

THE DANIEL
RUDD FUND

About The Fund
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The Next Daniel Rudd Fund Grant Cycle will Open on July 1, 2024.
The Daniel Rudd Fund (DRF) provides grants to organizations involved in ministry to Black Catholics. The goal of this grant is to financially assist new and existing programs that promote the Gospel within parishes, schools and communities.
Applicants must be rooted in ministry to Black Catholics, and must explain how the organization’s mission and practices align with at least one of ten topics of the NBCC Pastoral Plan presented at Congress 13.
The DRF provides funding for programs that fulfill one or more of the topics in the Pastoral Plan of Action. A new Pastoral Plan will be written at the conclusion of the Congress XIII Gathering, and a downloadable copy will be available on this website in the Fall/Winter 2023.
Please check back later for revised information for DRF grant applicants.

DRF grants can be used for:
- Materials, equipment, specific to a program or ministry
- Expenses specific to the program or ministry itself
- Rentals related to a program and venue
- Postage and marketing for an event

DRF grants cannot be used for:
- Daily office supplies and related materials
- Expenses (such as utilities) related to the day-to-day operation of an organization
- Salaries for individuals in the organization
- Salaries for individuals or stipends for presenters

Previous Recipients
The Daniel Rudd Fund Impact
In 2019, 40 Applications were submitted and 29 received grants, which totaled $78,550. In 2020, 39 Applications were submitted and 22 received grants, which totaled $100,755. In 2021, 23 grants were awarded for a total of $71,495.
The 2022 DRF Grant Cycle application phase has closed, and we received 61 grant applications with requests for funding totaling close to $1 million. We were able to award 27 applicants with a total of $270,028.00.
To see the awards given during the 2021 DRF Grant Cycle, please download the NBCC Program Report for FY 2021 by clicking on the image.

One of our previous DRF grant recipients was Workshop Way Preschool in Powhatan, Virginia. They provide young children in rural Virginia access to early education. The grant money provided assists with tuition and transportation to and from school, a major obstacle to enrollment for financially challenged families in this rural community.
How To Apply
The grant process is conducted entirely online.
- Review the NBCC Pastoral Plan and the timeline below.
- Use the checklist below to prepare your information.
- Log onto the DRF Dashboard and create a new account. Use the tutorials available to become familiar with the online application process.
- You must submit a letter of support from the appropriate source at the time you submit your application.
Please note:
- Only applications submitted within the next application cycle will be considered for funding.
- Since the Daniel Rudd Fund is intended to provide start-up capital, we will only award grants to organizations for a maximum of three grant cycles.
Timeline
July 1, 2024 – Application cycle opens
September 1, 2024 – Application cycle closes
October 2024 – Applications sent to independent reviewers for recommendations
November 2024 – NBCC trustees approve recommendations. Award letters mailed with agreements. When signed agreements are returned and received by the NBCC office, grant checks are mailed.
Application Checklist
Have the following information and materials ready.
1. Contact Information
Organization name
Mailing Address
Phone number
Email address
Main contact person
Names of board or committee members
2. Program Description
Describe the following about your organization or program: its history, its mission and how it aligns with the NBCC Pastoral Plan.
3. Budget
Provide the following information for the budget template:
Income:
Amount Requested: $
Other sources of Income: $
Total Amount for the Program: $ (add both lines above)
Expenses
Program Expenses (please explain): $ (add all expenses for total)
Please note: Income and expenses should be equal to show a balanced budget.
4. Impact Statement
How do you visualize that your program will spread the Catholic Faith in the Black Catholic community? Give three examples.
5. Scope
Explain whether the program is local or national.
6. Letter of Support
Provide an endorsement from a Diocesan/Auxiliary Bishop; Diocesan Chancellor, Vicar General, or Episcopal Vicar for Clergy; Director of your Diocesan Office of Black or Multicultural Ministries; Director of a National Catholic Organization; President of a College or University; Religious/Provincial Superior – Head of a national or local chapter of a religious community; or, Superintendent of Catholic Schools within your diocese
Contact
If you have any questions about the DRF Grant Application Process, please contact the Grant Administrator at nbcc@nbccongress.org.
Our Founder
Who Was Daniel Rudd?
Who Was
Daniel Rudd?
Daniel A. Rudd (1854-1933) was the founder of the National Black Catholic Congress. As a lifelong Catholic, he established successful newspapers and worked tirelessly to promote the welfare of African Americans in the United States. He saw in the Church the home of freedom and unity for all people, and a force for challenging the injustices of society.
Below is a link to his biography by Gary B. Agee on Amazon.com
See the Vision
Our Congresses
Learn about our upcoming and past congresses. You can also download our most recent pastoral plan, which we use as our guide to grant funding.