Faith into action
Our direction for 2025-2030
Catholic Charities is called to support those in need through leadership and action. Our Strategic Plan 2025-2030 brings that mission into focus through three goals: advancing Catholic Social Teaching in practice and service, elevating Catholic thought leadership, and aligning membership with our mission and values.
Together, these goals guide how we strengthen community partnerships, approach grant-making and foster a shared Catholic identity across our network.
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Coat of arms of Frank Cardinal Leo
The Cardinal’s emblem from the plan’s message page, about 96px, above the eyebrow.
A call to service
Message from Cardinal Frank Leo
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Portrait of Frank Cardinal Leo
The formal portrait from the plan’s message page.
Frank Cardinal Leo
Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto
June 1, 2026
My dear brothers and sisters,
May Jesus and Mary be in your souls.
As Catholic Charities presents its strategic plan, it does so at a most critical time. With the steep increase of people (especially children) living in poverty; homelessness reaching an all-time high; the continued crisis of explicit and illegal drug use; dangerous and harmful political ideologies infiltrating all aspects of society; and the rapidly growing and ever-expanding culture of death through unlimited access to abortion and reduced restrictions for “Medical Assistance in Dying” (which we recognize as euthanasia). There certainly is no better time to pause and reflect, pray, and enact a thoughtful and faithful path forward to best serve the most vulnerable in our community throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Read more of his statement
Ultimately this strategic plan is our call to action inspired by our faith in Christ. With hope ever on the horizon and with our Catholic faith as our guide, this document serves as a roadmap for placing our love for others into action. To lift up those who have fallen and to radiate light for those caught in the dark shadows of society. I call to mind the words of St. Pope John Paul II, “Today more than ever, the Church is aware that her social message will gain credibility more immediately from the witness of actions…The Church’s love for the poor, which is essential for her and a part of her constant tradition, impels her to give attention to a world in which poverty is threatening to assume massive proportions in spite of technological and economic progress.” (Centesimus Annus, 57. 1 May 1991.)
It is my hope that through the implementation of the strategies outlined in this plan, the Church, through the work of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto and the agencies it supports, will continue to make a difference in as many lives as possible.
May God continue to bless you in abundance, may the Blessed Mary continue to intercede for you, and may St. Michael the Archangel protect you.
Yours sincerely, in Jesus with Mary,
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Signature of Frank Cardinal Leo
Transparent signature cut from the plan’s message page, about 220px wide.
Frank Cardinal Leo
Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto
Our foundation
The mission and values behind our strategic plan
Our mission
Called by our Catholic faith, we support those in need through leadership and action.
Listening and learning
How we developed our strategic plan
The plan’s research process brought together secondary data analysis and interest-holder feedback to identify key themes, actionable ideas and priorities.
- Secondary data analysis
- Interest-holder feedback
- Review of data and identifying key themes
- Determine actionable ideas and priorities
- 2025 CCAT final report
Our strategic focus
Three goals for 2025-2030
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Insights & Encounters newsletter covers
Three recent newsletter covers, fanned. Square crop; the white space below is fine.
Goal 1
Promote and advance Catholic Social Teaching in practice and service
Objectives
- Foster understanding of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
- Build strong parish partnerships that enhance local capacity to meet community needs through concrete actions rooted in Catholic Social Teaching.
Intended strategic result: Service and community impact grounded in Catholic Social Teaching principles.
Insights & Encounters, our podcast and monthly newsletter, provide spaces for conversation and reflection on faith, education, the human experience and the people and partnerships behind our work.
Learn more about the principles behind this goal through our Catholic Social Teaching page.
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Catholic leaders in conversation
A panel or roundtable at a CCAT event or Synergy Toronto: speakers at a table, an audience listening. Avoid the Synergy promo banner (its dates will expire).
Goal 2
Foster and elevate Catholic thought leadership
Objective
Enhance CCAT’s Catholic Identity presence and position it as a trusted voice for the Catholic network of service organizations.
Intended strategic result: CCAT recognized as a trusted Catholic voice influencing policy and advocacy aligned with Catholic values.
The plan highlights Synergy Toronto 2026, a conference bringing together Catholic social services, Catholic health and Catholic education to explore collaboration on poverty, food insecurity, housing instability and mental health. The conference is scheduled for November 3-5, 2026, at the Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto.
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Community Grants 2026 artwork
“Hope Thrives Here” Community Funding Opportunities artwork. Square crop.
Goal 3
Assess and redefine membership to align with CCAT’s mission and values
Objectives
- Align grant-making with Catholic Social Teaching principles.
- Develop and implement a mission- and value-driven tiered CCAT membership model that fosters a strong Catholic Identity.
Intended strategic result: Mission- and value-driven membership that advances human dignity, prioritizes the needs of the poor, and advocates for subsidiarity, solidarity and the common good.
The plan also highlights Community Grants 2026: Building Brighter Futures Together.
Seven priority areas of community need
- Food security
- Housing & homelessness
- Mental health & wellbeing
- Migrants & refugees
- Palliative care
- People with disabilities
- Seniors
Learn more about our current membership guidelines through our Catholic Identity & Policy page.
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