Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Knights of Columbus – Quebec State Council

The Knights of Columbus – Quebec State Council is the provincial leadership body of the international Knights of Columbus order in Quebec. As a Catholic, non-profit, fraternal charity, it oversees hundreds of local councils grouped into 17 regions across the province and coordinates their collective efforts in service, fundraising and charitable outreach.

The Quebec State Council organizes and frames major provincial fundraising initiatives, most notably the annual Campagne des Œuvres Charitables, described as a long‑running lottery-style campaign now in its 40+ editions. Through the sale of tickets and other fundraising drives, significant sums are collected and then redistributed to charitable organizations and projects that support vulnerable populations in Quebec.

The site highlights that funds raised over the years have allowed the Knights to support organizations such as Parkinson Québec, the Société pulmonaire du Québec, the Fédération québécoise de l’autisme, the Alliance des maisons d’hébergement de 2e étape pour femmes et enfants victimes de violence conjugale (Alliance MH2), the Association québécoise de prévention du suicide and other community-based groups. This demonstrates a clear role as a discretionary funder, channeling donations towards health, social services, mental health, violence prevention and other community priorities.

Beyond specific partner organizations, the mission emphasizes aid to “the most destitute” and to citizens considered most vulnerable. The thematic materials describe a broad concern for seniors, youth, children, and people living with disabilities, as well as families affected by illness, poverty or crisis. Local councils in each of the 17 regions also run their own charitable activities, which are aligned with provincial themes and contribute to the overall pool of assistance.

While the Knights of Columbus in Quebec do not present themselves as a formal government-style grant program, their funding is structured around recurring campaigns, annual themes and provincial partnerships. The State Deputy introduces a yearly theme that guides charitable priorities, and special committees, including a women’s committee, lead targeted fundraising efforts. These campaigns culminate in direct financial contributions to selected organizations and causes, rather than open calls for proposals.

The movement traces its origins to the 1882 founding of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven by Father Michael J. McGivney, with early ties to Quebec through his studies at the Séminaire de Saint-Hyacinthe and in Montréal. The first Canadian council was created in Montréal in 1897, and Quebec has since grown to hundreds of active councils and tens of thousands of members. The Quebec State Council provides governance, training, documentation and recognition programs to these councils, ensuring that fundraising and financial assistance are managed within a coherent provincial framework.

Overall, the Knights of Columbus – Quebec State Council occupies a distinctive place in Quebec’s philanthropic landscape as a faith-based, member-driven organization that repeatedly mobilizes volunteers and donors to generate funds and redistribute them to a wide range of community organizations and vulnerable beneficiaries.