Catholic Campaign for Human Development Internships

  1. What is CCHD?  

    The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the U.S. Catholic Church's domestic anti-poverty program. It was established in 1969 with two purposes. The first purpose was to raise funds to support "organized groups of white and minority poor to develop economic strength and political power." The second purpose was to "educate the People of God to a new knowledge of today's problems . . . that can lead to some new approaches that promote a greater sense of solidarity." CCHD interns work in diocesan offices around the country to further both of these goals.

  2. Who can apply for the CCHD internship?

    Any U.S. Catholic who has experience in community service and leadership, and is open to the values of participation, option for the poor, and solidarity building, and shows potential for continued leadership.

    Low-income people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.

  3. Do I have to be a student?

    No. For anyone seeking professional opportunities in social justice fields, community development, and economic development, a CCHD internship would be an excellent opportunity to gain experience and network with professionals in the field.

  4. What does a CCHD intern do?

    Due to the diversity of intern positions that are available in different dioceses, specific duties for the internships will vary. The intern will work with his or her supervisor in the diocese to develop a workplan based on the skills and interests of the intern and the needs of the CCHD diocesan office.

    Duties could include, but are not limited to

    • promotion of the CCHD annual collection
    • parish education training and outreach projects
    • youth and young adult outreach
    • research, analysis, or feasibility studies
    • relationship building with community and economic development organizations funded by CCHD, project monitoring and evaluation of grants

    All interns will submit a written evaluation and a reflection paper upon completion of the internship.

  5. Is the internship paid?

    CCHD interns receive compensation equivalent to $12/hour.

  6. Where are  internships available?

    Internships are available in selected diocesan offices around the country. Diocesan internship openings are announced in January. A few internships are also available in Washington, DC at the CCHD office of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU). Check the internships page for updated information.
  7. When are the internships available?

    Internships are available for summer, fall, spring and the entire Fall-Spring school year. An intern would be expected to work between 30-40 hours/week in the summer or 10-20 hours/week during the school year.

  8. Can I get academic credit for the internship?

    The internship does combine practical work experience with reading material and reflection. It may meet the academic requirements of your college/university. In previous years, CCHD interns have received academic credit. CCHD can assist a student who wants to receive academic credit, but the burden falls on the student to work out the particulars with his/her school.

  9. What is the Catholic Campaign for Human Development?

    The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops.

    Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education.

  10. What is CCHD's philosophy?

    The CCHD philosophy emphasizes empowerment and participation for the poor. By helping the poor to participate in the decisions and actions that affect their lives, CCHD empowers them to move beyond poverty.

  11. What makes projects funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development different?

    CCHD projects focus on empowering low-income people, not doing things for them. In CCHD-funded projects, low-income people define the problems, decide on the priorities, and determine the appropriate action to solve the problems.