Calling Young Women Who Want to Travel and Study!

United Women in Faith is accepting applications for the Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizenship Award. The grant is awarded to a lay woman (between the ages of 21 and 35) who wishes to travel to explore and study in a country or region other than the applicant’s own.

Priority will be given to projects that explore one of United Women in Faith’s social justice priorities:

• Climate Justice: Advance just energy for all through advocacy or concrete projects that promote clean, just, renewable energy, energy democracy, and a just and equitable energy transition.
• Racial Justice: Ending mass incarceration, stopping the criminalization of communities of color, and/or interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline.

In addition, applicants should demonstrate concern for, and a connection to, their community and a recognition of their global responsibilities.

Application Criteria

• The proposed project must happen in a country or region other than the applicant’s own.
  • The award will be given to a young woman who has:
    demonstrated concern for her neighbors and community;
    shown that concern in service to the community; and
    exhibited an awareness of the total nature of our responsibilities in the world today and in the future.
• Emphasis of the award is on travel and informal learning rather than a period of formal study through scholarship aid, recognizing Ms. Hoover’s strong belief in that form of learning for women and for laity in particular.
• The award is to be ecumenical in nature, honoring Ms. Hoover’s unique ability to combine commitment to her race, religion, and region with a lively interest in all other races, religions, and regions.
• Applicant must be a lay woman between the ages of 21 and 35 of any race or nationality.
• Funds must be used for travel to another country or region other than one’s own.
• This is a one-time grant award.
• The maximum amount per award is $10,000.
• The awardee will be required to provide a written report. She may also be asked to give a presentation about her trip and project at an annual United Methodist Women Board or program advisory group meeting.
• Preference will be given to applications that outline a strong evaluation/reporting plan for the proposed project.
• Preference will be given to projects that directly connect to one of the issue priorities of United Women in Faith.
• Not all applications will be funded.

Applications that request scholarship funding or nonprofit support will not be considered.

Applications are due by July 10, 2025.

To learn more and obtain the application, please contact the United Women in Faith’s grants office at grants@uwfaith.org, noting in the email subject line: Theressa Hoover Application Request. In the body of the email, please include the following: applicant’s name, email address, and any other details you feel necessary.