The mission of the Fund for International Unitarian/Universalism is to make grants that support the growth of a multicultural, multinational U/U community.
Grants are made to U/U organizations. Priority is given to programs that create new models of gathering, of worship, and that are intended to have regional or global replicability; programs and activities that foster and nurture global connections, bring together people from throughout the U/U world to establish institutional and personal connections; experimental, seed programs to help U/Us connect, learn from one another, and grow; trainings that develop U/U leadership; projects that build local strength and credibility and are designed to be shared or replicated with other U/U groups; and projects that address needs currently unmet with innovative, experimental, impactful programs designed to grow Unitarian/Universalism and be shared or replicated with other U/U groups.
The Fund for International U/Uism receives 8-16 applications and makes 8-16 grants/year totaling $90,000. They have one funding cycle each Spring on Zoom.
Meetings: The funding cycle has 1-2 Zoom meetings, each lasting up to 2 hours.
Panel members should have an understanding of international Unitarian/Universalist organizations, history, theology, and practice. Experience with program development, budgets, and developing U/U networks is desirable.
Unitarian Universalist Funding Panels Mission Statement
Inspired by the richness and diversity of the liberal religious tradition which guides us, the mission of the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program is to promote the influence of Unitarian Universalist principles through grantmaking. Grants are made which support the work of social justice, strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions, make Unitarian Universalism more visible in the world, and transform gratitude for being into generosity of living.
More Details about the 4 Unitarian Universalist Funding Panels
Panels meet during one or two grant cycles/year to review applications and make grants (usually November/December and May/June – variable given people’s schedules). Each of the four Funds has its own mission, guidelines, and process.
Panel members read all the proposals to their Fund, and write their evaluations, scores, comments and questions on the application platform (Foundant). Each Panel member is assigned applications – for these, they contact the applicant, ask questions, get updates on the work, make the process humane. This conversation is part of the presentation/discussion at the Panel meeting.
Panel members are not expected to advocate for the proposals they are assigned to, but rather to present more information and updates. Panel members may belong to an organization seeking funding, but must recuse themselves from the grant decision. Each application is discussed with the entire Panel and funding decisions are made by consensus. While we used to meet in person in Boston over one to three days, we now meet on Zoom in two to four meetings lasting up to two hours each.
Each Panel is comprised of ministers and lay leaders and we always aim to reflect the full diversity of the Association, especially in regard to historically marginalized communities.
Skills Required
- Understanding of international Unitarian/Universalist organizations, history, theology, and practice
- Experience reviewing grant proposals and writing evaluations, scores, comments on an application platform
- Ability to use the Foundant application platform to read and submit evaluations
- Availability to attend 1-2 Zoom meetings during the funding cycle (each up to two hours) and participate in panel discussions
- Ability to contact applicants, ask questions, obtain updates, and present those updates to the panel
- Willingness to recuse oneself from decisions where there is a conflict of interest (belonging to an applicant organization)
- Experience with program development, budgeting, and building networks within Unitarian/Universalist communities
- Commitment to consensus decision-making and to reflecting diversity of the Association
