Growth Fund Streams

When it comes to granting and applying for grants, there are four different areas under which your grant can fall.

When it comes to the Growth Funds, there are four areas of congregational life under which your grant or loan can fall. Applying for a grant or loan is relatively easy, however requirements and submission schedules can vary. Here we’ll look at the different types of funding and some examples of projects that are covered. We remember the four streams of congregational life funding by this little rhyme:



Here is the church

Funding Stream #1:

Building Improvements & Accessibility

This fund provides loans to congregations for many types of physical improvements, and especially for accessibility.

Learn More



Here is the steeple

Funding Stream #2:

Mission-Based Initiatives

These grants are for certain initiatives aimed at the health, vitality and purpose of UU congregations in the Northwest.

Learn More



Open the door

Funding Stream #3:

Technology & Communications Improvements

Cascadia provides funding to improve a congregation’s ability to effectively communicate with its members and potential newcomers.

Learn More



See all the people

Funding Stream #4:

Connections & Collaborations

Opportunities for relationships via collaborations between congregations, cluster projects, conferences and workshops.

Learn More

“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

Here is the church.

Funding Stream #1

Building/Facility Improvements

This fund provides loans to congregations for many types of physical improvements, and especially for accessibility.

Learn more about loans

Funding Stream #2

Mission based initiatives

“Each congregation is unique and self-determining. The Cascadia Board is committed to helping congregations discover or live into their purpose or mission.”

These grants are for certain initiatives aimed at the health, vitality and purpose of UU congregations in the Northwest. These are:

Justice projects
Conflict resolution and management support and/or training
New ministry/internships (Hewett Hopper Raible Fund)
Mission-building work

Learn more about this stream

Here is the steeple.

Open the doors.

Funding Stream #3

Technology and Communications Improvements

In today’s social media world, small congregations are usually at a disadvantage in having the equipment and expertise to meet their communications needs. As hybrid services become the new norm even in small congregations, technology and communications will continue to be a challenge.

Cascadia provides funding to improve a congregation’s ability to effectively communicate with its members and potential newcomers through:

Technology infrastructure and training.
Communications training.
Outside tech support e.g. website improvements.

Calls for proposals will be made periodically through Cascadia’s congregational contacts.

Learn more about this stream

Funding Stream #4

Connections and Collaborations

Cascadia creates opportunities for relationships across UU congregations and to strengthen lay leadership via collaborations between congregations, cluster projects, conferences and workshops. Meaningful efforts at diversity and inclusion must be central to all proposals.

Available grants:

Collaborations and Cluster Projects

Grants of up to $5000 available for projects or programming that involve 3 or more congregations.
Applications for funding received by November 1, and March 1, annually

Conferences and Workshops

Grants of up to $10,000 for an in person weekend event with participation from 5 congregations
A $40,000 grant for creation of a Cascadia region conference
Grants of up to $1000 for small congregations to send members to a UU conference or workshop
Applications for funding received November 1 and March 1 annually

Historically, a broad web of relationships has existed among UUs across the Pacific Northwest, many lasting for decades, providing sustenance, identity, and hope. Lay leaders from different congregational settings shared their experiences, broadening horizons and lessening isolation. These personal encounters and connections inspired newcomers and seasoned leaders alike, and benefited their home congregations in important ways.

Learn more about this stream

See all the people.