Chalice Lighter Grants | Application | Become a Chalice Lighter | Worship Service Resources

Chalice Lighter Grants

Spreading the Light of Our Liberal Faith

The Chalice Lighter Program is a funding program of the Clara Barton District (CBD) that helps congregations to implement efforts for membership growth. It is a competitive grant program funded by “Chalice Lighter” donors.  The Chalice Lighter Committee sets criteria for grant applications, notifies congregations about the program, reviews applications and awards grants. After grantees are chosen, the committee calls for monetary support from Chalice Lighters, collects donations, and assesses evaluations of recipient programs. Two to three grants are made per year.

The Benefits to congregations are unlimited! Here are some:

• Assist a congregation to obtain its first professional staff: Minister, Director of Religious Education, Minister of Religious Education
• Increase hours of staff from part time to full time
• Assist a new congregation to lease or obtain space for worship
• Assist a congregation with accessibility projects
• Remodel existing space to accommodate increased membership
• Assist a congregation to make major repairs due to fire, storm, or structural damage

A Chalice Lighter is an individual or a couple who, when asked, contributes funds for a specific grant in order to promote growth and extension within the Clara Barton District. The call is for a minimum of $20.00, up to three times each year.  If 10% of our district membership (700 members) would sign on as Chalice Lighters, at a minimum of $20.00 per call, the collection would be $14,000 for one grant and $42,000 for three grants! [More information about becoming a Chalice Lighter ]

Applying for a Grant

1. ChaIlice Lighter Grant Applications are mailed to congregational board presidents twice a year.  Forms and instructions can also be downloaded on-line. Any existing or newly-forming congregation in the Clara Barton District is eligible for funding if it has a project to develop and implement intentional plans for membership growth.

2. The congregation fills out the proposal forms for its growth or extension project.  The Board of the congregation votes to approve it, and the application is submitted to the CBD District Office before the deadline.

3. The Chalice Lighter Committee reviews the grants, recommends one to the CBD Board for funding approval, and sends out a call for funding to the Chalice Lighters.  After the funds are received, a check is sent to the grantee congregation. 

4. The amount raised depends on how many Chalice Lighters are active in the District.  Our last call raised $1500, and the program has grown past the first milestone of 100 members.

5. If not funded, a congregation may re-apply in the next funding round.  If a congregation receives a Chalice Lighter grant, it must wait one fiscal year before submitting a new application. ( For example, a grant is received fall 2007 or spring 2008 during the 2007-08 fiscal year.  The next time an application could be sent is in the fall of 2009 during the 2009-10 fiscal year.)

 

Criteria for Chalice Lighter Proposals

1. Preference will be given to congregations with Chalice Lighter members.
2. Preference will be given to those congregations that are fair share within the UUA and District.
3. Each proposal will be evaluated on how it is tied to goals that advance the growth of the congregation.
4. Each proposal will be evaluated on the strength of the commitment of congregational members and resources to carrying out a successful project. (Adequate time, money, volunteers, in-kind services committed to complete or sustain the project.)
5. Preference will be given to congregations where a team has taken or is registered to take Radical Hospitality training. The training will be offered twice a year in the spring and fall. Check the CBD web site for the next training dates.
6. Preference will be given to congregations with members who have attended other UU training opportunities and/or UUA and CBD events (growth, anti-oppression, religious education trainings, NELS, General Assembly, CBD rallies, etc.)
7. Preference will be given to congregations where the leadership has viewed the Ideas for Growth DVD.
8. The congregation receiving the grant will submit a final progress report within a year of being awarded the grant.

Please send all proposals to:

Chalice Lighter Program                               Clara Barton District                                    PO Box 368 Westford, MA 01886 clarabartondist@verizon.net	(978) 392-6700 phone (978)  392-6701 fax
Fall Deadline:  November 1, 2007	Fall Decision: December 1, 2007
Spring Deadline: February 15, 2008	Spring Decision: February 28, 2008

For more information, please see our brochure (pdf or Word) and if you have any questions contact:

For more information, please contact:
Rev. Claudia Elferdink, Shoreline UU Society, Madison, CT   
caelferdink@verizon.net   203-245-8720

Rev. Judith Wright, First Parish Church UU, Northborough, MA 
 jwright@firstparishnorthboro.org  508-393-6422