The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society is pleased to announce that the United Thank Offering has experienced a record year of generosity, marking a 2.14% increase for 2014-2015 over the previous year.

The United Thank Offering is a ministry to promote thankfulness and mission in the whole Church. Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally in The Episcopal Church.

“The generosity we are witnessing in the ingathering is a testament to the donors and to the effectiveness of United Thank Offering,” remarked Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer. “We are thankful, and all those who benefit from the grants are thankful for this support.”

The information is based on a report prepared by the Rev. Heather Melton, the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society’s United Thank Offering Missioner.  In it she tracked the United Thank Offering ingathering donations, grants amounts and contribution patterns over the past two grant cycles as well as tracking each diocese’s ingathering since 2000.  

According to Melton:

• Noting that requests for grants often outnumber the amount available, the United Thank Offering was able to fund 35% of requests in 2014.

• 38 dioceses of The Episcopal Church increased their Ingathering amounts in the past year.

• Six of the nine Provinces increased their overall Ingathering amounts.  Melton added that Anglican Communion donations also increased over last year.

• For 2014-2015, the total amount available for grants was $1,558,006.85

• Of the Ingathering, a remarkable 79% was derived from the Blue Boxes.

“Putting coins in the Blue Box gives me a real sense of giving back,” commented Peg Cooper from the Diocese of Missouri and the United Thank Offering board member from Province V. “I put a quarter in my Blue Box for every grant application that was submitted to the United Thank Offering. I thank God for what that Diocese and its grant project wants to do to help those in need. What a blessing to be able to give God thanks in this special way.”

For more information contact Melton.

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