The United Thank Offering is a program of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole Church, founded by and administered by women since 1889. The United Thank Offering Committee is entrusted to promote thank offerings, to receive the offerings and to distribute the United Thank Offering monies through grants. The Committee awards and administers these grants within the framework of the policies and procedures of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) of The Episcopal Church.

Bishops within The Episcopal Church and/or Anglican Communion, or groups within dioceses having the bishop’s approval, may submit grant requests according to the number invited by the Committee. The diocesan bishop’s signature is required. Grants in provinces outside The Episcopal Church require provincial endorsement. Application packets containing request forms, instructions, policy statement and United Thank Offering Committee roster are available through diocesan offices of The Episcopal Church or overseas provincial offices. When two are invited and submitted the diocese/province must name a first and second priority. The diocesan office assures that one copy of the application is sent to the United Thank Offering Office, and for dioceses in The Episcopal Church, one copy is sent to the Province Representative to the UTO Committee. Regional, national and international organizations, as meet the criteria, must request application packets through the United Thank Offering office between October and January. January 31, 2008 is the last possible postmark date and the last possible fax or hand delivery date for submitting all required documents for a complete application. Only complete applications that are submitted in time will be considered. From January through April the contact person for the applying organization is expected to respond to research questions from the United Thank Offering network. Note: The application will be available on our web site from October through January for the purpose of convenience. All of the above instructions regarding endorsement and submission by the diocese (province) apply, and no applications will be accepted electronically.

The Committee gives consideration to priority ranking by the diocese or province, also to recommendations of United Thank Offering screening committees in dioceses of The Episcopal Church. We consider the Budget Priorities adopted by the 75th General Convention, including the Millennium Development Goals. Visit www.globalgood.org. Also see Page 2 of the budget at www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/budget2006_final_ENG.pdf. For grants from overseas dioceses and provinces, we are especially interested in projects which will help achieve universal primary education for children and grants which will promote gender equality and empower women. In addition we acknowledge the priority need for Theological Education for the Anglican Communion (TEAC), as identified by the Primates. Visit www.anglicancommunion.org/teac.

Grant award decisions will be made by the United Thank Offering Committee in April and will be announced in May. Funds are available June 1 for expenses incurred June 2008 through June 2009. Any modification to the project, and any time extension beyond this date, must be approved by the UTO Committee. The Committee is not empowered to make changes outside the original intent of the grant award. Grant monies are disbursed through the local diocese. Instructions for accessing granted funds are included in the grant award letter. Accounting is required. Instructions for accounting are sent to the contact person when funds are dispersed. Funds will not be released to the diocese until all accounting for previous UTO grants in that diocese is up to date.