Strategic Plan

ICUUW Strategic Plan 2025-2030

adopted by the Board at its March 2025 meeting

Mission

We are a global partnership of Unitarian Universalists who work for all women’s and girls’ equity through Unitarian Universalist connections around the world.

Goals

We connect women to advance women’s leadership and self-determination. We work together to end all forms of discrimination by working for a world in which women

  • Can pursue their dreams and goals, free from physical or psychological violence, including in the digital space

  • Are leaders and participate in all aspects of their societies, including, but not limited to, faith, civil, and business organizations, and in environmental decision-making and peace building at all levels

  • Have equal access to economic opportunities

  • Have equal access to education

  • Have access to affordable, comprehensive, and quality health care, including reproductive care

Guiding Principles

In everything we do, we

  • promote U*U values of affirming the inherent worth of all individuals and by working for justice and fostering global community

  • respect the capabilities and contributions of all women everywhere in every way

  • include all women, regardless of religion, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, class, ethnicity, or age

 

As a global organization we are aware of the intricacies of intercultural dialogue. Our members are a diverse group and how we work together is as important to us as what we do. Learning how to be better in global community - how to be in right relations - is an ongoing process. Every member contributes to this global dialogue, and every voice is equally important. 

Activities

We work with U*U women and women of liberal faith wherever they are in the world. Activities that support our mission are suggested by individual members or groups.  Once a project is adopted by the Board, these individuals or groups ensure that the work gets done aligned with our guiding principles.

  • Leadership Development to develop the skills that are the foundation for women to address their needs in all areas

    • E.g., strategic thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, team management

  • Advocacy Training to develop the skills and knowledge needed to promote social, political, or environmental causes like gender-mainstreaming, CEDAW adoption and implementation, the 2000 Security Council Resolution 1325 on women and peace and security

    • E.g. policy analysis, coalition-building, campaigning, public speaking

  • We work on issues that are obstacles to gender equity. Our main focus is on Preventing Violence against Women, Strengthening girls’ and women’s Identity and Self-Worth, Economic Empowerment and Independence, Health & Reproductive Justice, and Climate Justice.

Progress for women in each of these areas lifts whole societies by reducing poverty, improving the lives of families and communities, and contributing to a more peaceful, gender-equal world

  • Convocations and Gatherings

We are a global organization. Most of our work is done virtually or locally. To facilitate the exchange of ideas, to learn from each other and to support each other, we meet virtually and in person. Our meetings are

  • Tuesday Gatherings: regular online opportunities to connect

  • Smaller online meetings to share and learn from each other

  • Convocations every 4-5 years

  • Annual participation in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), to address the widespread inequalities, violence and discrimination women continue to face around the world

  • Annual participation in the High-level Political Forum (HLPF), the central UN platform for monitoring and reviewing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • Other UN meetings

By identifying women with skills who are willing to share/teach others we create opportunities for others to access lessons learned to advance gender equity. We build networks and coalitions of women.

Internal organization 

A) Staffing

  • We rely primarily on volunteers, with part-time, paid staff

  • We will develop processes to recruit and develop volunteers to carry out the work and to lead the organization

B) Membership

We are a membership-based organization with individual membership. Our members are our most important volunteers and our most important financial contributors.

C) Fundraising

  • We honor congregations that support our work (share-the-plate).

  • We will develop a stable funding base to pursue our activities and to sustain the organizational infrastructure that makes our work possible

D) Partnerships

While we are an organization of individuals, we work in close collaboration with the following U*U women’s groups. We are in partnership with various women’s organizations (e.g., Seng Kynthei, the Women’s Wing of the Unitarian Union of North East India, Unitarian Women’s Association of Romania (UNOSZ), Unitarian Women’s Association of Hungary (MUNOSZ), and UUWF) and we are developing relations with other organizations (e.g. UU Women’s Association of Philippines, Comunidad Unitaria Universalista Boliviana, UU Church of Kenya).

We participate in the work of the UN through our Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). In this work, we partner with other organizations to amplify our voice (e.g. the U.S. Women’s Caucus and the NGO CSW NY).

E) Communications

We rely almost exclusively on internet-based media for our communications across national boundaries.