Summary of Recent Generosity Offering Giving Donations
February 2021 was the first month of the Social Justice Executive Team (SJET)’s new format in conducting Generosity Offerings: giving the collections to a single organization over multiple months and working with the organization to build a partnership in which First UU members volunteer and participate in their mission activities. See the nonprofit organizations we have supported.
Background & Context
For years, First UU has donated 85% of our Sunday collection to a local organization working to create justice and compassion in our community. Organizations nominated by members and vetted by the Social Justice Ministry Team could receive one such donation every 2 years.
In Fall 2020, the Social Justice Executive Team at First UU is introducing a restructured Generosity Offering framework that moves away from one-time donation, toward partnership and ongoing engagement with chosen organizations.
We are committed to dismantling white supremacy culture and need to rethink our relationships with generosity offering recipients to establish deeper, long-term involvement and reciprocity. The UUA Commission on Institutional Change (COIC) report (July 2020) urges us to avoid solely charitable, unidirectional relationships as these can be patronizing. The COIC also recommends that we “privilege those most affected in our justice work, which should follow the voices of those most at risk” (p. 71). Further, the COIC recommends that we ground choices of organizations in knowledge of the local history of income and racial inequality in areas we wish to serve.
In Fall 2020, the Social Justice Executive Team at First UU is introducing a restructured Generosity Offering framework that moves away from one-time donation, toward partnership and ongoing engagement with chosen organizations.
We are committed to dismantling white supremacy culture and need to rethink our relationships with generosity offering recipients to establish deeper, long-term involvement and reciprocity. The UUA Commission on Institutional Change (COIC) report (July 2020) urges us to avoid solely charitable, unidirectional relationships as these can be patronizing. The COIC also recommends that we “privilege those most affected in our justice work, which should follow the voices of those most at risk” (p. 71). Further, the COIC recommends that we ground choices of organizations in knowledge of the local history of income and racial inequality in areas we wish to serve.
New Protocol & Nominations
New Protocol Developed by the Social Justice Executive Team (SJET):
- We will choose three to four local, non-UU organizations (501c3 status or fiscal sponsorship required) to partner with at any given time.
- To create more meaningful and accountable relationships, the congregation will be encouraged to have hands-on experiences to serve and learn with partner organizations (Please see the statement on Accountable Relationships). SJET, the Social Justice Action Teams and interested congregants will assist in negotiating the parameters of the relationship with each organization.
- To be considered, a potential partner must be: a BIPOC-serving, and ideally BIPOC-led, organization AND actively focused on the San Diego region.
- SJET and the partner organization will continually assess the relationship and jointly decide each year if and how the partnership should continue.
Highlights from organizations we've supported over the years
2019
In the spring of 2019, First UU made a Generosity Offering to SanDiego350 and the Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice (ICEJ) to develop resources for outreach to faith communities. ICEJ used our Generosity Offering to create four videos for their website, social media and to be used in their outreach work. Take a look here.
ICEJ shared that they would not have been able to make the videos without First UU's help and want to THANK YOU for the generosity and largeness of heart that this offering represents.
In the spring of 2019, First UU made a Generosity Offering to SanDiego350 and the Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice (ICEJ) to develop resources for outreach to faith communities. ICEJ used our Generosity Offering to create four videos for their website, social media and to be used in their outreach work. Take a look here.
ICEJ shared that they would not have been able to make the videos without First UU's help and want to THANK YOU for the generosity and largeness of heart that this offering represents.
