BUF - Social Justice/Action Committee Collections

Guiding Principles for BUF Social Justice Collections

Twelve times a year, one Sunday a month, BUF members will be invited to give to a Social Justice Collection for a non-profit organization serving in one of the following areas: women and children, environment, poverty/homelessness, peace and human rights, social and economic justice, and health. We try to spread the Social Justice Collections among all these areas. We will give preference to organizations that have 501(c)3 status; we will require that all recipients are registered with the state. We will consider awarding SJ Collections to organizations without 501(c)3 status if adequate justification is provided.

Organizations for which BUF makes a Social Justice Collection should provide opportunities for direct member involvement in the organization's efforts to help people in Bellingham, Whatcom County and beyond. We will try to avoid situations where sending money is the only involvement we have. We will try to choose organizations whose initiatives match the skills and interests of our members.

To this end, we will ask organizations applying for a Social Justice Collection to outline in their application the volunteer opportunities that exist for BUF members, and to describe these when speaking to the members on the Social Justice Collection Sunday. They may also describe existing BUF member involvement, but one BUF member's current role in the organization will not necessarily be sufficient, if no additional volunteer opportunities are offered.

We will focus on having Social Justice Collections for organizations where our financial contribution demonstrably "makes a difference," rather than just disappears into general operational funds. To this end, we will ask organizations applying for a Social Justice Collection to explain how the money will be used, showing how the Social Justice Collection will relate directly to the achievement of the program's goals and objectives, and the target population served. This could be accomplished by translating dollar amounts into numbers of clients served, supplies purchased, etc. This should also be described when speaking to members on Social Justice Collection Sunday.

Organizations which have received Social Justice Collections in the past will not automatically be scheduled for future Social Justice Collections, but will be invited to apply and provide the information outlined above. Past recipient organizations should describe how previous Social Justice Collections have been used to further the organization's goals, and serve the target population.

The Social Justice Committee will schedule Social Justice Collections, after evaluating all applicant organizations against these principles. Invitations to organizations to apply for Social Justice Collections, outlining these principles, will be made continuously; as such organizations come to the Committee's attention.

Home - Newcomers - Worship - GSP - SJ Home -

BUF: BUF Home Social Justice Cmte.: SJC Homepage SJ Events SJ Programs SJ Collections SJ Fair Trade S J Committee Chair: (in transition) Social Justice Committee Banner	Social Justice Collections The Congregation is given an opportunity once each month, to contribute to local organizations in the name of BUF. The recipients are selected by the Social Justice Committee. For the current year (2009-2010) the upcoming, remaining SJ collections are: 2009 Oct - Womencare Network 2009 Nov - Lydia Place 2009 Dec - Maple Alley Inn 2010 Jan - Sean Humphry House 2010 Feb - BUF Partner Church 2010 Mar - Whatcom Peace and Justice Center 2010 Apr - Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Assn. 2010 May - Northwest Indian College The collections during recent years have been 2008 Jan - NW Indian College 2008 Feb - WomenCare Shelter 2008 Mar - Local NAMI Chapter 2008 Apr - Animals as Natural Therapy 2008 May - Whatcom Land Trust 2008 Jun - NW Youth Services 2008 Jul - Community to Community 2008 Aug - Sean Humphrey House 2008 Sep - Mother Baby Center 2008 Oct - Lydia Place 2008 Nov - Evergreen AIDS Foundation 2008 Dec - Maple Alley Inn 2009 Jan - Whatcom Human Rights Task Force 2009 Feb - Just Foods 2009 Mar - Rainbow Center 2009 Apr - Whatcom Peace & Justice Center 2009 May - Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center 2009 Jun - Los Ninos 2009 Jul - Whatcom Community Land Trust 2009 Aug - Threshold Choir 2009 Sep - Evergreen AIDS Foundation Total Annual Amounts - all Collections for eight years - 2002-2009: 2002-2003 = $1,368 2003-2004 = $9,457 2004-2005 = $10,436 2005-2006 = $17,989 2006-2007 = $13,851 2007-2008 = $14,276 2008-2009 = $10,666	Guiding Principles for BUF Social Justice Collections Twelve times a year, one Sunday a month, BUF members will be invited to give to a Social Justice Collection for a non-profit organization serving in one of the following areas: women and children, environment, poverty/homelessness, peace and human rights, social and economic justice, and health. We try to spread the Social Justice Collections among all these areas. We will give preference to organizations that have 501(c)3 status; we will require that all recipients are registered with the state. We will consider awarding SJ Collections to organizations without 501(c)3 status if adequate justification is provided. Organizations for which BUF makes a Social Justice Collection should provide opportunities for direct member involvement in the organization's efforts to help people in Bellingham, Whatcom County and beyond. We will try to avoid situations where sending money is the only involvement we have. We will try to choose organizations whose initiatives match the skills and interests of our members. To this end, we will ask organizations applying for a Social Justice Collection to outline in their application the volunteer opportunities that exist for BUF members, and to describe these when speaking to the members on the Social Justice Collection Sunday. They may also describe existing BUF member involvement, but one BUF member's current role in the organization will not necessarily be sufficient, if no additional volunteer opportunities are offered. We will focus on having Social Justice Collections for organizations where our financial contribution demonstrably "makes a difference," rather than just disappears into general operational funds. To this end, we will ask organizations applying for a Social Justice Collection to explain how the money will be used, showing how the Social Justice Collection will relate directly to the achievement of the program's goals and objectives, and the target population served. This could be accomplished by translating dollar amounts into numbers of clients served, supplies purchased, etc. This should also be described when speaking to members on Social Justice Collection Sunday. Organizations which have received Social Justice Collections in the past will not automatically be scheduled for future Social Justice Collections, but will be invited to apply and provide the information outlined above. Past recipient organizations should describe how previous Social Justice Collections have been used to further the organization's goals, and serve the target population. The Social Justice Committee will schedule Social Justice Collections, after evaluating all applicant organizations against these principles. Invitations to organizations to apply for Social Justice Collections, outlining these principles, will be made continuously; as such organizations come to the Committee's attention.
SJC webmaster email