Have an area non-profit that you are involved with and love? Would others in at UUCville appreciate learning about them and how to support them as well? Could this organization benefit from a couple of thousand dollars? Yes? Great! Consider sponsoring them for next year’s Social Action Collection.

The Social Justice Council of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlottesville is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 UUCville Social Action Collection! Thank you for your interest and participation in this effort in the past. We hope you will be actively involved again this year as either an applicant, sponsor, voting at our “pitch night” or just spreading the word. Please feel free to forward this information to others you think might be interested.

The Social Action Collection (SAC) is a monthly collection to benefit non-profit organizations whose mission and vision are aligned to our Seven Principles. Applications for the 2023-2024 SAC are currently being accepted through June 5, 2023. The SAC was established as a means to support the local non-profit organizations that our congregants are passionate about and involved in. In the past it has typically yielded $2,500-$5,000 in donations which are sent directly to the featured organization for that month.

Any non-profit can apply for the monthly collection as long as at least two UUCville congregants with an established relationship sponsor and support the organization and its application. Preference is given to organizations that are in the Charlottesville/Blue Ridge area, are in alignment with our mission, and will experience a noticeable impact from this donation.

For more information and to apply, visit : https://forms.gle/23qtGbYSnZaCtJuLA 

The sponsor endorsement form:  https://forms.gle/xo1m6duNaULWksZ6A 

How the SAC Selection Process Works:

From May 8 – June 5th, UUCville will be accepting applications for their 2023-2024 Social Action Collection. One non-profit organization will be chosen to be the recipient of a special financial collection for each month, June – July. There are nine open months for non-profit organizations from the Charlottesville area community. (The other three are reserved by the congregation for predetermined organizations.) All eligible applications received by the June 5th deadline will be posted on the UUCville website for review by congregants from June 9 – June 19. On June 22, there will be a formal meeting of the Social Justice Council at 7 pm EDT via Zoom. Each eligible organization will have an opportunity to present a 2 minute appeal to the congregants who attend. Following all presentations, organizational representatives will leave the meeting and remaining UUCville members will vote for the organizations they wish to be recipients for the coming year. Only eligible members in good standing may vote for SAC recipients. The nine groups with the most votes will be selected. 

Dates to Remember:

June 5 – Application Deadline
June 9 – Applications available on UUCville website for review
June 22, 7 pm – SJ Council “Pitch” Night to vote on 23-24 SAC recipients

Thanks, Karen

For questions or comments (we’d love feedback on the application forms and this process), please email Karen Prairie at socialjustice@uucharlottesville.org.

Karen D. Prairie, chair, UUCville Social Justice Council