First Unitarian Grants Panel

Unitarian Universalists value:

The inherent worth and dignity of each person;

Justice, equality, and compassion in human relations;

The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

In addition, we declare and affirm our deep commitment to include all people and our special responsibility to encourage the full participation of all in our activities, honoring diversity of race, national origin, disability, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, age and socioeconomic status.

Each year the First Unitarian Church awards grants from each of two funds:

Social Justice Outreach Grants
The Paul Wenger Fund for Peace through International Understanding

Who Is Eligible To Apply?

General criteria for applicants to any of these funds include the following:

Groups receiving funds must be local (Greater Rochester area), nonpartisan, and not-for-profit.
Proposals from individuals will not be considered.
Each proposal must be sponsored by a member of the First Unitarian Church who is knowledgeable about the organization and the requested program/project. A church member may sponsor only one proposal. One copy of the sponsor form should accompany the application.
Proposals must be for activities that are specific, measurable, and achievable.
The proposed use of funds must be congruent with the Unitarian Universalist values reflected above.
Preference may be given to requests for one-time expenditures that advance the goals of the organization or help it launch a new initiative. However, because we are well aware of the funding difficulties currently faced by all organizations, we will consider funding operational or staff costs as well. Repeat requests for operational costs are discouraged.

What Are The Two Funds and Their Criteria?

Social Justice Outreach
proposals must focus on social service, social education, social witness or social action. Examples of activities funded in the past include expansion of youth programming, purchase or repair of equipment, advocacy services, and conference costs.

The Paul Wenger Fund for Peace through International Understanding
requires that the activity or project promoting peace through international understanding include a program that occurs locally.

What Is The Application and Award Process?

Applications are due to Kathy Dobson (kmdobson@mac.com) via email by 4:00 PM on April 13, 2011. No extension of time for submission will be given. Applications must include the following:
- The completed Application Form in electronic format (PDF, Word, scanned document, etc.).
- One copy of your organization's audited statement (or your next best alternative) for the last fiscal year. Please provide an electronic or scanned copy. If this is not possible, submit a hard copy to the Grants Panel mailbox at the First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South, Rochester NY and notify Kathy Dobson in your email.
- One completed electronic copy of the Church Sponsor Form.
- Include electronic copies of any additional literature you wish to submit.
Each application is screened to ensure that it is complete and meets the criteria listed above.
Applications are then reviewed by a Grants Panel. This review process includes a ten-minute presentation by a representative of each applicant organization and an opportunity for the panel to ask questions. Each applicant will be contacted to schedule a presentation appointment for the evening of Tuesday, April 26; Wednesday, April 27; or Thursday, April 28. Church sponsors are encouraged to attend the presentation or make arrangements for another church member to attend in their place. Applicants are expected to address how their application meets the specific criteria of the fund applied for.
The Panel will present its recommendations to the Social Responsibility Council, to the Board of Trustees, and to the congregation for a vote at its June meeting.
Letters informing applicants of funding decisions will be sent by mid-June.

What Are the Responsibilities Of Grant Recipients?

If for any reason a recipient is unable to use the funding in the way specified in the application, we ask that you notify Kathy Dobson at 586-2535 or kmdobson@mac.com.
A report evaluating the project and describing how the money was spent must be sent to the Grants Panel by December 1st of the funding year.
If this funding source is acknowledged in any way, it should be identified as:
- "A Social Justice Outreach Grant of the First Unitarian Church" or
- "A grant from the First Unitarian Church's Paul Wenger Fund for Peace through International Understanding."

February 2 2011