Diocesan officials say the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is attempting to weaken poverty with grants to self-help groups and programs started and directed by low-income residents.
Groups eligible are those working to create sustainable jobs, maintain affordable housing, improve neighborhoods and run self-improvement programs.
Recipients must be working in the areas of poverty, education or connecting poor and non-poor communities.
The groups must not participate in or promote ideas which contradict the moral teachings of the church.
Applications will be accepted through March 1 from groups in DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, Kendall and Will counties.
More information is available at the diocesan website.