CUC’s fundraising projects are vitally important to our national work. The money raised provides both services and direct grants to member congregations. Here is a summary of current fundraising efforts. You can earmark any donation to the fund of your choice. Please donate today!
Friends of the CUC
Donations to our “Friends” campaign comprise almost ten per cent of our operating budget. CUC has been expanding services to our members and working hard to have our voice heard “beyond our walls.” There will always be much that we would like to be able to do that we don’t have the resources to do, of course. But without our Friends’ contributions, we simply couldn’t do all that we are doing now.
What would we do without friends like you? A lot less than what we can do with you! In 2012, our goal is to broaden the base of the contributors. If every one of our Friends told one of their friends about why they support the CUC, we would have more capacity as an organization. Wear your Friends sticker on your name tag at church! (Don’t have a sticker? Just ask.)
Sharing Our Faith
Once a year, congregations are encouraged to hold a Sharing Our Faith worship service focused on the UU faith in Canada, including a special collection for the Sharing Our Faith fund. CUC provides materials to help congregations prepare this service. All the funds collected are then given out in grants that support growth projects in congregations.
Annual Conference & Meeting Offering
At each year’s CUC Annual Conference and Meeting, the Board designates recipients for the collection taken at the Sunday worship service and the Empty Bowls lunch, based on recommendations from the Host Planning Committee. For many years, attendees have contributed thousands of dollars to locally based organizations that pursue social justice close to home and around the world.
Theological Education Funds
Each year, interest from the Percy Simpson Bailey bequest, as well as funds collected at ministers’ installations and ordinations, is available to provide financial support to theological students and to support ministry in Canada in other ways. A three-person committee accepts applications and makes funding recommendations to the CUC Board.
Individual Member Program
Most UUs who belong to the CUC do so indirectly, as members of our member congregations. Some (about 30 right now) belong directly as Individual Members. Our Individual Members can join together to have delegate privileges at the Annual Meeting, they receive the Canadian Unitarian, and they are warmly welcomed at all CUC events. Minimum donation is the Annual Program Contribution amount.
International Organizations
As part of our commitment to our religion in the international world and to the interfaith community, the CUC collects and forwards donations to organizations such as the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU), the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) and the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF).
Unique Initiatives
The CUC board occasionally approves special fundraising initiatives, such as the Horn of Africa drought relief fund in 2011, and covering costs of lawyers (who were representing us pro bono) at the Supreme Court on equal marriage.
We also invite participants to add a donation when registering for the ACM or Regional Fall Gatherings. You can write in the CUC fund of your choice. Marking a donation as “Youth” will target it to helping subsidize youth attending these events.