The First Universalist Foundation concluded the 2021 grant cycle in early May by awarding $150,800 to 15 projects. This represented an increase from 2020 when 11 organizations received $105,000 in grants. The Foundation made the decision to increase our awards this year due to the continued strength of our financial portfolio and the understanding that this past year has been a hardship for many nonprofit organizations and the people who work for and with them. The high quality of the proposed projects reinforced our interest in providing greater funding this year. 

The Foundation embraces the spirit of the original endowment by supporting projects on the cutting edge of racial, climate, gender and immigration justice, and for which our funding can make a significant difference for the grantee organization. While we cannot fund all the grant applications we receive, we are very excited about the positive impact we foresee for the projects we were able to fund.

A list of the recipients and projects awarded for 2021 follows below. In some cases, projects were funded for a portion of their request.

612 M*A*S*H* (Minneapolis All Shall Heal) – Medical Clinic for George Floyd Square 

To solidify the delivery of health services within George Floyd Square, while also working towards expansion of services to other communities in need through development of a mobile unit.

Align Minneapolis – Street Voices of Change

To decrease injustice in the homeless sector by advocating for the rights of shelter residents and to develop a Common Application for rental properties that is fair, equitable, and affordable.

BLUU (Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism) – Northside Cooperative Housing Initiative

To cover expenses for maintenance and care for lots held for building permanently affordable housing for Black and Indigenous single mothers.

Black Men Teach – Diversifying the Teacher Pipeline

To support recruitment and pipeline-building efforts to diversify the teacher workforce with Black men as elementary school educators.

Brightside Produce – Developing a Financially Sustainable Model for Addressing Urban Food Insecurity

To support a financially sustainable expansion of the home delivery service by recruiting a net increase of 50 subscribers.

CLNE (The Center for Leadership and Neighborhood Engagement) – Triumphant Changemakers Fellowship Program

To support emerging leaders as they develop themselves for maximum community impact and explore the ways they would like to engage in social change work.

Conversations with Friends – Major Support for People Jailed in Sherburne and Kandiyohi Jails

To support people jailed by ICE at the Sherburne and Kandiyohi County Jails by providing 

phone cards, hygiene items, or food for those detained or basic clothing for those who are being deported.

discapacitados abriendose caminos – Soluciones Legales (Legal Support)

To provide legal consultation and representation in court by an immigration attorney for Latino youth and family members with status needs in the Twin Cities area. 

Million Artist Movement – Indigenous & Black Solidarity Study

To host three weekend study sessions exploring decolonization and solidarity for MAM artists who will create work in their artistic medium to present in a Community Sharing.

Midwest Food Connection – Activating Youth for Food Justice

To expand and strengthen work with middle school students in North Minneapolis to provide hands-on education in school classrooms on food systems, food access, and eating habits.

MN350 – Frontline Fund

To support requests from the frontline communities of climate justice most impacted by the intersectionality of climate and racial injustice, the COVID 19 pandemic, and the murder of George Floyd.

MIRAC (Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee) – DACA Education and Renewal Workshop

To host a DACA legal clinic to update participants on immigration policies, connect them to resources for immigrants, and provide legal support for DACA applications.

MUUSJA (Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance) – Pride PSA: Digital/Printable LGBTQIA+ Welcome

To create a digitized poster with QR code linking to statewide UU welcoming congregations and statewide service organizations to disseminate at virtual and in-person PRIDE festivals.

Our Justice – Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers

To provide small stipends to volunteers to ensure the ability to recruit and retain a volunteer base that reflects the populations served.

RISE (Resilient Indigenous Sisters Engaging Coalition)

To educate, empower and inspire native and non-native people in climate justice, environmental sustainability, and Treaty Rights.

The grant-making process started in late 2020 with nominations from First Universalist Church members and we appreciate all the proposals that we received this year. This year the Foundation Board consisted of Foundation Board chair Suzan Klein and committee members Leila Ambrus, Jill Anderson, John Bringewatt, Jared Cruz, Ginny Halloran, Rochelle Hammer, Roberta Haskin, and Anne McBean. We receive important and greatly appreciated staff support from Emma Paskewitz. We want to thank Leila Ambrus (Class of 2021 high school graduate!), Jill Anderson (treasurer), John Bringewatt, and Rochelle Hammer for their years of contributions to the Foundation. Next year, we will welcome four new members. 

We are very excited to see the change work that is happening in our community. It was inspirational to read the applications that we received this year. We wish the best to our grantee organizations that, as you can see, are doing truly important work.