2024 Annual Report

Annual Report of ICUUW’s Activities

Prepared for ICUUW’s Annual Meeting of Members, 25 June 2024

2023-24-annual-report (PDF, 2.5 MB)

President's Report

Dear Members and Supporters,

I am so grateful for the opportunity I was given to serve on the board of ICUUW for the past 6 years. I have learned a lot and met so many wonderful people on this journey. I am transitioning off the board at this time and am confident that our new board will take us forward to achieve new heights of engagement and worldwide community.

Our challenges will be many as governments around the world are shifting to the right and women and girls’ rights are lost in the shuffle. May we never forget how far we have come. Thank you all for your love and support of ICUUW.

Fondly,

Karen Kortsch, President

Executive Director's Report

Dear Members and Friends,

We have much to be proud of at ICUUW. We have come a long way since our inception in 2010: projects and programs benefiting 4,000+ women and girls worldwide, three major convocations and two smaller gatherings connecting women across the world and building community, special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, consistent advocacy at the UN on behalf of women and girls … and the list can go on. In the past four years alone, we have expanded our capacities by establishing a clear organizational structure with volunteer committees and task forces to distribute the work more evenly, and by adding a marketing director and a bookkeeper to the staff (until then, of one). The past two years were the most successful in ICUUW’s 14-year history, managing to double our annual budget to $100K+. 

ICUUW is no longer a fledgling organization and is strong and well-positioned for the future. It is now entering a transitional phase, as I step down as executive director following 11 incredibly rewarding years, at the end of the year. I feel that the time is right to pass on the torch from a strong financial position, and I look forward to working with the ICUUW leadership over the next 6 months to assist with the transition to a new executive director and remaining connected in a volunteer capacity.

The road ahead may be bumpy. The vicious backlash against women’s rights is reversing hard-won advances in developing and developed countries alike. We are living in an age where major global forces – governments, religious groups, and civil society organizations – are looking for a return to old certainties in a rapidly changing and uncertain world, pushing regressive agendas even within the framework of the UN system, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, as reported by our delegation of 11 this year: CSW68: Better Understanding and More Effective Participation

Recognizing the importance of organizations like ours in the current environment of global pushbacks and threats to women’s rights, the UU Funding Program (UUFP) has awarded ICUUW a matching grant of $8,000 to help fund our strategic vision for the next 5 years and beyond.

International collaboration is crucial to strengthening a shared commitment and enhancing capacity to effect change. We are fighting back by fostering solidarity, energizing existing collaborations, and creating new networks and partnerships. 

We need your involvement in this fight. Now is the time to build strategies, to mobilize, create networks, and catalyze collective action for gender equality! Here’s what you can do as a member, supporter, partner, or ally:

• Plan on attending our 4th Convocation in September. The event is an opportunity to foster a global U/U community, generate new thinking, build capacity across networks, rally collective action, and strengthen our strategic partnerships with women’s and other organizations, activists, and partners.

• Contribute to the matching funds granted by UUFP to allow ICUUW to create the next five years of resistance against the backlash to global women’s rights and a realistic and strategic succession plan. We are now at 73% toward the $8,000 match, so we only need to raise about $2,000 to qualify for the entire match!

Funding this work is crucial. We are in a new period of global history, a time of planetary “polycrisis,” or, as journalist, political commentator, and author Fareed Zakaria labeled, a “new Age of Revolutions.” It’s an unstable, crisis-prone world, “hitting women and girls hardest — from poverty and hunger to climate disasters, war, and terror” (UN Secretary-General António Guterres). Therefore, we must invest in women and girls, turbocharge progress, and build a better world for us all — and that cannot happen without you by our side.

I am most thankful for the lifelong relationships I have formed with many people in my position as executive director, and for the remarkable accomplishments we have collectively achieved.

Thank you for your vital continued support of this worthy organization.

In sisterhood and community,

Zsófia Sztranyiczki, Executive Director

Treasurer’s Report

First, congratulations to ICUUW! We are a growing organization. Our annual income has now graduated from under $50,000 to more than $100,000. This is thanks in large part to the generous donations from our members and supporters, along with grants from the UU Funding Panel and Faithify campaigns.

This year, our Barbara Beach Legacy Fund has grown to almost $30,000. These funds are intended mainly for use as scholarships to assist participation in some of our programs. Some funds will go this year for scholarships for the upcoming 4th Convo.

During the past year we have increased staff, retaining a Bookkeeper and Marketing Director along with a professional to assist with our taxes. These are all good signs of continuing growth and will allow for more consistency in these important areas.

As you may know, my maximum terms as Treasurer are up, and as of this writing there has been no one offering to step into this position. I have agreed to continue as a non-board member “Assistant Treasurer” until the board can find someone to serve in this position on the board.  (Inquiries welcome!)

Sincerely,

Geri Kennedy, Treasurer

An Overview of ICUUW’s Global Impact (June 2023 to June 2024)

Tuesday Gatherings

In the middle of 2020, our Tuesday Gatherings gave us a crucial opportunity to maintain and build on our international connections as well as providing a social outlet in those isolating pandemic days. We have continued to meet twice a month, on the second and fourth Tuesday, steadily adding new participants. Most meetings feature breakout group discussions around an intriguing theme; major points from these small group discussions are then shared briefly with the whole group. Several interesting programs are found on our YouTube Channel. We are now forming a committee to organize these meetings; let This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. know if you are interested in joining. Please know that everyone is welcome to suggest topics.

Programs

This past year has been perhaps the richest in ICUUW’s 14-year history – we have carried out a number of valuable and varied programs and events.

In partnership with Seng Kynthei, the Women's Wing of the Unitarian Union of North East India, a culturally and age-appropriate life skills and drug prevention program is currently underway for hundreds of Khasi Unitarian children, thanks to funds raised on Faithify. Read the detailed report: Training Khasi Children in Life Skills ...and Drug Education: Navchetna

In partnership with UNOSZ, the Unitarian Women’s Association of Romania, training sessions for over 100 women in three districts of the Hungarian Unitarian Church took place. Underwritten by a generous grant from the UU Funding Program, these sessions are meant to enhance the participants’ mental wellbeing and resilience. The project is now in its second phase. A handbook will be created based on the materials and learnings of the program for a wider audience. The handbook will then be translated into English for use in other Unitarian and Universalist communities around the world. Read more about the project: Protecting Our Mental Health

In partnership with Tunawiri Pamoja, we helped make possible the “Young Women's Business Program” in Western Kenya. A Faithify campaign supplied necessary funds. This program enabled dozens of young Kenyan women to develop their capacities for long-term success by providing them with knowledge, skills, resources, and tools regarding land and property rights, family planning, and business and leadership skills. Read more about their work: Breaking Barriers: Talking Openly about Sexual and Reproductive Health in Kenya

In partnership with Gondviselés or Providence Organization in Romania, we continued to raise funds to sustain the education of 44 Ukrainian refugee children in Cluj/ Kolozsvár. We also actively participated in humanitarian aid shipments to Transcarpathia, Ukraine. Read more about the 8th Aid Shipment to Southern Ukraine

Events

This past year we also organized several terrific events – we invite you to check out the recordings of the following on our YouTube Channel:

An on-demand program created for the UUA General Assembly this June, titled "Uniting Women Worldwide Through Their Inspiring Stories." The video features young activists from Canada, India, and Rwanda, who are members of our young adult or partner organization network.

In the past year, we also created year-round Share-the-Plate resources and beautifully designed Chalice Awards for congregations that dedicate a Sunday collection to ICUUW. We would welcome your involvement in encouraging your congregation to share a yearly offering to support the work of ICUUW, enhancing our capacity to effect change.

The Work of Our Committees

We have several active committees that promote our work in various ways. The following are short descriptions of their work, with links to their more detailed reports. Joining a committee is an ideal way to make connections and learn more about our association; new members are welcome.

Development Committee

This committee, consisting of the Board officers, is now the Executive Committee. It guides the organization in key ways, including coordinating fund raising, identifying projects and researching grant opportunities. Read the 2024 Development Committee Report.

Membership Committee

Although the first two Convocations of the ICUUW attracted around 600 people each, our active membership has remained small, with a current membership of a little over 100. The Membership Committee wants to maintain and increase our membership through contacts with and among the members. In addition to regular reminders to past members to renew their membership, this past year they organized two special membership meetings. Read the 2024 Membership Committee Report.

Programs Committee

Crucial to carrying out our mission of “focusing on global women’s rights and empowerment”, the Programs Committee identifies projects we can contribute to and liaises with the UUA and other granting organizations to fund these projects. Our accomplishments are enabled by these efforts. Read the 2024 Programs Committee Report.

Outreach Committee

The Outreach Committee aims to raise awareness of our organization among Unitarians, especially in the United States, both for its higher number of Unitarians and for its ability to contribute financially to our goals. The committee encourages congregations to contribute their offering, “share the plate”, both for the funds and for the associated opportunity to let the congregations know what we are accomplishing. Read the  2024 Outreach Committee Report.

Finance Committee

This committee is intended to help the Treasurer. Currently it is in hiatus, but anyone with skills and an interest in our finances should contact the administration to join in a rebirth of this potentially important committee.

UN Advocacy Committee

With a special focus on women’s issues, this committee follows the action in the United Nations, where we have special consultative status on the UN Economic and Social Council. Committee members have been attending meetings and learning more about the workings of the UN, in particular the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held every March. The work of this committee is all the more crucial since the UUA defunded the UU United Nations Office that was established in 1946. Read the 2024 UN Advocacy Committee Report.

Looking Ahead

This organization grew out of a convocation in 2009, and coming together continues to be central to our mission. Our Fourth International Convocation of U*U Women and People of Progressive Faith this September in Kolozsvár/Cluj, Romania offers a much-needed opportunity to foster our global U/U community. We will build capacity across networks, rally collective action, and strengthen our strategic partnerships with women’s and other organizations, activists, and partners. We look forward to connecting with you there!

This year, ICUUW is undertaking a year-long strategic planning process. As we envision the next five years, we will engage various stakeholders in a process to identify challenges and opportunities, gain insight on collaborative leadership in times of complex crises, and help set priorities. We welcome your input at any time! Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any feedback.

As we reflect on this past year, we realize that we are in a new period of global history. In the current environment of global pushback and threats to women’s rights, our organization’s existence is more important than ever. Your steadfast support and solidarity remain critical as we strive toward a safe, just, and gender-equal future that benefits everyone. We are grateful to all those who have given their support to us over the years and continue to do so. Thank you for your unwavering support.