The First Universalist Foundation acts as a catalyst for social change by promoting and supporting the development of emerging leaders, youth, young adults, and disenfranchised communities through monetary grants to nonprofits working in those communities.
2024 Foundation Grant Nominations Accepted through February 4, 2024
The Foundation encourages nominations of organizations that address racial justice, climate justice, and human rights. We are also interested in organizations whose leadership include Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, or individuals from disenfranchised communities. This year we are particularly interested in supporting organizations with smaller budgets (for whom our grant may make a significant difference) and newer organizations or initiatives who are addressing the disparities that events of 2020 have laid bare. Organizations who have not applied for a Foundation Board grant in the past are encouraged.
The Foundation is now accepting nominations for 2024 grant recipients, through Sunday, February 4, 2024.
Nominate an organization by filling out our 2024 First Universalist Foundation Nomination Form.
Historically the Foundation Board has given out grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.
Please note our mission and giving criteria which will heavily inform our decisions.
Questions? Email the Foundation Board at foundation@firstuniv.org.
Giving Priorities and Criteria
1. Demonstrate the potential to address one or more causes or forms of injustice.
2. Work to engage youth, young adults, and/or disenfranchised communities in the work of social change.
3. Have a commitment to measuring the impact or success of the funded program.
4. Focus on the Twin Cities community.
5. Organizations with annual budgets of less than $1,000,000 will be given greater priority.
6. Organization leadership and/or board members reflect the community that the organization wishes to serve (BIPOC, women, individuals from disenfranchised communities).
7. Organizations that have been funded three times in the last five years may be considered lower priority.
2023 Foundation Grant Recipients Announced
The 2023 First Universalist Foundation grants were awarded as follows:
- $15,000 to Interfaith Coalition on Migration
- $10,000 to Food for the people
- $9,000 to Latino Youth Development Collaborative
- $9,000 to Our Justice
- $8,500 to Midwest Food Connection
- $5,000 to Walk-In Counseling Center
- $5,000 to Mni Ki Wakan (Water is Sacred)
- $5,000 to Gender Justice/UnRestrict MN
- $2,500 to Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA)
- $1,000 to River Valley Riders
History
The First Universalist Foundation was created in 1984 from an endowment fund resulting from the sale of Unity Settlement House, a neighborhood center owned by the predecessor to First Universalist Church, The Church of the Redeemer, since 1893. The settlement house was purchased from the church and demolished when I-94 was built through north Minneapolis. The settlement house had been devoted to meeting the social and economic needs of the immigrant and Native American families on the near north side of the city. The Foundation strives to carry on the tradition – and add value to the social justice mission of the church – through grants from income on the endowment.
The First Universalist Foundation Board
The 2023–2024 Foundation Board consists of:
Isabel Quast, Chair
Philipp MuessigLynn Broaddus
Ginny Halloran
Kelly Prosen
Gary Melom
Marnie Peichel
Deborah Talen
Bonnie Hill
