Apply for Funding from the Growth Fund

Grant Details and Application Forms

Are you ready to apply for your grant? Choose the granting stream that is most appropriate for your needs and follow the instructions to apply. Are you looking to apply for a Chalice Lighters grant? If so, you can do that on the Chalice Lighter Grant Application page.

Important note: Some types of grants have proposal deadlines and others may be submitted anytime. Please be sure to check for any specific deadlines for the grant stream you’re interested in.

Funding Stream 1: Building/Facility Improvements (Loans)

This fund provides loans to congregations for many types of physical improvements, and especially for accessibility. You can learn more about Loans on our Loans page.

Learn More About Loans

Funding Stream 2: Mission-based Grants

2.1 Justice Projects

DEADLINES: Applications for funding received by November 1, and March 1, annually.

Projects in the justice stream include ARAO initiatives, ecojustice, and community based programs, etc.. Please be sure to have the following ready before you begin to fill out the grant application:

Completed application form with full description of proposed project and its goals
Congregational board approval for the project/program

Download Grant Application Form

2.2 Congregational Conflict Resolution & Management

DEADLINES: None. Applications received anytime.

This funding stream includes consulting support and training of lay leaders. Note: In emergent situations, please contact Cascadia’s president at president@cascadiauu.org for assistance.

Please be sure to have the following ready before you begin to fill out the grant application:

A referral from UUA Congregational Staff, or congregational minister and president.
Completed application form with full description of proposed strategy.
Congregational board approval.

Download Grant Application Form

2.3 New Ministries and Internships (Hewett Hopper Raible Fund)

DEADLINES: Applications for funding received November 1, and March 1, annually.

Grants up to $5000 available for new internship sites or congregational ministries.
Grants up to $2000 for 2nd internship or 2nd year of new ministry.

Please be sure to have the following ready before you begin to fill our the grant application form:

Documented details of ministry or internship parameters
Congregational board approval

2.4 Mission Building Work

DEADLINES: No specific deadlines.

Projects in the Mission Building stream include initiatives aimed at helping a congregation define or live its values more effectively.

Grants of $1000-3500 are available for congregational consultation and workshops. Grants will be scaled to the congregation’s operating budget.

Please be sure to have the following ready before you begin to fill out the grant application:

Completed application form with details of ministry or internship parameters
Congregational board approval

Download Grant Application Form

Funding Stream 3: Technology and Communications Grants

DEADLINES: Calls for proposals will be made periodically through Cascadia’s congregational contacts and on the News page of this site.

Please be sure to have the following ready before you begin to fill out the grant application:

Completed application form with description of proposed strategy.
Congregational board approval

Funding Stream 4: Connections and Collaborations

DEADLINES: Applications for funding received November 1, and March 1, annually.

Grants of up to $5000 available for projects or programming that involves 3 or more congregations.
Grants of up to $10,000 for an in person weekend event with participation from 5 congregations.

Please be sure to have the following ready before you begin to fill out the grant application:

Completed application form with description of proposed project and its goals.
Congregational board approval for the project/program.

Download Grant Application Form

“Enabled us to offer multi-platform meetings and gatherings”

As a small congregation that serves folks spread out over a rather large island, the Cascadia Growth Fund’s grant enabled us to offer multi-platform meetings and gatherings for the first time, ensuring that our more far-flung members and friends can participate while decreasing our carbon footprint. Thank you!

Rev. Dr. Emily Melcher, Minister

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island, Washington

“Allowed us to provide consistent high-quality services online”

The grant allowed us to provide consistent high-quality services online throughout the pandemic. We maintained strong weekly attendance, attracted visitors from near and far, and met our annual pledge goal. The technologies are here to stay and can be further harnessed to help us provide services and programs in ways we would not have contemplated before the pandemic. Thank you!

Ruth Anderson, Board Chair

First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo, British Columbia

“Thankful for your help and vision”

We are so thankful for your help and vision in jump starting Alaska’s inaugural Ministerial Internship, a partnership between Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks! We hope it will expand our UU presence in the “Last Frontier” where congregations are separated by hundreds of miles and UU ministers are few and far between. Our message is needed here.

Sid McCausland, President

Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Alaska

“Opening up new doors of opportunities”

With the Fund’s support, the program helped us to understand and strengthen each other in creating appropriate, multicultural, beloved communities and to increase our capacity for and effectiveness in enhancing existing BIPOC partnerships and opening up new doors of opportunities with others. A hearty “Thank You!” to the Cascadia Growth Fund for Unitarian Universalism!

Rev. Paul Beckel, Minister

Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

“Thank you for educating us and stretching our awareness.”

The expense for the training is a significant contribution to combating racism. The grant allowed me to attend the training. Thank you for educating us and stretching our awareness. We will all do better to fight racism now and in the future.

Brenda Cook

Member

Skagit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Washington

“This generous gift gives wings to our ideas.”

Thanks to the Cascadia Growth Fund grant, we will be able to use multi-platform technology for events outdoors, with small groups, and committees, increasing accessibility for people to participate in different ways. We will also be able to maintain and expand on the connections we have made with people who can only access our community virtually. This generous gift gives wings to our ideas. Thank you!

Kiersten E Moore

Director of Lifespan Faith Development

Unitarian Church of Vancouver, British Columbia