United Thank Offering Report November 2025

Date: Nov 20, 2025Submitted by: UTO Board Member from Prov VIII – Tammy Smecker-Hane(tsmecker@cox.net)

United Thank Offering (UTO; https://unitedthankoffering.com) is a discipline of The Episcopal Church focused on ministry and mission where every penny that parishioners donate annually goes out as innovative grants to Episcopal groups in the USA and the wider world through the Anglican Communion to solve pressing community problems.

Applying for a 2026 UTO Grant

The 2026 UTO grants will focus on the theme of justice and bridging divides. If you are interested in applying, please consult the grant proposal guidelines at https://unitedthankoffering.com/apply as soon as possible. Note that each diocesan bishop can only endorse one UTO grant each year so your particular diocese may have an internal deadline before the UTO application deadline of Jan 30. In addition, plan to attend at least one of the on-line webinars that UTO offers to help you prepare a successful grant.

Remember that grants are for new mission and ministry projects, not simply expanding your current activities to serve more people or for doing church renovation projects that solely benefit your parishioners. In addition, this year is somewhat different than in previous years because successful projects must be undertaken in concert with at least one group with which you do not traditionally work.

Please carefully read the criteria on-line at the website above for a thorough explanation, and feel free to email me (tsmecker@cox.net) with questions and I will be happy to help you navigate the process.

Parish UTO Ingatherings & Materials for Lent

Many excellent UTO grant applications are not funded solely because UTO runs out of grant money before they run out of great proposals. If you church has never had a UTO Ingathering to raise funds to donate to UTO, please consider doing one this year because communities at home and abroad are in the midst of some very challenging times!

A UTO Ingathering is easy for just a single person in a parish to organize because UTO gives you step-by-instructions (see https://unitedthankoffering.com/ingathering) and all the materials you need for free. You can download and print out Gratitude resources and order materials free of charge such as a entire parish kit or envelopes and UTO boxes at our new on-line shop at https://unitedthankoffering.com/shop.

Order UTO materials specifically for Lent soon. Or register for the UTO Lenten book club in Feb-Mar, which will be reading of “The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World” by Robin Wall Kimmerer by visiting https://unitedthankoffering/lent.

Diocesan UTO Coordinators Needed

One way to ensure your diocese knows about applying for UTO grants and is successful in doing so is to make sure your diocese has a UTO Coordinator. A requirement for each UTO grant is a recommendation from the diocesan bishop, and each bishop can only recommend one UTO grant each year so the UTO coordinator usually is in charge of coordinating that internal diocesan process.

Ask your bishop if he/she has one. If not, volunteer to do it! Its easy because UTO provides coordinators with all the resources you need from their website. Talk with your bishop then register using the link at the bottom of the UTO website at https://unitedthankoffering.com.

With sincerest wishes for God’s blessings on you & your ministries,

Tammy Smecker-Hane

UTO Representative, ECW Prov VIII BoardUTO Board Member from Province VIIIUTO Diocesan Coordinator, Diocese of Los AngelesUTO Parish Coordinator, Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church (Irvine, CA)

Email: tsmecker@cox.net

Cell Phone: 949-293-7157