Disaster Relief Fund Activity

Our Disaster Relief Fund is part of a covenant—a covenant between the UUA and congregations, between congregations who give generously and those in need, individual UUs who are committed to our interdependent web, and with our community partners. Through aiding our congregations and affiliated organizations, their members, and their community partners, we are able to embody our faith and values.

2024-25 Disaster Relief Fund Activity

As of February 28, 2025, more than $350,000 has been given in 24 grants to Unitarian Universalist Congregations. Grants included:

  • Mini-grants of $3,000 to eleven congregations affected by Hurricanes Helene, Debbie, and Milton to assist them with getting started with clean up and support while waiting for insurance assessments. This is the first time these mini-grants have been used to get much needed aid to affected areas more quickly.
  • UU Church of St. Petersburg (FL), UU Church of Augusta (GA), UU Congregation of Asheville (NC) and UU Congregation of Swannanoa Valley (Black Mountain, NC), have received grants to help with clean up efforts, building repairs and support of congregants, staff and the community following Hurricane Helene.
  • Two congregations in the Los Angeles area have received grants to aid in recovery after the California wildfires.

2023-24 Disaster Relief Fund Activity

During 2023-24, $158,312 was given out to 10 congregations. Once again, grants were awarded for recovery from hurricanes, flooding, winter storms, volcano, and tornado damage. Grants included:

  • Unitarian Church of Montpelier (VT) received a grant following unprecedented flooding in Vermont. Their congregation, and much of the downtown area, were partially submerged by the floods.
  • Atmospheric rivers of rain hit California, and grants were made to Throop Memorial Church and First Unitarian LA to help them recover.
  • UU Church of the Philippines received a grant to help for recovery after volcanic activity made the air toxic. They used funds to obtain masks and other breathing aids.

2022-23 Disaster Relief Fund Activity

In 2022-23, $271,850 was given out to 14 congregations to help in recovery from hurricanes, flooding, winter storms, and tornadoes. Grants included:

  • UU Church of Birmingham (AL) was awarded $50,000 to aid with their partners in Selma. Selma was devastated by severe tornadoes.
  • Hurricane Ian hit the southeast, and grants were given to many congregations there. One congregation let us know that they had canceled their flood insurance when the premium for that coverage alone hit $50,000 a year a few years before.
  • Atmospheric rivers hit California again, and grants were given to UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula and UU Church of Berkeley.

2021-22 Disaster Relief Fund Activity

In 2021-22, it was a “quiet” year for natural disasters impacting our congregations. The total disbursed was $50,030, and was given to three congregations. Grants in 2021-22 included:

  • UU Church of the Philippines received funding to help repair UU churches in parts of the Negros Island and to assist many members of multiple UU churches in their recovery efforts following Typhoon Rai/Typhoon Odette.
  • UU Church of Bowling Green (KY) received funding to clear tree damage on their property and to help member families who were temporarily or permanently displaced following tornadoes.
  • UU Church of Fort Myers (FL) received funding in the wake of Hurricane Ian — other congregations received grants in the following fiscal year (2022-23).

Read about the program’s history or what our recipients have to say about the program.