Reports & Articles
Stewardship 101: Everything You Wanted to Know but
Were Afraid to Ask
from the Stewardship Committee
Our annual pledge campaign will take place in March. At that time you will be asked to think about
what this Society means to you and how much you plan to give in monetary support next year. In
order to demystify stewardship and the pledging process, here are some Frequently Asked Questions
and Answers for those of you who haven’t been with us long, and for those of you who have been
wondering about it for a while:
Where does the money to run the USNF come from?
The funds we have available to expand and enhance our activities and to pay our staff come from all
of us via congregational pledges, and also from withdrawals from our endowment, fund-raising and
various small grants. We do not get support from any central office, but actually send $78 per member
to our national and regional Unitarian Universalist associations. Most of our money is spent on salaries and our building, and the rest on other program costs. We spend roughly $1,100 for every adult
member/friend in the congregation.
What is a pledge?
A pledge is a commitment to pay a certain amount over the course of a fiscal year in support of this
congregation’s programs and ministry. In March of 2014, for example, we will be asking members
and friends to tell us how much they will give, through monetary donations, between September 1,
2014 and August 31, 2015.
When do I make a pledge?
The pledge campaign kicks off on Stewardship Sunday, March 2. Everyone who pledges that day will
be entered into a drawing for a supermarket gift card. We will be contacting those who do not pledge
then via mail, email, or telephone in the following weeks.
Why do we need to know your pledge so far in advance?
We need to plan for the coming year. We establish our budget based on what has been committed.
We need a budget so that we know what we can pay our staff, what resources we can buy for religious
education, and what other kinds of programs we can offer.
Who should make a pledge commitment?
We ask everyone who is part of this community to make a pledge if you can. If you are a member; if
you are involved in any of our many programs; if you attend regularly; if your children are in the ReliContinued...
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