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            [post_date] => 2026-06-01 19:31:24
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            [post_content] => Why are we hiring a Director of Development?

For the past four years, we’ve been responding to the fact that our building’s multi-million dollar capital needs extend beyond the capacity of our annual budget. As a vibrant, fully intergenerational congregation, we have affirmed that we want to stay in this location. We’ve also become an invaluable resource and home for dozens of community organizations, building tremendous goodwill in the town of Brookline. Our 2024 capital campaign feasibility study with Starrs Aligned determined that, while we have internal capacity to do some of the necessary fundraising, we are not yet ready to do the full scope of it with our current staff configuration. The feasibility study recommended hiring a professional fundraising staff member to help us achieve our goals.

What has the process been so far?

For the past two years, our staff, Church Council, UPLIFT, and Human Relations Teams have thoughtfully and prayerfully considered this recommendation. We have discussed the idea with members, church consultants, and spoken with development directors at a local UCC church and Jewish temple. At the request of our Strategy Team, Emily Reed of Stewardship, also a fundraising professional, and Kate Baker-Carr of our Human Relations Team, drafted a job description. In consultation with our Senior Pastor, member leadership, and outside eyes, we have refined this description into an exciting opportunity for a fundraising professional who wants to help us strengthen and grow our culture of generosity.

How will we fund it?

Council has determined with thoughtful deliberation that we will fund the first three years of this position from our Ministry Fund. (The current total value of the Ministry Fund is $4.2 million, from the sale of our parsonage in 2023). We will set a benchmark goal for this staff member to significantly increase our fundraising revenue with the intention that the position be funded within our operating budget going forward.

What will this role look like?

This full-time position will require someone who sincerely wants to get well acquainted with our congregation and its members, as well as our building users and community partners. They will attend community events and visit worship and Ministry Team meetings on a schedule determined with their supervisor, the Senior Pastor. They will assess and strengthen our existing fundraising strategies. We will also need them to help build upon existing relationships and expand our capacity for funding from legacy giving, grants, foundations, major donors, supportive individuals and institutions from the wider community. They will be integrally involved with shaping communication about our mission and its impact, both for our worshiping congregation and our broader outreach.

What are the next steps?

This June, we will form a search committee of staff and members and post the job description. Non-profit fundraising is a competitive field and we anticipate attracting a wide selection of qualified candidates. After we determine a pool of finalists, we will hold small meet-and-greets with a cross-section of our community to see how candidates interact with our members and friends. We believe God is already preparing someone to take on this exciting, forward-thinking role. We are eager to find them and appreciate your prayers for this process and engagement in welcoming this new member of our United Parish community.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact stewardship@upbrookline.org
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            [post_date] => 2026-05-29 16:08:25
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            [post_content] => 
The UPLIFT Building Grants Committee (Mary L., Rebekah Shore, and David R.) is happy to announce that Town Meeting last night (Wednesday, May 28) unanimously approved United Parish's request for $800,000 in grant funds from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) program to support the steeple restoration program.
For a little context:  the Town awarded $4.1 million in CPA grants in total -- along with our award, it granted funds for badly needed roof and window replacements for two of the largest Brookline public housing family developments, for tombstone restoration at the Old Burial Ground and some open space projects.  All the projects were approved in a single vote.
Along the way our proposal was closely reviewed by the Brookline Preservation Commission, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the Brookline CPA Committee and the Brookline Select Board -- unanimous and enthusiastic endorsements at each step of the way.
When we began the application process last summer, we were encourage. to apply but also cautioned that our project would likely get far less than our requested $800,000.  Thanks to the professional and tenacious diligence by our engineer Gale Associates, our proposal is sound -- and comprehensively detailed -- from an engineering and technical standpoint.  That was essential, but it was clear through the process that United Parish's role as a widely used community center was also a key positive factor in their decision to award our full request.  All at our church -- staff, congregation, and our building users -- can take some credit for this recognition.
Gale Associates has attracted bids from four contractors with the specialized expertise we need.  Bids are due June 5, and we'll then have the chance to select the best proposal in a strongly competitive setting.
This project has also attracted a $250,000 grant award from the National Fund for Sacred Places.  Remaining funds will come from church resources.
The work should begin this summer, and be completed in the spring of 2027.   Along with the steeple work, we will return the carillon (aka tower bells) to operation, replace the stone stairway entrance beneath the tower to make that entrance functional once more, and improve accessibility with a non-sloped pathway to the ramp, running from Harvard Street beneath the tower, that significantly improves accessibility.
Our thanks to the UPLIFT Strategy Team and the Church Council for their scrutiny and support throughout the process.  Please contact any of us if you have questions.
Mary L., Rebekah Shore, David R. 
            [post_title] => United Parish wins grant award for steeple
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            [post_date] => 2026-05-26 20:25:15
            [post_date_gmt] => 2026-05-26 20:25:15
            [post_content] => When: Tuesday, June 9, 2026 from 7:00 - 8:30pm

Where: United Parish in Brookline, 210 Harvard Street in the Sanctuary

Join GBIO member religious organizations at a forum with the six candidates running in the September 1st state-wide primary for Norfolk County D.A. The candidates (listed alphabetically) who will join us: Jim Barakat, Greg Connor, Adam Deitch, Macy Lee, Craig McLellan, & Djuna Perkins

Candidates will respond to our specific questions regarding their perspectives on the role of district attorney and their priorities as they relate to our views on justice and equity and other faith principles. All are welcome!

GBIO Sponsoring Organizations: Temple Sinai Brookline, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Temple Beth Zion, Temple Israel, and United Parish in Brookline

Register here.

QUESTIONS? Contact: janedaniels36@gmail.com


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