Joseph Priestley District - Chalice Lighters

Preamble
Vision Statement: A larger and growing population of Unitarian Universalists in healthy and sustainable congregations within the JPD.
Mission Statement: In order to increase the impact of Unitarian Universalism on both individuals and the world, it is our mission to grow and strengthen Unitarian Universalism in the JPD by supporting and encouraging new and existing congregations.

Grant Policy
The JPD Growth and Extension Committee (G&EC) concentrates its efforts on those congregations, regardless of size, where there is demonstrated intention to grow and other favorable factors are present and there are specific realistic long range plans to enhance them. The most significant demonstration of intention to grow is a realistic long range plan adopted by a congregation, cluster of congregations, or regional group of congregations. JPD staff is available to work with applicants to develop a long range plan.

1 - WHO CAN APPLY FOR A CHALICE LIGHTER GRANT
Approved by the Growth and Extension Committee 11/4/06

1. Individual congregations of any size or a congregation in formation may apply.
2. Clusters of congregations may apply.
3. Regional Growth Committees may apply.

2 - GRANTS FOR STAFF POSITIONS
Approved by the Growth and Extension Committee 11/4/06

1. Grants may be given to establish and fill for the first time the positions of minister, religious educator, music director, administrator and membership coordinator or director.

2. Grants may also be given for an additional minister or religious education professional if a long range plan shows how this additional ministry will help the congregation grow.

3. Grants for ministers and RE professionals must be for at least half time. Minimum half time is recommended for other positions.

4. Staff grants can be made for moving from part-time to full-time. This could be a second grant for the position.

5. All positions for which a grant is sought must be paid fair compensation and benefits consistent with current UUA guidelines,

6. All positions for which a grant is sought must be permanent positions, unless it is appropriate for the position to be time-limited and it is so described in the application.

3 - GRANTS FOR LAND, BUILDINGS and INCREASE IN SPACE
Approved by the Growth and Extension Committee 11/4/06

Grants for land, buildings or a significant increase in space are capped so as to be no more than 20% of the total cost of the project,. Double grants are allowed in each subcategory (i.e. two grants for a building or land or a significant increase in space).

4 - GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE GROWTH PROJECTS
Approved by the Growth and Extension Committee 11/4/06

1. Innovative Growth Grants are to fund creative projects that could be replicated elsewhere. The project needs to be innovative, growth focused, and practical. It is the intent of the G&EC to encourage joint applications from more than one congregation.

2. A proposal needs to point out how growth will occur, in what quantities, and how the growth will be tracked and reported.

3. No minimum financial contribution is required of the grant applicant, but the level of financial contribution by a congregation, cluster, or regional group will be considered in the evaluation of a grant.

5 - GRANTS FOR ORGANIZATION OF A NEW CONGREGATION
Approved by the Growth and Extension Committee 11/4/06

1. New congregation organizing grants may be for an “organizer” or for other organizing activities; the plan and application should indicate other sources of support for the project.

2. Organizing grant applications must be accompanied by an organizing plan showing favorable demographics, commitments of financial and organizational support from sponsoring congregations, and the composition of a steering committee including members with UU experience and commitment to attending training in new congregation organizing.

3. Applications for new congregation organizing grants should be prepared in conjunction with the JPD Director for Growth and Extension before being submitted to the Growth and Extension Committee.

4. A new congregation also can apply for a second grant for a minister or DRE two years after the payout starts on an initial grant for the same position (i.e., they could receive two incomes from grants for one year for the same position but the payout schedule may be adjusted).

6 - REQUIREMENTS FOR AN APPLICATION FROM A CLUSTER OF CONGREGATIONS
Approved by the Growth and Extension Committee 11/4/06

1. A cluster must have a long-range plan for the project for which they seek a grant. The plan should describe the project, how they will carry it out, and how they will measure results.

2. There is no requirement that each congregation in a cluster that applies for a grant must have a long-range plan.

4. The application from the cluster must show the sources and amounts of financial support in addition to the grant.

5. The cluster must supply a list of congregations involved and indicate which ones are Fair Share. The application must indicate that all congregations in the cluster have been fully informed of the project.

6. The cluster must identify a Project Manager for the duration of the grant. The Project Manager will provide an annual grant implementation report describing the efficacy of the grant using whatever indicators the cluster believes are meaningful. If the Project Manager can no longer serve, he/she will inform the Grant Manager of a successor.

7 - OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR A CL APPLICATIION
Approved by the Growth and Extension Committee 11/4/06
Revised by email consultation 12/06

1. An application must include a long range plan written or updated within one year prior to submitting the Intent to Apply. The Long Range Plan must be accepted by the congregation or, in the case of an update, accepted by a formal vote of the board.

2. The plan must include a five year budget projection showing the anticipated growth and how the congregation will fund the various initiatives outlined in the plan.

Requirement for fair share to UUA and JPD

1. A single congregation applying for a grant must be full fair share to the UUA and JPD for the previous full fiscal year. Also, they must commit to stay fair share for the duration of the grant.

2. There will be an annual review by August 15; if a congregation holding a grant has not maintained full fair share status, the grant will be reviewed by GEC and may be suspended.

3. A cluster applying for a grant has no requirement for its member congregations to be Fair Share. However, the G&EC will use this information as part of the evaluation of an application.

1. For newly forming congregations, a planning committee must approve the grant proposal.

2. For a cluster of congregations, each congregation or Board must approve the grant proposal.

3. For a Regional Growth Committee, the application must include a copy of a letter sent to all involved congregations informing them of the project and outlining the details. The application must describe the level of participation expected from the participating congregations.

The application from an individual congregation must include information on the average pledge per pledge unit. There is no average pledge requirement. The G&EC will use this information as part of the evaluation of the application.

1. A Staff position should be planned as a permanent position that is reflected in the congregation’s long-range plan. A 5-year financial projection is required that describes salary and benefits (including COLA and potential merit increases), and the assumptions that are the basis for the projection. The usual payout schedule for a staff position is 50%-30%-20% over the three years. The grant recipient can negotiate a different payout if there is a reason to do so.

2. No minimum contribution is required for an innovative growth but the level of financial contribution by the applicant will be considered in the evaluation of a grant.

3. New congregation organizing grants may be for an “organizer” or for other organizing activities; their plan and their application should indicate other sources of support for the project. G&EC will not require specific levels of other support, but will want to see in their plan how they expect to fund the overall project.

4. For a grant to help purchase land or construct a building or add significant additional space, the application should include the results of a Capital Campaign or any other sources of financing available to the congregation.

1. If the grant is awarded, the congregation will supply information about how the checks should be made out and the address to which they should be sent.

2. The congregation must inform the Grant Manager when the payments should begin – that is, after any stipulations have been met or after the staff position in question has been filled.

3. The usual payout schedule for staff positions is 50% in year 1; 30% in year 2 and 20% in year 3. For land and buildings, the grant is usually paid as a lump sum. For innovative growth grants the payout is usually set up to meet the requirements of the project. This payout schedule should be agreed between the Grant Manager and the congregation.

1. The grant application must identify the Project Manager for follow-up on grant implementation/results. This Project Manager should be someone who is available for the life of the project. G&EC is to be notified immediately if a Project Manager changes.

2. The application will detail how the efficacy of the grant will be measured including statistics on membership and attendance.

3. As a condition of receiving a grant, the Project Manager is required to provide an annual grant implementation report. The report will describe the efficacy of the grant, including measures of memberships, attendance and growth. An individual congregation will also send the congregation’s newsletter to the Grant Manager.

JPD Chalice Lighters