Policy for Stewardship of the UUCB Social Justice Fund

1. The $7,200 received, plus interest to date, shall be placed in an investment vehicle that accrues interest and permits withdrawals at will, and this shall be referred to as the UUCB Social Justice Fund ("Fund"). The investment vehicle chosen for this purpose shall be one that holds itself out as being socially responsible (e.g., the investment vehicles roistered by the UUA). The Fund shall be tracked by the UUCB accounting function as are other UUCB monies.

2. The Fund shall be used for UUCB activities related to social justice that are consistent with tax regulations governing the UUCB's tax-exempt status, The Fund will be made available for this purpose to the UUCB community via an annual grant allocation process.

3. The grant allocation process shall be administered by the UUCB group that manages the church's social justice activities ("UUCB-SJ Group"), based on these stewardship guidelines after approval by the Board of Trustees. If at any time the UUCB-SJ Group is unable to fulfill its administrative role, the Board shall re-assign administrative duties.

4. The UUCB-SJ Group shall designate a three-person Grant Committee composed of active members of the UUCB-SJ Group to manage the grant allocation process. One member of the Grant Committee shall be the designated as liaison to the UUCB Treasurer and shall coordinate Fund management and grant allocation with the Treasurer.

5. Up to ten percent (10%) of the Fund may be made available for grants on an annual basis. At the beginning of each UUCB fiscal year, the Grant Committee shall review the Fund's balance and its growth and earnings during the previous fiscal year. Based on this assessment and on the goal of funding near-term UUCB social justice work while simultaneously striving to maintain the Fund's availability for future UUCB social justice work, the Grant Committee shall determine the dollar amount to be made available for grants during the then current UUCB fiscal year. This amount shall be determined by August 15th of that fiscal year and announced as specified in the following paragraph.

6. The UUCB-SJ Group shall publicize the Fund, the dollar amount available for grants, and the grant application process to the UUCB community on a regular basis, at least annually, through the church newsletter and other appropriate means. Grant applications will be encouraged from any UUCB member, committee or program.

7. The UUCB-SJ Group shall regularly solicit, at least on an annual basis, additional gifts to the Fund to increase the amount available for grants each year. Any solicitation of gifts to increase the fund will be coordinated with other UUCB fundraising activities to avoid disruption of those activities. Donations may be made to the fund at any time.

8. Applications for grants for activities related to social justice shall be submitted in writing to the Grant Committee. The Committee will approve or deny an application based on availability of funds and on responses to the following questions and information requirements:

  1. What are the measurable or observable goals of the project?
  2. Describe how the objectives will advance the mission of the social justice principles of Unitarian Universalism?
  3. Describe the project activities that will achieve the goals.
  4. Provide a budget describing how the funds will be spent during the timeframe of the project.
  5. Commitment to provide a written report evaluating the success of the project in achieving the goals within 45 days of the project's completion.
9. The UUCB-SJ Group shall report regularly, at least on an annual basis via a written report at the Spring congregational meeting, to the UUCB congregation on the disbursement of monies from the Fund, the activities funded, and the status of available funds.

The fund was established after a generous donation from Jackie Schwarz and Jim Vacca. This policy was adopted in the fall of 1999.

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