The Giving Challenge is an annual fundraising effort (typically run at the end of the year) to raise capital for larger ministry grants for the diocesan Catholic School tuition assistance program and for the Community Impact Grant Program, which offers grants to parishes, schools and ministries to enhance existing ministry and outreach, or support the launch of new efforts. This program, administered by the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, offers grants to diocesan, parish and school programs Courageously Living the Gospel through:

• innovative youth ministry and young adult programs
• evangelization efforts to assist in spreading the Good News
• serving Christ by serving others
• supporting families seeking a Catholic school education for their children

Almost $550,000 was raised in calendar years 2022 and 2023 from individual donations to the Giving Challenge.

In Fall 2023, the Board of Trustees made a total of $310,000 in awards as follows:

• $10,000 – long-term investment funds for youth and young adult ministry 
• $10,000 – long-term investment funds for homeless ministry 
• $10,000 – long-term investment funds for evangelization 
• $10,000 – long-term investment funds for tuition assistance  
• $200,000 for tuition assistance through the Catholic School Tuition Assistance Grant (CSTAG) Program, helping 365 students and families, in 14 different Catholic Schools around the Diocese
• Almost $70,000 to 15 parish, school and ministry programs –
  • $8,800 to support innovative youth ministry and young adult programs
  • $6,500 for evangelization efforts to assist in spreading the Good News
  • $46,735 to programs dedicated to serving Christ by serving others

In Spring 2024, the Board of Trustees made a total of $83,920 in awards to 10 parishes, 4 Catholic schools, and 3 larger ministries –

• $24,920 to support innovative youth ministry and young adult programs
• $19,000 for evangelization efforts to assist in spreading the Good News
• $40,000 to programs dedicated to serving Christ by serving others

This fall, the Board of Trustees has approved $39,965 in awards and offered $20,535 in challenge/matches to 8 parishes, 1 Catholic schools, and 3 larger ministries –

• $17,800 to support innovative youth ministry and young adult programs, with a potential $14,200 in challenge/matches
• $5,000 in challenge/matches for evangelization efforts to assist in spreading the Good News
• $22,165 to programs dedicated to serving Christ by serving others, with a potential $1,335 in challenge/matches

Click here to learn more about the Community Impact Grant Program and to view a complete listing of recipients.