Living our Faith...Igniting Dreams

A program to strengthen Unitarian Universalism throughout the Central Midwest District

About the Chalice Lighter Program
CMwD Chalice Lighters

The Chalice Lighters program was founded in the 1980’s to harness the energy and resources of Unitarian Universalists across the country to support growth of UU congregations. In September, December and March, the approximately 1,000 Chalice Lighters in the District receive a letter (the “Call”)  asking them to support the congregation’s project approved by the Chalice Lighter Committee in the areas of funding new congregation starts, or adding professional staff, or building new or enhanced space or accomplishing outreach and public relations programs. The funds we raise benefit our Central Midwest District congregations in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.


Since inception, the program has supported over 33 congregations and issued grants totaling $217,737. A complete list of funded congregational projects is available from your church’s Chalice Lighter ambassador and at Central Midwest District's website.
Applying for a Chalice Lighter Grant

In our District, grants are awarded to congregations within the Central Midwest District.  A full description of the process for asking to be considered for a grant is included in the Application Form (hover your cursor over the "Chalice Lighters" entry on the Resources menu on the sidebar and you'll see the reference to the Application and  several other useful documents -- or call the CMwD office - 312-636-9724 -- or the Chalice Lighter Grant Application with Instructions is available here (PDF).

There is also a very good outline of how the Chalice Lighter Committee will consider applications and make its decisions included in the Chalice Lighter Ambasador's Packet, which a congregation considering an appliation should also study. 

Your application should be complete, including a full budget for your project for its duration, the budget for your congregation as a whole for the next few years, an indication of how supportive the congregation is of the project and of the Chalice Lighters program, and how this project will address the issues of the general category under whch the application will be made.  The categories for funding are:

  1. Supporting a new or emerging congregation.
  2. Acquiring or expanding meeting space for an existing congregation.
  3. Increase paid professional staffing.
  4.  Establishing outreach and public relations programs.

You should be prepared to spend several months on preparing your application, thinking it through and being thorough in preparing your funding arguments and supporting materials.

Chalice Lighters applications are due to be recieved in the CMwD office for consideration by the Committee on:

  • August 15 for the Fall Call
  • November 15 for the Winter Call
  • February 15 for the Spring Call

The current Chalice Lighter Call, Winter 2010, is on behalf of the Dupage Unitarian Universalist Church, Naperville, Illinois.  Please read the current Call Letter here.

Become a Chalice Lighter today if ...
  • You have found something special in your Unitarian Universalist faith which you are moved to share with others
  • Your values guide how you live your life and your generosity to worthy causes
  • You choose to live life as a participant rather than as a spectator
  • You believe that increasing our numbers means increasing our visibility
  • You understand the benefit of joining with others to make giving a little matter a lot!
“You possess only a small light, but uncover it, let it shine, in order to bring more light and understanding into the hearts and minds of men and women. Give them, not hell, but hope and courage.”
— John Murray

SIGN UP ONLINE or MAIL A PRINTABLE FORM.


All donations are tax deductible.


What Motivates Others To Give

“I prefer to be remembered for what I have done for others, not what others have done for me.”
— Thomas Jefferson

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
— Buddha

“I have found that, among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
— Maya Angelou

“Money is like manure — it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around, helping young things to grow.”
— from “The Matchmaker,” by Thornton Wilder


How You Can Make A Difference


The Chalice Lighters program calls us to make a difference by living out the principles of our Unitarian Universalist faith by practicing generosity.

Its grants, funded through member contributions, support those congregational growth initiatives with the greatest potential for success and long-term impact in extending our Unitarian Universalist faith and principles.

Projects are particularly encouraged which have applicability to other congregations and grant recipients agree to share results.

Chalice Lighters truly demonstrates that by walking together in religious covenant we have the ability to make a difference through shared commitment and pooled resources.
Won’t you consider becoming a Chalice Lighter today?

Other Useful Documents:

 
Chalice Lighters Ambassador's Packet

Chalice Lighters Brochure


Updated 04/06/2010