Pacific Northwest District of the Unitarian Universalist Association
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About the Annual Program Fund
by Dick Jacke
From: March 2007

The purpose of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is to serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions, and implement its principles. Membership in the Association is voluntary and made up of autonomous, self-governing local churches and fellowships which have freely chosen to pursue common goals together. When applying for membership in the Association, congregations subscribe to the principles and pledge to support the Association.

The most notable support that congregations provide to the Association is the financial support that they contribute each year to the UUA's Annual Program Fund. This fund provides almost half of the unrestricted funding which makes up the Association's annual operating budget. Most of these funds are returned to congregations in the form of programs and services, such as ministerial settlement and transition services, lifespan religious education curricula and programs, congregational management resources, conferences for small, mid-size, and large congregations, the InterConnections newsletter for congregational leaders, the UU World magazine for congregation members, a website for lay leadership resources, over 250 electronic mailing lists, and publication of hymnals, pamphlets, and books.

Contributions to the Annual Program Fund also help to foster the growth of Unitarian Universalism through lay leadership training, building loans, grants, and loan guarantees, capital and operating fund campaign consultants, growth resources for small and mid-size congregations, young adult, campus, and youth-related programs, and training, resources, and consultation to encourage multi-cultural and anti-oppression religious communities. And finally, contributions to the fund also make possible giving public voice to Unitarian Universalist principles by providing 'how-to' resources for local public advocacy, articulating the theological grounding for our justice work, implementation of General Assembly social justice resolutions, e-mail alerts on social justice issues, and resources for socially responsible investing.

Many of these programs and services are actually delivered through our Pacific Northwest District UUA staff - over a third of our district funding comes from the UUA! All in all, congregations receive about $2 in programs and services for every $1 that they contribute to the Annual Program Fund. The difference is made up by individual contributions made by Friends of the Unitarian Universalist Association, grants, and other income. The congregations of the Pacific Northwest District have been strong supporters of the UUA Annual Program Fund. In the past two years, the Pacific Northwest District has had the highest percentage of Fair Share congregations in the entire Association! Thank you for your strong commitment to and generous support of Unitarian Universalism!