Social Justice Empowerment Handbook

Congregational social activists need financial resources to carry out their programs. Money is needed for printing, publicity, supplies, phone calls, staff people, and so on. Some congregations give sizable contributions to social change groups.

Below are suggestions for how social activists can obtain funding from the congregation's budget, from special fund raising projects, from the Unitarian Universalist Fund for Social Responsibility and other sources.
 

1. Money for social justice in the congregation's budget

   
   

   Try to get your congregation to budget a portion of its budget to support social justice programs. This is one way that the congregation can do something specific to support the values of liberal religion and the Principles and Purposes or our movement. And it also ensures that you have the money you need to run your program.

   Two percent of the congregation's overall budget is a reasonable amount to allocate for social justice programming. This should be seen as a minimum amount since there are congregations that budget a higher percentage than this. So if your congregation has a $100,000 budget, the Board should allocate $2,000 for social justice programs. If the congregation has a $200,000 budget, social justice should get $4,000.

   If you are not presently being budgeted a fair share, work out a strategy for increasing the budgeted amount. Do not simply go and ask the board for more money. Instead, determine the amount of monies needed to do specific projects. Then explain to the board why money is needed for these projects. If the board can't allocate two per cent, work out a strategy so that you can evolve to that amount over a two or three year period.

   You have a better chance of getting money for social justice programs when social justice activists support the congregation with generous pledges and take active roles in the annual fundraising canvass.
      

2. Special fund-raising
   
   A number of our congregations have been very successful in raising money for social justice projects. There are many ways to raise money.

   In 1991-92, All Souls Church in New York raised $170,000 through special fund-raising programs to support its social justice programs. The congregation had a special travel auction at which they raised $105,000, a fair that brought in $25,000, and a fundraiser for an AIDS project, which netted $40,000.

   The social justice committee in the Morristown, NJ church held a service auction hoping to raise $8.000 to support their projects. Imagine the "problem" they had when they raised $14,000. They ended up giving the board of their congregation $6,000.

   The fellowship of the Palisades in Englewood, NJ, with some neighboring UU congregations, raised $10,000 in a concert to help homeless people. They invited the Jubilee Choir from All Souls Church in Washington, DC to sing at the concert.

   In 1990, the River Road Church in Bethesda, MD raised $18,000 for social justice programs through their annual every member canvass. Each year they write the names of three social justice projects on the pledge card. When the canvassers visit in the homes they have some information about these projects. People then write on their card the amount that they will pledge to the church and the community groups they want to support.

   The Unitarian Society of Germantown in Philadelphia raises over $10,000 a year through special collections, which are taken once a month at the Sunday service. The church board does a survey of the congregation to determine the projects that can be funded. Projects include: United Nations Sunday, Guest at Your Table (UNICEF), Sanctuary Sunday, Whitney Young Sunday, and so on. Either the whole service is focused on the project, as is the case with Sanctuary Sunday, or a brief period of time in the service is used.

   The Monterey Peninsula Unitarian Church in Carmel, CA encourages its members to "fast for friends." Once a month a community group makes a brief presentation at a Sunday Service. A special collection is taken after the presentation. People contribute with the idea of fasting during the month to provide the money.

   The Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, FL designates a charity a month, for which it takes a special collection.

   The Fund Raising Institute offers two resource books for people interested in doing special fund raising events. Contact the Fund Raising Institute, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway (Suite 450), Rockville MD, 20852; (800) 877-8238. These two books are:

   Black Tie Optional: The Ultimate Guide to Planning and Producing Successful Special Events, Harry Freedman and Karen Smith.

   The Fund Raising Formula: 50 Creative Events, Katie Kraatz and Julie Haynes.
    
    

3. The Unitarian Universalist Grants Panels

There are three different granting programs available through the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program. Contact the UUFP for deadlines: uufp@aol.com or 617-247-6600.

Unitarian Universalist Fund for Social Responsibility

The fund for Social Responsibility makes grants to projects that increase UU involvement in issues of social responsibility. Grants are made in support of social justice educational work, direct service projects, projects that enable UUs to witness about social issues, and projects organizing to change systems of oppression and injustice. Projects that seek to implement current of recent General Resolutions/Statements of Conscience will be welcomed. The maximum grant will be $20,000; however, the typical grant will be smaller.

Members of congregations who are trying to get funding for projects sponsored by their church should apply to this fund.

Fund for a Just Society (formerly the Social Concerns Grants Panel)

The Fund for a Just Society makes grants to organizations addressing issues of social and economic injustice. Grants are given in support of specific projects focusing on "systematic" social change projects that challenge social, racial, political, and economic injustices, and those that seek to transform the structures that create and maintain these injustices. Grants can be made up to $20,000 and the average grant is $6-9,000.

UU social activists who are working with local community groups should apply to this funding source.

Fund for Unitarian Universalism (formerly the Denominational Grants Panel)

The Fund for Unitarian Universalism supports projects that strengthen UU institutions, extend UU visibility and presence, enrich its community and worship life, or preserve and celebrate its religious heritage. Preference is given to the development of innovative, challenging or experimental programs whose application or replication will have wide denominational impact. The maximum possible grant is $20,000, and the average grant is $10,000.
 

Each panel has $200,000 to dispense. Application forms and guidelines are available from the Funding Program office. Organizations and projects that are considering applying are strongly encouraged to talk with the Grants Administrator prior to filling out the application.

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