Fund for UU Social Responsibility
Guidelines
Grants are made to Unitarian Universalist (UU) organizations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that:
Statewide Action Networks (SANs): Statewide Action Networks should apply directly to the Fund for Social Responsibility.
The Fund for UU Social Responsibility has three special, targeted grants, in addition to that described on this page. Clink on their name to learn more:
Funding Priorities
Priority is given to new programs and those at a point of significant growth. Priority is given to work creating social and economic justice. We prefer projects with income from diverse sources and expect contributions from the members of the applicant organization. See Sample Grants.
Restrictions
Grants are not made to individuals. Generally, grants are not given for equipment, capital campaigns, or endowments. Grants are not made for activities that are part of the ongoing work of UU institutions. Grants may not be used as a pass-through from a UU congregation to a local non-profit organization, but may go towards enhancing UU involvement in a project.
Grant Size & Type of Funding
The maximum grant is $20,000. The average grant is 8,800. Challenge or “matching” grants are commonly granted to encourage UU generosity, and to increase UU support for social action. Grants are for one year. Second-year funding is possible after submitting a new proposal and a final (or interim) report. Third-year funding for the same project is unusual. We are not sustaining funders. See the complete application process.
How to Apply
Grant applications are made in our application platform, the UUFP Funding Center.
The Fund for UU Social Responsibility has 2 grant cycles, one in the spring and one in the fall.
Applications are loaded to the platform no later than early March for the Spring cycle, and early September for the Fall cycle. It simply depends on the time required to update the application for the cycle. The deadline for the Spring cycle is March 31st, and the Fall's is September 30th.
Questions for Narrative
The following questions are in the application narrative. You will probably find it easiest to do the work in the UUFP Funding Center, as you can save your work and return later as often as you like until the deadline or you hit the "submit" button. Or, you can begin a draft of your application in a word processor if you prefer, and then copy and paste your answers into the platform. The drawback to using a word processor is it won't keep you within our character limits.
Grants are made to Unitarian Universalist (UU) organizations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that:
- increase the direct involvement of UUs in service, advocacy and/or community organizing to create justice in the larger community;
- link Unitarian Universalists with the larger community; and
- foster a generosity of spirit and action in all aspects of our UU communities.
UU Congregations: When evaluating applications, the UU Funding Program takes into consideration the congregation's commitment to meet the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Annual Program Fund Honor Congregation contribution.
Statewide Action Networks (SANs): Statewide Action Networks should apply directly to the Fund for Social Responsibility.
The Fund for UU Social Responsibility has three special, targeted grants, in addition to that described on this page. Clink on their name to learn more:
- Congregation Based Community Organizing
- Actions of Public Witness
- Get Out The Vote - Available again in 2022
Funding Priorities
Priority is given to new programs and those at a point of significant growth. Priority is given to work creating social and economic justice. We prefer projects with income from diverse sources and expect contributions from the members of the applicant organization. See Sample Grants.
Restrictions
Grants are not made to individuals. Generally, grants are not given for equipment, capital campaigns, or endowments. Grants are not made for activities that are part of the ongoing work of UU institutions. Grants may not be used as a pass-through from a UU congregation to a local non-profit organization, but may go towards enhancing UU involvement in a project.
Grant Size & Type of Funding
The maximum grant is $20,000. The average grant is 8,800. Challenge or “matching” grants are commonly granted to encourage UU generosity, and to increase UU support for social action. Grants are for one year. Second-year funding is possible after submitting a new proposal and a final (or interim) report. Third-year funding for the same project is unusual. We are not sustaining funders. See the complete application process.
How to Apply
Grant applications are made in our application platform, the UUFP Funding Center.
The Fund for UU Social Responsibility has 2 grant cycles, one in the spring and one in the fall.
Applications are loaded to the platform no later than early March for the Spring cycle, and early September for the Fall cycle. It simply depends on the time required to update the application for the cycle. The deadline for the Spring cycle is March 31st, and the Fall's is September 30th.
Questions for Narrative
The following questions are in the application narrative. You will probably find it easiest to do the work in the UUFP Funding Center, as you can save your work and return later as often as you like until the deadline or you hit the "submit" button. Or, you can begin a draft of your application in a word processor if you prefer, and then copy and paste your answers into the platform. The drawback to using a word processor is it won't keep you within our character limits.
- Please give a fifty word summary of the project.
- Describe your group and its recent history.
- Describe your project more fully. Describe the issue(s) your project addresses. Be specific about goals, activities, and timelines.
- Who will carry out the project’s plan? What are their relevant skills and experiences? If your program involves children or young adults, include resumes of the adults in charge and detail the quality of the adult supervision provided.
- Who do you define as your community and how do you reach them? How has your UU congregation, district, or denomination been involved in the creation of your project? How are you working to increase the involvement of UU individuals and institutions in the issues your project addresses
- How representative are your volunteers and staff of the communities you work with?
- List the individuals, committees or organizations that have contributed significantly to this project through money or other support. What UUA resources have been consulted? If applicable, list funding sources and dollar amounts for your organization/project for the last two years.
- Please describe your specific plans for raising income in addition to the proposed UUFP grant. How do you plan to sustain the project?
- Describe your plan for evaluation. Give the criteria/measures/tools you will use to evaluate the success of the project. What outcomes are you working to create? How will you know you have succeeded? See a Sample Evaluation Plan.
- Describe the organization’s or group’s social responsibility philosophy.