The Natalie Gulbrandsen Ministerial Scholarship Fund for International Studies

This scholarship fund was established to provide opportunities for ministers and candidates for ministry to engage in meaningful ways in a developing country for academic, interfaith or social justice purposes. The fund has been created to honor the work of Natalie Gulbrandsen who made enormous contributions to the life of the Unitarian Universalist Association and its presence in international, interfaith and cross-cultural relationships.

Ministers and candidates who are interested in broadening their liberal religious knowledge and understandings, and in strengthening their international sympathies, by immersing themselves in or studying in a developing country are encouraged to apply.

Grant Guidelines

  • Grants will be made to individuals who are Unitarian Universalist ministers serving in a congregation or community setting or candidates for ministerial fellowship.
  • Grants will be made to individuals in order that they may have meaningful exposure to developing countries. The goal is that their ministry may be informed by an understanding of the nature and consequences of poverty and of the economic differential between nations and regions of the world.
  • Developing countries shall be defined as those falling in the lower 50% of the nations of the world economically, as determined by the United Nations Human Development Report or other such indices.
  • Grants of at least $1,000 will be made for projects of an academic, interfaith, or social justice nature.

Application Procedure

  1. Complete an application form and send it to the Professional Development Office, UUA, 24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210-1409. Applications must be received by April 15 in order to be considered.
  2. Applications should include a descriptive essay of the international project in which you wish to engage, including the community with which you will be in contact and how you expect this experience to inform your ministry.
  3. Applications must include a detailed budget of all costs as well as other sources of income.
  4. All Fellowshipped ministers must include a letter stating that they are currently in good standing and all candidates must include a letter of recommendation from an academic advisor or a minister in Final Fellowship.
  5. All application requests MUST be complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  6. You will receive notification of award decisions by June 30.

View the application form (PDF).

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact the Credentialing Office or the Professional Development Office.