Applying for Aid
Aid to the Church in Need supports in excess of 5,000 projects a year, in more than 130 countries around the world.
We provide two types of aid:
Project Grants
How Aid to the Church in Need can help
Aid to the Church in Need focuses on providing help for the spiritual and pastoral work of the poor and persecuted Church. We will only consider specific projects that will further the Church’s mission.
These include:
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Building and repairing seminaries, churches and chapels
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Providing means of transport for priests and Sisters
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Supporting catechetical programmes
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Publishing and distributing Bibles and other Christian literature
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Broadcasting Christian TV and radio programmes
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Providing Mass stipends to priests
We are unable to help private individuals with schooling, medical or living expenses. We cannot help with paying off debts already incurred. We do not usually pay open-ended subsidies or general living expenses.
We generally leave the funding of humanitarian and development projects to other charities; if your project is of that nature, please search the internet for charities which specialise in that equally important work.
Who can apply
We will consider applications from anyone in a responsible position on behalf of the Church – bishops, priests, deacons, lay persons and members of religious orders – superiors and provincials, Sisters and Brothers.
If you are applying as a lay person on behalf of your parish, you should include with your application a letter of support from your parish priest.
We can only consider direct applications. If you are applying to Aid to the Church in Need on behalf of a priest with whom you correspond, please show him this information and inform him that he must apply personally.
We feel that it is a priest’s responsibility to apply directly to us; we do not approach him – it would be unfair to raise his hopes, since our funds are limited.
How to apply
Applications must be made directly to Aid to the Church in Need by the person in charge of the project.
There are no forms to be completed, except for construction projects and vehicles.
Download Aid to the Church in Need's basic application form (for construction projects)
Download Aid to the Church in Need's vehicle application form
A summary of the plans and budget for the project will be required. Normally, this information can be provided on a few sheets of paper.
If the project involves building work, architects’ plans and costings will be needed.
If the project is the purchase of a vehicle, a quotation from a local supplier will be required.
To apply, original paper documents (photocopies of plans, quotations, etc are acceptable) should be sent directly by Air Mail or courier to:
Project Department
Aid to the Church in Need – International
Postfach 1209
D-61452 Königstein
GERMANY
Owing to the large number of applications received, the Project Department cannot acknowledge receipt of applications.
For further information, please refer to our grant guidelines.
How we decide about project applications
Requests for Aid to the Church in Need funding are considered by our international headquarters in Germany. Our Project Department constantly reviews our priorities, looking at what help is most urgent and which areas of the world are most needy.
We receive no public funding and rely entirely on the generosity of our benefactors. We are not able to respond positively to all requests for aid – we can only satisfy about half the valid requests we receive – and make project grants according to the urgency of the need and its relevance to the charity's objectives.
As we are a Catholic charity under the Holy See, we normally work in cooperation with the local Church hierarchy and it is usually necessary for applicants to demonstrate the support of their bishop or religious superior before any funding can be agreed. It is not essential to obtain the written support of the bishop or religious superior when applying, but Aid to the Church in Need will consult him/her before agreeing any funding.
A reply informing applicants of the Project Department's decision will be sent directly from the charity's headquarters in Germany in due course. The minimum time taken for a decision is 6-8 weeks, but this may be longer, for many reasons.
It may be necessary to obtain further information from various sources, or to await receipt of new funds from our benefactors before a grant can be made.
Applicants are requested to be patient in waiting for a reply. If the Project Department has to spend time answering enquiries about the progress of applications, it prevents us dealing with the thousands of aid applications the charity receives each year.
Monitoring projects
A condition of our funding is that successful applicants report back on the progress of their projects. Members of our Projects Department visit many countries each year to monitor the completion of projects.
Other aid that we can provide
- Mass stipends – A bishop may apply to our German headquarters for Mass stipends, which he may then distribute to priests within his diocese as he thinks fit. We only allow bishops to apply for Mass stipends, so any requests have to come direct from them.
- Child’s Bible – We may be able to supply free copies of our Child's Bible, God Speaks to His Children, which has extracts from the Bible and colour illustrations. Although it is intended for children, it is also popular with adults with rudimentary reading skills. It is widely used for basic catechetical work. We publish the book in 157 languages. You are welcome to apply for a supply of these books when you apply to our Project Department. Please indicate the languages required.
- I believe – A Little Catholic Catechism – This Vatican-approved catechism explains the central tenets of the Catholic faith, with extracts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is ideal for Confirmation groups. It is available in a number of different languages, including English and French. Again, you are welcome to apply for a supply of these books when you apply to our Project Department. Please indicate the languages required.
Scholarships
- How Aid to the Church in Need can help
- Who can apply
- How to apply
- How we decide about scholarship applications
- Monitoring scholarships
How Aid to the Church in Need can help
We can pay some or all of the tuition fees of approved postgraduate courses in the UK.
There are a few institutions in the UK that provide the relevant courses and they are in regular contact with us over funding arrangements for their students.
Who can apply
We normally only grant scholarships to ordained priests or professed religious Sisters who wish to come to the UK to carry out postgraduate studies in theology or philosophy that are not possible in their country of origin.
Any such course should be undertaken with the object of preparing the applicant for a teaching assignment at a diocesan or religious major seminary or similar establishment, or a position of leadership in the diocese or province of their home country.
Such priests and Sisters are sent to the UK by their bishop or religious superior and applications to Aid to the Church in Need are made through them.
Many non-UK students wish to take courses at UK universities, but if they do not fall into the above categories we are unable to support them, even if they wish to use their qualifications for the good of the Church. This is because of the limited budget available to us.
How to apply
Applicants should complete a Scholarship Application Form, following our Scholarship Application Guidelines.
Download Aid to the Church in Need's Scholarship Application Form
Download Aid to the Church in Need's Scholarship Application Guidelines
You will need to have the application form countersigned by your bishop or religious superior. It must then be sent by Air Mail to:
Scholarship Department
Aid to the Church in Need – International
Postfach 1209
D-61452 Königstein
GERMANY
Owing to the large number of applications received, the Project Department cannot acknowledge receipt of applications.
For further information, please refer to our scholarship guildelines.
How we decide about scholarship applications
Our Scholarship Department will make a decision based on the needs of the local Church, as advised by the applicant's bishop or religious superior.
The main criterion is that the student should undertake a course with a definite purpose in mind, as agreed in advance with his/her bishop or religious superior – for example, the applicant may be planning to teach at a local seminary, or take up a position of responsibility within the diocese or province.
Monitoring scholarships
Each sponsored student must provide evidence of completion of the funded course. We also expect to receive reports of how the student is subsequently using his/her skills and knowledge.
Questions about applying for aid
If you have any questions about applying to Aid to the Church in Need for aid, you may be able to find the answer in our Frequently Asked Questions about Aid Applications section.
Or you can contact us with your query.