The United Thank Offering (UTO) board of directors is pleased to announce the availability of their 2020 United Thank Offering Annual Grants. These grants are awarded for projects in The Episcopal Church and throughout the Anglican Communion, each year with a different focus. For 2020, the focus is Bless: Share faith, practice generosity and compassion, and proclaim the Good News of God in Christ with hope and humility.
The United Thank Offering was founded to support innovative mission and ministry in The Episcopal Church and to promote thankfulness and mission in the whole Church. 100% of thank offerings given to UTO are granted the following year. These awards have supported everything from staff positions, conferences, creation of educational resources, and contributing to building projects.
The application process opened September 6, 2019; application information and forms are available here. The deadline for submitting a grant application is March 6, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Central time.
The following criteria apply to UTO’s Annual Grants:
- Grant applications representing the start-up costs of a new ministry.
- Grant applications for seed money for start-up positions.
- United Thank Offering will not fund the continuation of ongoing ministries.
- One grant application per diocese within The Episcopal Church and one per province of the Anglican Communion.
- One additional application for a companion/partnership grant from a diocese of The Episcopal Church.
Learn more about project eligibility, as well as the types of projects which are not eligible here; “United Thank Offering 2020 Grant Focus & Criteria”.
Potential applicants are invited to participate in an informational webinar offered by the UTO board on October 15, 2019 at noon and 8:00 pm Eastern and again on January 14, 2020 at the same times. More information available here; “Helpful Hints For Applying For A UTO Grant”. Or, contact the Rev. Canon Heather Melton, staff officer for the United Thank Offering, hmelton@episcopalchurch.org, with questions.
Submit your application to the diocesan office at least two weeks prior to this date to allow time for Bishop Marty to read your application, offer comments, and sign it. Early submission of applications via Formstack provides UTO Staff Officer, the Rev. Canon Heather Melton, an opportunity to scan it for missing documents or signatures in advance of the deadline.