New Communities Partnership Program

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Are you — or is someone you know — nurturing a new spiritual community that’s already showing signs of life, traction, and transformative potential?

We’re excited to announce the opening of the nomination and selection process for the New Communities Partnership Program, a pilot initiative designed to support spiritual innovators who are building bold, spiritually grounded communities rooted in Unitarian Universalist values and committed to collective liberation. This initiative is supported by the Fund for New Unitarian Universalist Communities (PDF, 2 pages).

This is more than a grant. It’s an invitation into a cohort of changemakers who are growing powerful, people-centered communities — and who are ready to take the next steps toward sustainability and movement-building.

Who We’re Looking For

We seek spiritual innovators who have:

  • Successfully prototyped a new spiritual community that’s attracting and retaining people
  • Leadership rooted in UU values, particularly those from communities often underrepresented in UU spaces
  • A commitment to shared leadership, mutual accountability, and spiritual transformation
  • A vision for long-term sustainability and impact within and beyond their community and
  • Fiscal sponsorship and/or affiliation with an established UU community

What the Partnership Offers

  • One-year grant to support key sustainability investments
  • Opportunity to apply for an additional UUFP grant (deadlines September 30 and March 31)
  • Strategic and spiritual support tailored to your community’s stage of growth and
  • Participation in a partner cohort of peers learning, leading, and growing together

Next Steps

  • Complete a short Expression of Interest form by end of day August 20, 2025.
  • Or nominate someone else whose work reflects these commitments by end of day August 20, 2025.
  • Selected innovators will be invited to submit a full application.

Questions? Contact Rev. Alicia R. Forde, aforde@uua.org

Why It Matters

At a time when many are searching for spiritual depth, connection, and beloved community, these new communities are already pointing the way forward. The New Communities Partnership Program is here to accompany those who are turning vision into community — and community into movement.

Help us find and lift up the leaders who are already shaping what’s next.