Legacy of Faith awards help parishes launch and strengthen ministries that form missionary disciples through evangelization, catechesis, and ongoing faith formation. Funding is available to support parish faith formation resources, training opportunities, and ministry activities that deepen love for Christ and His Church.
Parishes are invited to apply in three primary areas of focus:
- Catechesis – resources and initiatives that strengthen faith formation for children, youth, and adults
- Youth Ministry – programs that engage young people in discipleship, service, and prayer
- Hispanic Ministry – faith formation and leadership development for Hispanic Catholics in their families, parishes, and communities
All parishes in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend are eligible to apply. In 2026, the average grant award was $3,800 per parish.
Applications open each year on September 1 and are due according to the timeline outlined in annual application materials. Grant awards are determined in partnership with the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis, the Hispanic Ministry Office, and the Office of the Bishop for the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, and awards are announced in mid-February. Awards must be spent by the end of the award calendar year.
2027 Application Timeline
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September 1, 2026
2027 applications open
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Date & time to be confirmed
Q&A Webinar: Building a Good Grant Application (virtual join link to be added)
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November 13, 2026
2027 applications due; 2026 accountability reports due
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February 2027
2027 grant awards announced
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November 12, 2027
2027 accountability reports due
How to Apply
- Grant seekers should review the Legacy of Faith Grant Guidelines before starting the grant application process.
- Complete a separate application for each funding request within each ministry area: Catechesis, Youth Ministry, Hispanic Ministry.
- For each request, select a best-fit category, provide a brief description, and outline your plans and estimated expenses.
- After initial submission, applications are sent from the Administrator to the Pastor for review and approval before being forwarded to the Grant Committee.
To access the online application tool, click the button below.
Only one person per parish should manage the parish login and applications. The first time you apply, the Catholic Community Foundation will need to create a user profile for you. If you think your parish already has a profile but don't know the login details, do not create a new account.
For assistance with the online application tool and user registration, please contact the Catholic Community Foundation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Application Tools
Use these tools to prepare and submit your Legacy of Faith grant application.
Review eligibility, funding priorities, and important dates before you begin.
For questions about grant eligibility, please contact Melinda Doak at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Download the template to itemize your project expenses and ministry costs.
Use this sample to draft your responses. Once complete, all information must be entered into the online application tool for official submission.
View a completed example to see how a strong application and budget are structured.
Step-by-step walkthrough for logging into the online tool and submitting an application.
Guidance for pastors on reviewing and approving parish applications in the online tool.
Catholic Community Foundation
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Melinda Doak
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