North America strives to make a positive contribution to the common good in the United States and Canada and effect meaningful change in areas where the impact of systemic poverty is most acute and where human potential is most diminished.
The organization's work falls into the following areas of interest:
- Faith
Porticus believes that vibrant and inclusive communities of faith play an important role in promoting social justice and ensuring that the dignity of each person is respected. Porticus has a special interest in supporting Hispanic and First Nations Ministries, with a focus on projects that seek to cultivate the development of Hispanic or First Nations lay leadership in churches in the United States or Canada. Emphasis is also given to youth ministry, with emphasis on programs that empower youth to become more actively engaged in society.
- Education
Porticus supports projects that aim to increase educational opportunities, prevent school failure or drop-out, and enhance the quality of education in Catholic schools.
- Society
Porticus supports projects aimed at transforming society and its social structures in order to create a more just world for all, with an emphasis on projects that work for systemic or structural change for the benefit of those in need. Porticus has particular interest in projects intended to enhance the level and quality of prison ministry from the perspective of restorative justice.
- Social Care
Porticus gives priority to projects that have at their core a desire and plan to empower vulnerable individuals, families, and communities to become more self-sufficient and to participate more fully in the wider community. Preference is given to organizations that have a proven track record of collaboration with other service providers and networks, and a commitment to meeting the needs of the whole person.
Types of support include:
- project support;
- seed money;
- project planning;
- conferences and workshops;
- capacity building;
- training opportunities;
- equipment; and,
- research.
Grants are not provided to/for:
- individual parishes;
- individual schools;
- retreat houses;
- projects that serve the ongoing functions of a particular institution;
- support of individuals;
- capital campaigns or endowments;
- debt repayment;
- buildings or major renovations;
- scholarships;
- political lobbying;
- retroactive funding;
- general support of well-established programs; or,
- projects in which the benefits accrue in other countries.
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