Catholic NGOs and Church Foundations - CARF Foundation (2024)

Catholic foundations, motivated by their values and beliefs, bring a spiritual and ethical dimension to their activities, gaining relevance in the social, spiritual and humanitarian fields. Their work translates into providing help, hope and opportunities for transformation to the people and communities they serve.

What are the Church's NGOs?

Religious organizations, such as Catholic foundations and NGOs, play a significant role in society, sharing the responsibility of providing humanitarian assistance and charity to those most in need. Their support ranges from material and financial needs to emotional care in situations of poverty, natural disasters, armed conflict or social marginalization.

By promoting Christian ethical and moral values, these organizations contribute to the promotion of social justice, solidarity, equity and respect for human dignity, fostering a greater commitment to social welfare and harmony.

What is the difference between Catholic foundations and Catholic NGOs?

The main distinction between Catholic foundations and Catholic NGOs lies in their organizational structure and focus of work. While Catholic foundations are linked to the Catholic Church and focus on specific areas of Catholic work, Catholic NGOs have a religious affiliation, but their action encompasses diverse areas of social action.

Catholic NGOs, such as non-profit organizationsThe Catholic Movement of the Catholic Church, based on the principles and teachings of the Catholic faith, focuses its mission in areas such as charity, the promotion of Christian values, religious education, theological research, and cultural and artistic promotion in the Catholic sphere.

On the other hand, Catholic NGOs, despite their religious affiliation, are not necessarily linked to a specific institution and address a variety of social issues, such as poverty, education, health and community development.

How can I support these organizations?

All of these entities share one thing in common: their primary funding comes from donations, both from individuals and businesses. If you want to support Catholic foundations and NGOs, here are some ways you can contribute:

1. Financial donations: you can make direct financial donations to the organizations, either through their websites or for specific projects they are carrying out. This not only benefits the organizations, but can also have a positive impact on their bottom line. tax benefits for you as a donor.
2. Donations in kind: In addition to monetary donations, you can contribute material goods. These donations may also have tax benefits.
3. Joint and several legacies and wills: consider including these organizations in your will, providing ongoing support even after your death, as if they were someone else in the family.
4. Volunteering: Many religious organizations are looking for volunteers to help with various activities. You can volunteer and put your skills to work for these causes.
5. Dissemination and awareness: Sharing relevant information about the work and projects of these organizations on social networks can increase awareness and support.
6. Collaborations and alliances: if you have specific skills or represent a company or organization, you can explore opportunities for collaboration with these entities, either through professional services or corporate donations.

What are the benefits of supporting these non-profit organizations?

Supporting non-profit organizations, such as Catholic foundations and NGOs in Spain, not only has a direct impact on the well-being of individuals and communities in need, but also offers personal benefits and contributes to the development of a more just, supportive and equitable society, regardless of the beliefs of the beneficiaries.

Your support directly contributes to improving the quality of life of those most in need and promotes social development. You can provide medical care, education, food, housing and other vital services to disadvantaged communities regardless of creed.

By supporting these religious non-profit organizations, you are supporting noble causes and ethical and Christian values such as solidarity, social justice, equality and respect for human dignity. You become an agent of change with the opportunity to positively influence your environment.

In Spain, donations to non-profit organizations are tax-deductible, which means that you can obtain tax benefits when making these donations, encouraging your financial support for their development.

Which are the most important Catholic religious foundations and NGOs in Spain?

The following are some of the most important Catholic organizations in Spain. It is important to note that there are other religious entities that also make valuable efforts in various areas of Spanish society.

1. Caritas: this Catholic-inspired non-governmental organization for humanitarian aid and social development is one of the most recognized worldwide in the field of assistance and solidarity. Caritas is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable people, both locally and internationally. Its main mission is to combat poverty, social exclusion and inequality, working closely with communities and people in need, through an extensive network of volunteers and professionals.
2. Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS): The Pontifical Mission Societies are a network of organizations and programs of the Catholic Church dedicated to the promotion and support of the evangelizing and humanitarian mission of the Catholic Church throughout the world. It is an entity directly dependent on the Holy See and its work is guided by the vision and direction of the Holy Father with the aim of spreading the Gospel message and providing assistance to those most in need.
3. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): one of the Catholic NGOs dedicated to caring for persecuted Christians and providing humanitarian, pastoral and material aid to Christian communities and people in need around the world. ACN is based on principles of solidarity, charity and the promotion of human rights, with a particular focus on religious freedom and support for persecuted Christian communities. Its work contributes to providing hope, relief and practical support to those suffering for their faith in different parts of the world. It works in collaboration with the Holy See and other Catholic organizations, offering assistance in areas such as the construction and rehabilitation of churches, the training of priests and religious, the distribution of religious literature, the provision of humanitarian aid in emergency situations, and support for community development projects.
4. Closing Foundation: Its mission is to make known the raison d'être, the beauty and the importance of the contemplative life. The Fundación de Clausura is a non-profit organization that was created to help support cloistered monasteries and convents. It contributes to the support of monasteries and convents by helping them in the commercialization of their products. It offers voluntary technical support or donations from individuals and companies and passes on to the religious communities the prayer requests of individuals.
5. Manos Unidas: What is the NGO Manos Unidas? Manos Unidas is one of the best-known Catholic development and humanitarian aid NGOs of Catholic inspiration. The main objective of Manos Unidas is to promote the integral development of people and communities living in poverty, especially in rural and marginalized areas. They provide everything from emergency projects and humanitarian aid in crisis situations to long-term development projects. The organization is guided by principles of solidarity, social justice and respect for human dignity.
6. CARF Foundation: The CARF Foundation, also known as the Roman Academic Center Foundation, was born in 1989 under the inspiration of St. John Paul II and Blessed Alvaro del Portillo. Its mission is to pray for priestly vocations, to promote the good name of priests in the world and to assist in the formation of seminarians and diocesan and religious priests to better serve the Church throughout the world, as well as to foster vocations. Currently, thanks to the support of benefactors and friends, the CARF Foundation has financed study grants to nearly 40,000 students from 131 countries with limited economic resources to study at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and at the Faculties of Ecclesiastical Studies of the University of Navarra in Pamplona. Among the beneficiaries alumni of the CARF Foundation, there are 130 students who have been ordained bishops and three who have been created cardinals.
7. Xtantos: although it is neither an NGO nor a foundation, but a campaign of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, we could not fail to mention this initiative in our list of Catholic NGOs. The Xtantos campaign is closely linked to the modification in the Tax Allocation system that was agreed in December 2006. At that time, the Church stopped receiving direct allocations from the General State Budget in Spain. Initiated in 2007, the campaign aims to raise awareness of this change in Spanish society by encouraging taxpayers to check the box for the Church on their tax returns. Annually, Xtantos seeks to inform the population about the tax allocation system, reminding them of the option to check the box for the Church, the box for Other Purposes of Social Interest, both or neither. In addition, the campaign highlights the significant work of the Church in building a better society, offering information about its contributions and activities.

These organizations represent only a small sample of the positive impact that the Catholic Church has on Spanish society through Catholic NGOs.