Supporting Carbon Reduction Retrofits of United Church Buildings
The United Church of Canada’s dedicated grant program providing funding and guidance for decarbonization upgrades of its buildings.
About the program
The Faithful Footprints Grant Program was launched by The United Church of Canada in 2018, following the 2016 General Council report Caring for Creation, Our Communities and Our Congregations, which recommended a national program to reduce carbon footprints in faith buildings.
From 2018 to 2025, the program funded energy efficiency and decarbonization upgrades in over 300 United Church properties across all Regional Councils. In 2026, the program was refocused to prioritize higher-emitting and financially vulnerable buildings — providing financial support for communities with limited capacity, ensuring responsible stewardship of funds, and strengthening the program’s focus on carbon reduction and alignment with the church’s emissions targets.
7.8 M
More than 7.8 million dollars invested in retrofitting United Church properties
300+
More than 300 United Church building projects funded across the country
430+
More than 430 project consultations provided to United Church members
560+
More than 560 United Church communities of faith engaged
How the program supports The United Church of Canada
The Faithful Footprints Grant Program aligns and actively supports the strategic objectives, commitments, and initiatives of The United Church of Canada
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By helping to support energy and carbon reduction retrofits of United Church properties, Faithful Footprints is helping to accelerate reductions towards UCCan’s public commitment of an 80% decrease in emissions by 2030.
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Faithful Footprints is one initiative that supports the UCCan climate strategy which offers tools and resources for immediate climate action to help communities and individuals live with respect in creation.
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Faithful Footprints supports the Towards 2035 vision by helping communities of faith reduce the financial and operational burden of their buildings. Through energy efficiency and carbon-reduction retrofits, the program helps free capacity for resilient ministry, adaptive leadership, and a faithful, sustainable future for the United Church.
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Faithful Footprints is one initiative supporting the work under the UCCan Climate Pillar ‘Putting our House in Order’. This pillar focuses on contributing towards more resilient communities by greening buildings, sharing spaces, and decreasing carbon footprints to help lower operational costs, create revenue-flowing opportunities, and build capacity for additional programming.
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By supporting the revitalization of United Church properties, Faithful Footprints is helping to renew and strengthen existing communities of faith toward transformation, contributing to the national ministry’s leading priority on gearing its focus, energy, and resources to revitalizing the church toward a vibrant future.