Our Commitment to Financial Accessibility
We don’t want the price of the Star Island experience to prevent people from coming to Star Island. We actively encourage people who are on the fence about coming to apply for a financial grant, especially folks for whom Star Island is their one big annual trip.
To help everyone in this process and to make all of our costs transparent, we have developed a Star Island Cost Calculator.
Star Island Corporation is a nonprofit organization, and we rely on tax deductible charitable donations. Donations to the Annual Fund help to fund our Financial Grants Program, and we encourage those who can comfortably pay full room and board fees to also consider an extra donation this year as a way of “paying it forward.”
Financial Grants
Applications to the Star Island Financial Grants Program are held in strictest confidence and reviewed only by the Star Island Financial Grant Committee, the Conference's Financial Aid Committee (with your permission), and the Island Registrar. Please contact the island registrar with questions.
Fill out the Finacial Grant Application Form and your application will be reviewed for a grant from all available sources.
Application deadlines are as follow:
| Conference Start Date |
Application Due |
Decisions Emailed By |
| Before August 24, 2025 |
April 15 |
May 15 |
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| On or after August 24, 2025 |
July 1 |
July 15 |
Financial Grant Application
Please consider the following when applying for grants
- Financial grants typically will only cover a portion of room and board, not the full amount. Also, grants do not cover any programming fees required by the conference.
- Financial grant applicants are encouraged to register for the conference they wish to attend. However, if doing so presents a financial hardship, we do not require that you do so.**
- When applicable, grant applications will be considered by both the Star Island Corporation and the conference grant programs. You may be awarded a grant from both the conference and SIC based on your need.
- There is no limit on how many years you can apply.
**If you choose not to register in advance, please let us know so we can work to ensure a space remains available at the conference. Contact the Island Registrar at registrar@starisland.org and let them know your name and the conference you hope to attend.
Equity Grant
The goal of the Equity Grant is to support our Star Island community in becoming more diverse. This grant is open to any individual who self-identifies as part of a traditionally marginalized racial and/or ethnic community. This includes – but is not limited to – individual of African, Asian or Latin American decent, or members of an Indigenous community. Equity Grant is not a need-based grant and a four-year commitment from the grantee is expected. The grant covers 100% of room and board for the first two years and covers 50% of room and board for the last two years. Family members of the Equity Grant recipients qualify for need-based financial aid if attending a Star Island conference poses financial hardship for them.
Apply here!
Questions? Please contact Rev. Christana Wille McKnight at cmcknight@starisland.org.
Information about Conference Scholarship Programs
Information about the individual conference scholarship programs can be found here. The majority of these use the shared application found above.
If your conference is not on the list, you can still fill out the Financial Grant Application Form and be considered for a grant from the Star Island Corporation - if there is a separate application form for your conference below, you can also fill that out.
ISAUU Grants to UU Religious Professionals
Financial grants are available through the Isles of Shoals Association Unitarian Universalist (ISAUU) for Unitarian Universalist Religious Professionals who have never attended a Star Island conference. More information about the ISAUU’s Religious Professionals Grant Program can be found at https://www.shoals.org/clergy-grants/
