About Knights of Columbus
Since 1882, the Knights of Columbus has empowered Catholic men to put their faith into action — building stronger families, stronger parishes and stronger communities.
Focus Areas
Faith formationFamily supportCommunity serviceLife / pro-life programsDisaster relief and humanitarian aidScholarships and educationDonor-advised fundsVolunteer mobilizationYouth protection
Who They Fund
Catholic parishes, shrines, and faith communitiesyoung adult Catholic womenseminarians, clergy, and bishops/formation leaders
About Knights of Columbus
A defining feature of Knights of Columbus grantmaking is the repeated seven- and eight-figure support for the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in New Haven, with grants of $10,804,760 in 2025, $10,228,943 in 2024, and $9,603,514 in 2023. That pattern sits alongside other major operating and program grants to Catholic institutions and charities, showing a funder that combines institution-level support with targeted charitable initiatives. Knights of Columbus also backs Catholic infrastructure beyond the shrine itself. In the recent grant list, The Knights of Columbus Museum Inc received multimillion-dollar support for program services, building maintenance, and museum operations across 2023 to 2025, while the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops received grants for programs in both 2023 and 2024. The foundation’s work is closely tied to Catholic ministry, faith formation, family support, life programs, scholarships, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid. The organization’s grantmaking includes both large institutional awards and smaller programmatic gifts, with a national footprint and a strong concentration in Connecticut recipients.
What Knights of Columbus Funds
Catholic institutions appear throughout the recent grants. Knights of Columbus gave $1,544,348 in 2024 and $1,012,187 in 2023 to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for programs, indicating support for national Catholic leadership and programming. Life and pro-life work is another clear area. Protect Women Ohio received $1,000,000 in 2024 for pro life programs, and March for Life Education and Defense Fund received $845,000 in 2024, $825,000 in 2025, and $775,000 in 2023 for the annual March for Life. The foundation also funds religious heritage and public-facing Catholic communications. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception received $448,031 in 2025 to support TV broadcasts, and Religious Freedom Institute received $410,000 in 2023 and $400,000 in 2024 for operations.
How Knights of Columbus Gives
Typical grant size sits at $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also shows a much larger set of institutional awards at the top end, including multiple seven-figure grants. Recipients recur across years: several organizations appear in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to ongoing support rather than one-off gifts. Knights of Columbus is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not make program-related investments. Some active programs accept unsolicited applications, including scholarship-related programs and the Bishop Charles P. Greco Graduate Fellowships, while several charitable initiatives are administered through designated programs rather than open applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$28M
Total Assets
$31.2B
Total Revenue
$2.8B
Total Expenses
$2.5B
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $25K and $200K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$200K
Geographic Reach
National30 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JOHN A MARRELLA
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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