Be thorough and complete all questions.
Please let us know if your project has a deadline. The Social Action Coordinating Commission usually meets monthly and evaluates requests. After selection at IHM, the request is processed through the Archdiocese Mission Office, and timing varies.

Empowerment Fund Guidelines, which the Social Action Coordinating Commission uses to consider requests:

To address both sides of the poverty issue, the request must empower the recipient(s) to break the cycle of poverty and oppression in order to regain control of their life, OR, educate and raise awareness on the devastation of poverty, and our opportunity and obligation to be agents of change.
Must lie outside the current Special Collections of IHM.
Will generally be made to small groups without broad-based financial support, except in cases of disaster relief through agencies such as Catholic Relief.
Will include local, national, and global needs.
Can include a mission grant for groups or individuals with exhibited need who are involved in outreach work projects.
Excludes major capital improvements, but minor improvements to empower organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Scholarships will be awarded to a school’s general scholarship fund, not to individual students.
Upholds the commitment to seek requests from members of the Parish.
Recipients must use the funds in accordance with Catholic principles.

Application Forms

Please download the below Application Forms and Guidelines.

To return the application, drop it in the Social Action Coordinating Commission mailbox in the IHM Parish Office, email it to John Szucsik or mail to Immaculate Heart of Mary Social Action Coordinating Commission, 7770 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45255.

Empowerment Fund Guidelines

Empowerment Summary 2024- 2025

Signed Statement

Empowerment Fund Grant Application