About Center for Action and Contemplation
Introduce Christian contemplative wisdom and practices that support transformation and inspire loving action.
Focus Areas
Christian contemplative spiritualityspiritual formation and educationonline courses and programsretreats and eventspublications and podcasts
Who They Fund
congregations and church leaders / membersdiverse faith and interfaith constituenciesmale-identified individuals seeking spiritual developmentworking poor / intentional communities inspired by Catholic WorkerCAC audience members and partner organizations
Funding Style
About Center for Action and Contemplation
The Center for Action and Contemplation repeatedly backs work that joins contemplative formation with social action. Its largest recent grant in the data, $200,000 to Ayni Institute in 2025, supported program expenses, while earlier grants of $180,000 in 2024 and $175,000 in 2023 helped Ayni develop a new small-group model combining deep contemplative formation and social action. That pattern matches the foundation’s own stated aim to introduce Christian contemplative wisdom and practices that support transformation and inspire loving action. The portfolio also shows sustained support for organizations translating contemplation into community practice. The Center for the Working Poor received $100,000 in 2025, following $90,000 in 2024 and $87,500 in 2023. The Surge Network received $100,000 in 2025 after $90,000 and $87,500 in prior years, indicating multi-year relationships with grantees working on spiritual formation, leadership, and social engagement. Other recurring partners include Illuman, Wisdom and Money, and Solidaire Network. Across the grant list, the foundation favors program support and model-building rather than isolated, one-time awards.
What Center for Action and Contemplation Funds
A major theme is contemplative formation tied to social action. Ayni Institute received $180,000 in 2024 and $175,000 in 2023 to develop a new small-group model that combines deep contemplative formation and social action. Another area is church leadership activation. The Surge Network received $100,000 in 2025 and $90,000 in 2024 to equip leaders to engage every member of their church as an active participant in God’s mission. The foundation also supports engaged monastic and Catholic Worker-inspired communities. The Center for the Working Poor received $90,000 in 2024 for an interfaith intentional community committed to strategic non-violent social change, and Trinity House Catholic Worker received $26,656 in 2024 for a house of hospitality for homeless folk. Men’s spiritual development appears as well: Illuman received $50,000 in 2025 for program expenses after earlier grants for its work through MROP, council circles, national gatherings, and local chapters.
How Center for Action and Contemplation Gives
Grant sizes cluster in the mid-range, with a typical award of $7,500 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $31,454 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also shows larger multi-year awards, including $200,000, $180,000, and $175,000 for a repeated partner. Several grantees appear across multiple years, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than one-off support. The foundation is not a grantmaker to individuals and does not make program-related investments. The recent grants mostly read as program support, with some capacity-building and model-development funding embedded in the purposes.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1M
Total Assets
$17.8M
Total Revenue
$16.8M
Total Expenses
$17.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $31K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$31K
Geographic Reach
National15 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
MICHAEL POFFENBERGER
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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