Veatch Funding Model

The Veatch Program supports the fabric of democracy and social justice in our country.

  The core of our model is to provide long term general operating funds to social change organizations and for aligned strategies at the local, regional and national levels. This requires a guiding analysis of how systems of oppression based on race, gender and economic opportunity cause and sustain inequality.  

 We also support movement infrastructure, including leadership training, research and funder affinity networks. 

 Our regranting programs and participation in collaborative funds implements our commitment to collaboration and self-determination, while extending our reach.  Through this approach we support hundreds of additional organizations and communities, including many new and emerging initiatives.

 Program Areas: Veatch provides funding through six main program areas:

  •  Unitarian Universalism: Strengthening and growing our denomination.
  • Civil Rights and Sustainable Communities: Supporting the most marginalized people in our society to change unjust systems.
  •  Economic Equity and Fairness: Expanding economic equity, democracy and worker rights.
  •  Making Democracy Work: Ensuring equal representation through electoral participation and education, community organizing and year-round voter engagement.
  •  New York: Addressing the needs of our home state, specifically on Long Island.
  •  Social Justice Infrastructure: Sustaining organizational and movement capacity, informed public discourse and progressive philanthropy.

 For a list of current grantees, see our Annual Report.


Regranting Programs and Collaborative Funds:   Veatch does not accept unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry. However, we fund the following two regranting programs that have rolling applications:

 Unitarian Universalist Funding Program:  A denominational grant-making program of the Unitarian Universalist Association, led by UU’s from across the country. Inspired by the richness and diversity of the Unitarian Universalist religious tradition, the mission of the UUFP is to promote the influence of Unitarian Universalist principles through grantmaking for social change and denominational support.

Long Island Community Foundation — Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund: A donor-advised fund that supports 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.  Unitarian Universalists from several Long Island’s congregations serve as the board of advisors for this fund. 


Veatch contributes to and participates in the following collaborative funds:

Native Rights

Common Counsel Foundation — Native Voices Rising: A research and re-granting project of Common Counsel Foundation and Native Americans in Philanthropy that strengthens philanthropic support for grassroots groups led by and for Native communities, including American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.

Racial and Economic Justice

Deaconess FoundationA St. Louis-based funding program that strengthens the region's ability to achieve positive outcomes in the health and well-being of children and youth. This includes keeping young people of color safe from harsh policing practices and mass incarceration.

Let Us Breath Fund — North Star: This collaborative fund supports Black-led organizations building collective power through grassroots organizing in New York City and the Hudson Valley. 

Immigrant Rights and Protections

Rise Together Fund:  A national donor collaborative that supports Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities, who are among the most targeted, marginalized and underfunded immigrant communities in our country.

Worker Power

The Lift Fund: A broad-based collaboration that makes grants to promote innovative cross-sector learning among local communities, the labor movement and organizations that are working for a fair economy and to build worker power.

Veatch staff partner and play leadership roles in the following Funder Affinity Networks:

Funders Committee for Civic Participation:   Galvanizing funders to support civic engagement all year round, with an underlying conviction that all people deserve a voice in our democratic process.

Funders Collaborative on Youth Organizing:  Bridging funders and organizers to support youth organizing and its commitment to systemic change and social justice.

Neighborhood Funders Group:  Building networks among funders who believe in the power of ordinary people to transform communities. Our staff actively participate in the following programs:

  • Integrated Rural Strategies Group: addressing the reality that as minority populations continue to grow in rural America, philanthropy needs to contribute to a strong participatory democracy that engages all communities. 
  •  Philanthropy Forward: a shared initiative with the Aspen Institute, to support collaboration among senior executive staff in philanthropy.

Engage New York:  Developing an action agenda with foundation leaders across the State that advances equity, civic and community participation to improve the lives of all New Yorkers.

Women’s Funding Network:  Engaging with the largest philanthropic network in the world devoted to women and girls, in recognition of the powerful leadership of women in organizing for change.

The Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock provides support for efforts within the religious and spiritual mission of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock where their purposes are best served by outside agencies acting under the Veatch Program and the Congregation.

Veatch Shortcuts