Grant & Loan Resources

Here are some grants you can check into for your congregation or yourself. If you know of others, please let us know so we can add them to the list.

GRANTS & LOANS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONS*

An asterisk (*) before the grant name means congregations must contribute their full requested amount (“Fair Share”) to the Annual Program Fund in order to be eligible.   Send any comments or questions to apf at uua.org .

Whitney M. Young, Jr. Urban Ministry Fund Grants - Whitney M. Young, Jr. Urban Ministry Fund Grants increase access to building leadership, strengthening capacity, and applying anti-oppression knowledge through the JUUST Change Anti-Oppression Consultancy.  This important, transformational work promotes vibrant, empowered, pluralistic communities throughout the United States. Congregational Justice-Making (Contact Diane Martin at 617/948-6461 or dmartin at uua.org or see http://www.uua.org/news/congpacket/mar2005/juust.pdf.)

Funding for Training and Membership Dues in Congregation-Based Community Organizing. The Fund for UU Social Responsibility will offer matching grants for congregations wishing to join a congregation-based community organization (CBCO). This "Special Matching Fund for Congregation-Based Community Organizing Grants" will provide a resource for UU congregations and their leaders to draw upon in initiating CBCO work. As a matching fund, congregations will be expected to make their own financial commitment as a condition of receiving a grant. The Fund is also offering matching grants for
congregational leaders to attend CBCO training. The UU Funding Program is proud to add this $80,000 initiative to their grant making program. There will be an application process of two cycles a year for matching membership grants - in March and September - and for smaller matching grants for training at any time. Please see go to www.uua.org/giving/fundingprogram for more information. You can also write to uufp at aol.com for an application and guidelines to be e-mailed to you. For more information about CBCO, how to find a CBCO near your congregation, and for information on CBCO Network trainings see www.uua.org/socialjustice, select resources and click on Congregation-Based Community Organizing (or go to www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/congregation- basedcommunity/index.shtml).

*First Home Grant Program -The primary purpose of the UUA First Home Grant Program is to facilitate the continued growth of member congregations seeking to purchase their first piece of land and/or to build their first spiritual home.  The UUA First Home Grant Program is not designed for congregations that already own a building.  Congregations are required to contribute their Annual Program Fund Fair Share in order to be eligible. Congregational Stewardship Services (Contact Wayne Clark 207/829-4550 or wclark at uua.org or http://www.uua.org/cde/fundraising/firsthome.html.)

Small Project Loan Pilot Project. The purpose of the three-year small project loan pilot program is to promote congregational growth by financing relatively inexpensive projects that can improve congregational life and  well-being. Smaller, shorter term loans can create positive changes in congregations by providing a new tool to tackle issues that may seem beyond their current financial means. The small project loan pilot program focuses on three broad categories of projects: mission-oriented, environmentally friendly, and critical/emergency in nature. Projects may include, but are not limited to: Elevators, stair lifts and accessibility ramps; High quality sound systems; Kitchen upgrades; Exterior signage; Driveway/parking lot paving and/or lighting; Interior wall construction and/or demolition of walls; Electrical wiring, plumbing, and fire protection upgrades; Floor coverings/carpeting installations and mildew removal; Safe playground equipment; Energy efficient windows, doors, furnaces, low flow toilets; Brick tuck-pointing; Emergency roof repairs. For more information, download a flyer as a word document or a pdf file.

*Building Loan Program - The Building Loan Program provides affordable financing for three types of project: building or buying a first spiritual home, repairing or renovating existing facilities where substantial construction is not required, expanding current facilities where substantial construction is required, especially to make facilities more accessible. To learn more about this program visit: http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/buildingloans/27516.shtml

*Loan Guarantee Program
The Loan Guarantee Program offers to guarantee a loan made by a local lender in cases where the lender requires this support before agreeing to loan money to a congregation. The primary purpose of the Unitarian Universalist (UUA) Loan Guarantee Program is to facilitate the continued growth, in the broadest sense of the term, of member societies. The program is designed to encourage congregations engaged in acquiring ownership of a piece of land and/or building. The program will also encourage congregations to expand or renovate their existing facilities. And finally, the program will assist congregations in making their facilities more accessible to persons with physical disabilities. For details, visit: http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/buildingloans/27523.shtml

Site Acquisition Loan Program - The Site Acquisition Loan Program assists growing, financially healthy congregations that are without significant financial equity to acquire their first piece of land. The UUA, in consultation with and acting as an agent of a qualified congregation, will purchase a site in a location where demographics indicate a high potential for the growth of Unitarian Universalism. Note: this program is a loan and not a grant or gift. To learn more visit: http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/buildingloans/index.shtml

*Green Construction Award Pilot Program - The Green Construction Award Pilot Program provides financial awards to congregations that built green and have received LEED certification. This pilot program is in effect until as many as six congregations have earned an award. The program will be re-evaluated in 2010. To learn more visit: http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/greenconstruction/index.shtml

These grants all relate to Campus Ministry. For details contact Young Adult/Campus Ministry Office at 617/948-4273 or Nancy DiGiovanni, Acting Co-Director, ndigiovanni at uua.org or Erik Kesting, Acting Co-Director, ekesting at uua.org .  Information also available at the YACM website at http://www.uua.org/ya-cm/resources/resourcesgrants.html.)

• *Campus Congregation Connection Grant - This grant, plus the congregation’s contribution, provides a stipend for a Campus Coordinator (student or lay leader) and a program budget for a campus group.  Three priority application deadlines per year.  $3,750 over three years.
• *Professional Staff for Congregations and Districts - Intended for congregations to hire a young adult and/or campus ministry professional staff person.  Funding is extremely limited for these grants.  Funding is on an annual cycle beginning in August.  An Intent to Apply form is due by the prior November 1, with the completed application due May 1.  Up to $50,000.
• *Billings Fund Grants - Funds for a guest speaker or public event on college/university campuses and in cities.  Events must clearly tie to Unitarian Universalism.  Three priority application deadlines per year.  Up to $2000.
• *Young Adult/Campus Ministry Project Grants - Small grants for activities, conferences, outreach, worship, group start-up and other programs.  Three priority deadlines per year.  Up to $500.
• *Special Projects Grant - Special grants for new and innovative programs for young adults and college students.  Funding is extremely limited for these grants.  Three priority application deadlines per year.  Amount varies.

Office of Church Staff Finances administers grants available to ministers, seminarians, or surviving ministry families.  (Contact Joyce Stewart at 617/948-6421 or jstewart at uua.org.) For the application process for the Debt Reduction Grant Program for UU Ministers, visit online at: http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/56013.shtml

• Living Tradition Fund Grants - These funds are the proceeds from offerings at the General Assembly Services of the Living Tradition and ordinations and installations.  They provide scholarships to ministerial students, debt reduction grants to ministers, and aid to retired ministers.  The entire amount received in the Living Tradition Fund is budgeted for expense each year.
• Cruft Memorial Funds - Income from this 1928 gift is distributed as continuing grants and as emergency aid for women 60 and older.
• Horatio A. Hovey Fund - Income is used for both continuing and one-time annual grants to women.
• Sustentation Fund – Annual grants for ministers.  The fund was created in 1920 “for General Ministerial Aid purposes with specific emphasis on moving and candidating assistance, assistance on medical and health insurance costs, assistance to those whose salary levels create living hardships.”  Used for one-time grants for these purposes.
• General Aid Funds - Annual grants to ministers used primarily for continuing grants for medical insurance subsidies and for some one-time medical costs.
• Aid to Ministers' Widows Fund - Income from several sources used for aid to the survivors of UU ministers.  One-time grants. 
• Aid to Ministers' Wives Fund - Used for one-time grants to ministers’ wives.
• Aid to families of Deceased Ministers Fund- Annual, one-time grants.
• Aid to Retired Ministers and Widows Fund - Funds provided by grants in 1959, 1984 & 1987 to aid retirees and their survivors.  Used for both one- time and continuing grants. 
• Education of Ministers' Children Fund - Used to support annual scholarship grants to undergraduate students who are the children of ministers.  Current grants average $250 per student.
• Susan Fuller Fund (Deserving Unitarian Universalists) - Used for miscellaneous grants.
• Alan B. Doran Fund - These funds, from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset, NY, are used to provide financial support to ministers or spouses.

Financial Aid for Continuing Education - Grants are available through Ministry and Professional Leadership to help ministers in fellowship fund their continuing education efforts.  Continuing education grants are made on the basis of 1/3 of total expense from the UUA (to a maximum of $500 per year).  Visit online at: http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/ministerialdevelopment/continuingeducation/23119.shtml. Office of Ministerial Development (Contact, Ministerial Development Director, Jory Agate at  617-948-6453, 617-742-2875 fax  or ministerialdevelopment @ uua.org)

Office of Ministerial Credentialing (Contact mco@uua.org .)

*Internship Stipend Grants - Matching grants for ministerial internship stipends (for full-time scholarships) made to congregations that seek to become teaching congregations.  Funded by the St. Lawrence Foundation.  Congregations are required to contribute their Annual Program Fund Fair Share in order to be eligible. Office of Ministerial Credentialing. (Contact mco at uua.org)

Religious Education Awards (Contact the Religious Education Credentialing Assistant at recassistant at uua.org  for an application or for more information on any of these awards.)

• The Veridan Fund for Religious Education Excellence Scholarship is awarded to a participant in the UUA Religious Education Credentialing program in order to undertake a significant professional development experience.  This $3000 annual award is given through the generous contributions of the family, friends and colleagues of the late Rev. Norma Veridan to honor Norma’s life and ministry, and through the ongoing support of the UUA.  The VREE Fund was established according to Norma’s wishes to provide scholarships to religious educators who strive to strengthen religious education in our UU congregations by advancing their professional development to a new level of expertise, as outlined in the UUA Religious Education Credentialing program.  Application deadline is May 1st.
  

Each year the Unitarian Universalist Association makes available modest-sized grants and scholarships to religious educators who serve Unitarian Universalist congregations.  The grants and scholarships are primarily intended to help with the expenses of professional development programs for religious educators, such as formal course work, Renaissance modules, and summer and winter religious education institutes.  These grants and scholarships were made possible by the generosity of persons who cared deeply about Unitarian Universalist religious education, and established funds for its welfare. (Contact the Religious Education Credentialing Assistant at recassistant at uua.org  for an application or for more information on any of these awards.)

• The Clara Bancroft Beatley Fund is for preparing women to work in religious education and may be used for persons wishing to participate in the Renaissance program or other such training.
• The Eugene Bowen Fund provides annual $100 grants to twelve historically Universalist congregations for religious education program use, such as purchasing curricula or equipment.
• The Earle Fund from the Universalist General Sunday School Association provides scholarships of up to $100 each for persons wishing to attend summer institutes.
• The Josephine T. Gould Scholarship Fund grants up to $150 annually to further the education of religious educators in Unitarian Universalist congregations or those preparing to become religious educators in these congregations.
• The Barbara Marshman & Ann Fields Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a religious educator serving a Unitarian Universalist congregation who is engaged in graduate study.  This $500 prize is given through the generous contributions of those who wish to memorialize and honor the work of these two great religious educators, and through the ongoing financial support of the UUA.  Application deadline is May 1st.
• Continuing Education Grants: The Director of Religious Education Credentialing has funds available to support the continuing education of lay professional religious educators who are seeking status within the RE Credentialing program of the UUA.  recassistant at uua.org .

Youth Funding for UU Development (Y*FUUD) Grants -  For applications contact the Youth Office at yruu at uua.org or call 617/948-4350.

OTHER SOURCES OF GRANTS

UU FUNDING PROGRAM (More information online at http://www.uua.org/giving/fundingprogram/ or email uufp@aol.com or call 617/971-9600.)  When reviewing applications, the UU Funding Program takes into consideration your commitment to meet the UUA Annual Program Fund Fair Share contribution.

The Unitarian Universalist Funding Program is a denominational grantmaking program of the Unitarian Universalist Association.  With funds generously provided by the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock, the UU Funding Program awards grants to both UU and non-UU projects and organizations.  Grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 are awarded through four Funds with distinct priorities and guidelines:

• Fund for Unitarian Universalism - Makes grants to strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions and community life.
• Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility - Makes grants to projects that increase UU involvement in social responsibility.
• Fund For International Unitarian Universalism - Makes grants to strengthen Unitarian / Universalist organizations or projects working internationally.
• Fund For A Just Society - Makes grants to nonprofit organizations addressing issues of social and economic justice. Grants are given to projects that use community organizing to bring about systemic change.

UU ASSOCIATE, AFFILIATE, AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

Grants are also available from a number of UUA Associate, Affiliate and Related Organizations.  See the UUA Directory for a listing of these organizations or go to http://www.uuar.org/administration/organizations.html. Examples of such grants are:

UU Women’s Federation (Contact uuwf@uua.org or 617/742-2100 Ext. 692.)

• UUWF Grants Program - This program awards grants to UUs working on social justice projects that directly affect women and girls or that address the root causes of gender oppression, as well as projects that honor women's achievements.  See www.uuwf.org for more information.

• Margaret Fuller Awards Program - This program awards funds to UUs working on accessible projects focusing on any of the many strands of UU feminisms.  Accessible means projects that can later be used by groups or congregations to further an understanding or celebrate some aspect of the subject area (e.g., an RE curriculum, workshop design, songbook, dramatics reading play, etc.).

• Lanning Memorial Fund - The UUWF makes one-time and continuing grants to assist the wives, widows and daughters of deceased UU ministers.  The Lanning Fund is a restricted fund, the income from which must be used to benefit the widows and daughters of deceased UU clergy.  Some are one-time awards; at other times continuing awards are given.

Unitarian Sunday School Society (http://www25.uua.org/USSS/)

The Unitarian Sunday School Society invites applications for small grants of financial aid generally not exceeding $3,000 per year. The primary purpose of the USSS is to provide funds for the development, testing, publication and distribution of religious education materials that can be used by churches, fellowships and individuals throughout the UUA. Completed applications are reviewed three (3) times during the year and must be received by one of the following dates to be reviewed at the board's next meeting: November 1, February 1, May 1. Please go to http://www25.uua.org/USSS/ for more information on the application process.