Urban Center of Influence Funding Application

A UCI has one primary purpose: to establish new churches in large urban areas that have little or no Adventist work. If you can answer Yes to each of the following questions, you should consider applying for UCI funding.

1. Will the UCI have the express purpose of planting multiple new churches around the city?
2. Will the UCI be located in an urban center with a population of at least 100,000?
3. Will the UCI be located in an area of the city with little or no Adventist presence?
4. Do you have a business plan that will allow the UCI to continue to operate after funding ends?
5. If you answered yes to ALL of the questions above, you should proceed through the following steps.

STEP 1: Read the guidelines

Receiving UCI funds requires effort, research, and time. Familiarize yourself with the operating guidelines to avoid rejected proposals. Download UCI Operating Guidelines

STEP 2: Complete the application

Download the latest application below. Complete the form in English. Do not alter it in any way. Download Excel Application Form (Latest revision November 1, 2022)

STEP 3: Create a business plan

A comprehensive business plan is required. Here is a checklist of the kind of information required. Download Business Plan Checklist

STEP 4: Create a map

A map will be required that marks the location of the UCI, all Adventist churches, schools, and other institutions in the near vicinity, and the proposed locations for the first three new worshiping groups that will be established around the city. Download Sample Map

STEP 5: Get the votes

A UCI must be voted and partially funded by each level of the church organization. These votes should be included at the bottom of the application form, then the division should send the completed application, business plan, and map to the General Conference.

Funding process

1. One million U.S. dollars are allocated for new UCIs each year.
   • Ten applications will receive up to $25,000.
   • Four applications will receive up to $75,000.
   • Three applications will receive up to $150,000.
2. Applications are reviewed twice per year, in the spring and autumn.
3. Funds may not be used for capital expenses like purchasing or renovating property or purchasing vehicles. Some of the funding may be used for initial equipping of a facility as long as the majority of the funding is used for human resources and operations.
4. Global Mission will provide up to 50 percent of the total cost of a UCI. The division, union, and conference/mission together are required to contribute at least 30 percent of the total cost of the project.
5. Funds are distributed over a three-year period. Each distribution is triggered by a report from the project, which should include a one-page description of the current status of the project, progress on the first new church plants, and an expense report based on the application budget. Currently there is no specific form used for reporting. The report should be sent through the conference, union, and division for their approval. The division must submit the report to the General Conference. Additional funding disbursements will be forfeited if reports are not submitted in a timely manner.

Sustainability

Global Mission provides funding for the first three years to help establish UCIs. The commitment that a UCI makes is to reach sustainability within that three-year period. In the application, a five-year budget is required to show that a plan has been made for sustainability after the first three years. Sustainability may be accomplished through business income, ongoing allocations from conference evangelism funds, or other ways.