Faith in Action

The Knights of Columbus set a new all-time record last year for charitable donations and service hours with $185.6 million in donations and more than 75.6 million hours of service provided worldwide. The numbers were announced at the annual Organizational Meeting of State Deputies in New Haven held this past June.

The Knights continued to support local communities in 2017 through programs such as Disaster Relief, Christian Refugee Relief, Coats for Kids, Food for Families and blood drives. Knights also gave assistance to Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission and other large-scale charitable organizations.

The monetary value of K of C’s service hours is valued at $1.9 billion based on an estimate by Independent Sector, a network for nonprofit foundations that values a 2017 volunteer hour at $24.69.

The K of C’s 2017 survey of charitable giving also showed that monetary donations increased $8 million from 2016 (+4.5 percent) and service hours grew by 527,550 (+0.7 percent). Year-over-year annual growth in both categories has been consistent over the past two decades.

“Once again, the Knights of Columbus showed the enormous difference we can make in the lives of others by putting our faith in action,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. “The needs of many of our communities were particularly great in 2017, especially in the wake of historic hurricanes in Houston, South Florida, Puerto Rico and much of the Caribbean. The Knights did not hesitate to provide assistance after these humanitarian crises and in Mexico where two cities were badly damaged by earthquakes.”

The Knights of Columbus insurance program – coupled with the hard work and dedication of brother Knights around the globe – helps power the Knights of Columbus’ charitable giving.

Supreme Knight Anderson has said in the "Our Commitment" portion of kofc.org that “The insurance program is a powerful financial engine that supports much of the good works we do. Through the insurance program, we are blessed with the opportunity to give generously and support numerous charitable and spiritual causes, building up society and the Church.”