Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund
It has been more than 25 years since the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock established The Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund (LIUUF), a donor-advised fund, at the Long Island Community Foundation (LICF). Guided by an advisory committee who represent Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout Long Island, the LIUUF has awarded millions of dollars to nonprofits in Nassau and Suffolk counties to advance grassroots progressive social change. Often taking bold leadership, LIUUF has supported projects that build power among marginalized groups, advocate for policies and practices that level the playing field and make Long Island a more equitable and peaceful place for all of its residents.
“The LIUUF is committed to strengthening social justice on Long Island by using the power and resources of philanthropy,” explains Sol Marie Alfonso Jones, LICF senior program officer managing the Fund. “It opens pathways to civic participation among the region’s most vulnerable.”
Focus Areas
Immigrant Rights
Community Organizing
GLBT Advocacy
Educational Equity
Racial Equity/Justice
Legal/Leg Advocacy
Leadership Development
Environmental Justice
Women's Rights
Some of the goals of LIUUF grants include protecting the civil and human rights of people of color, immigrants, women, GLBT individuals, and disadvantaged people; amplifying the voices of and providing benefits to vulnerable populations; promoting an inclusive vision of social, economic, and environmental justice; and ensuring that the people most affected by injustice are involved in decision-making and action for all of the above.
LIUU Advisors and Their Congregations
Marian Russo, Chair – Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Great South Bay – Sayville
Linda Anderson,Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Freeport/South Nassau
Ilene Corina, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Freeport/South Nassau
David Holstein, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork
James Monnier, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Huntington
Terry Bain, Veatch Partner – Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock
“The LIUUF has had an important impact on Long Island nonprofits,” said Marian Russo, Chair of the LIUUF Advisory Committee. “Monies have been granted to grassroots groups, which are battling injustices every day that keeps people from having equal access to resources. This social justice grantmaking brings UU principles to life.”
The Fund looks for opportunities to support work that:
- Leads to social change
- Protects the civil rights of people of color, immigrants, women, GLBT individuals, disabled, and other protected classes
- Promotes an inclusive vision of social and economic justice
- Amplifies emerging regional issues
- Provides concrete benefits to vulnerable communities and/or populations
- Brings new, creative thinking to problem-solving
- Offers possibilities for broad civic engagement around issues
- Ensures that the people most affected by injustice are involved in decision-making and action for all of the above
Requests from Long Island Unitarian Universalist congregations cannot be considered for funding.
Organizations cannot receive grants simultaneously from any two of the following:
Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock
Unitarian Universalist Association Funding Program
Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund
Helped to establish the Long Island Immigrant Alliance and Long Island WINS.
Helped to build pathways to citizenship.
Initiated the LI Haitian Support Funders Collaborative addressing the needs of local Haitian communities affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Advanced Language Access Executive Orders in Nassau & Suffolk Counties.
Advanced Law Enforcement Reforms.
Created Gay Straight Alliances in over 120 Long Island Schools.
Organized the Nation’s first suburban gay prom.
Established the Nation’s first PTA to focus on issues facing LGBT students.
Building public awareness and support of transgender and gender non-conforming communities.
Advocated for the passage of housing laws on Long Island.
Facilitated racial equity training and student leadership programs in schools.
Created a racial equity council to advance policies and systemic changes to close racial equity gaps.
Released ‘The Equity Profile of Long Island’, a groundbreaking report of the state of racial disparities on the Island.