Associated Catholic Charities

Associated Catholic Charities is a nonprofit organization located in Baltimore, United States. Affiliated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore, it operates under the trade name, Catholic Charities of Baltimore, providing care for more than 160,000 people each year. It serves over a quarter million meals every year to the poor, and operates 80 charitable service programs in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Carroll, Anne Arundel, Frederick, Washington, and Garrett Counties of Maryland. The organization cares for children and families, people who are poor and disadvantaged, seniors, and those who have developmental disabilities.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s mission is to:

Catholic Charities provides services to people of all faiths:

The services provided include:

87% of total expenditures went directly toward program services during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011. Donations are important to the organization and account for 10% of operating income.

The agency has a permanent staff of about 2,000, but relies on more than 15,000 volunteers to provide services for more than 160,000 people.

Associated Catholic Charities provides services within the geographic boundaries of the Archdiocese of Baltimore–Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Carroll, Anne Arundel, Frederick, Washington, and Garrett Counties of Maryland. Most donors, volunteers, employees and clients come from the same area, though some come from outside the Archdiocese.

Catholic Charities began with the establishment of the Catholic Church in America. John Carroll, the first Bishop of Baltimore, declared in 1792 that one-third of all parish revenues should go to “the relief of the poor.” In the mid-19th century, services focused on caring for orphaned immigrant children. The first program, St. Vincent’s Orphanage, opened in 1856. Over the next century, homes for such children were established by the Archdiocese, as Baltimore became the point of entry for more 19th century immigrants than any other U.S. city outside of New York.

In 1923, the Archdiocese incorporated all of the children’s orphanages under a new “Bureau of Catholic Charities” and the care of disadvantaged people became the mission of Catholic Charities, which continues today. Over the next century, the orphanage focus changed as the need for treating neglected and abused children and those with emotional disabilities became greater. As a result, St. Vincent’s Center and Villa Maria opened in Dulaney Valley in the 1960s.

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