Chalice Lighter Grants Help Congregations

By Central East Region of the UUA

CERCLLogoweb

Do you know about the Central East Region’s Chalice Lighter Program?

This programs uses the power of individuals to collectively help congregations grow, stretch and live out our values in our world, which so needed today.

The CER Chalice Lighter Grant Program uses the spark of small, regular contributions from individual UUs to ignite the growth of our UU faith, both in numbers and in justice, compassion, and spirituality. These contributions are pooled to make $10,000 to $20,000 grants available to support the growth of UU congregations of all sizes, groups of congregations with innovative ideas for outreach, and even for the development of new congregations.

Sign up and respond to calls three times a year from the CER Chalice Lighters Program Committee to support new congregational projects. The suggested commitment is $25 per call or $75 per year, but amounts of any size will help light the flame. You may sign up and pay online or by mail. Three times a year you will receive a reminder and a copy of The Spark, the Chalice Lighter Newsletter highlighting the projects that your contributions make possible.

For congregations, the grant process has been simplified and the paperwork decreased. Each congregation is asked to submit an intent to apply, and then is assigned a grant manager from the committee who will assist you in crafting your full grant application. Applications are considered three times a year.

What kind of grants are considered?

  • supporting capital projects such as construction, expansion or renovation of facilities including improving ventilation technology for COVID safety or reducing the carbon footprint of their facilities.
  • adding or increasing time for staff, such as Minister, Director of Religious Education, Music Director, office administrator, membership coordinator and other staff positions.
  • upgrading capacity for hybrid worship and virtual outreach
  • innovative, creative projects to help attract or retain members, and promote justice, compassion, and spirituality.

If you think your congregation has a project that one of these grants can help fund, please check out the Grants Guidelines page. The next Intent to Apply deadline is December 1 for grants to be given out in February. The following round will be due March 1 for grants to be given out in June. August 1 is the deadline for grants given out in October.

Questions can be directed to the Chalice Lighter committee at chalicelighters@cerguua.org.