Fund Our Future!

2024-2025 Annual Fund Drive

Pledges help ensure that UUCDC is funded to pay for our Staff, Minister, and church activities.

The annual pledge drive for the 2024–2025 church year will be April 7-14.  Our theme: Fund Our Future!

2024-2025 Fund Our Future.  For this year’s Annual Fund Drive, we invite you to enjoy one of the special parties being hosted at members’ homes and church. Each party will offer a fun, relaxing way to meet and socialize, while we discuss our hopes and dreams for UUCDC with one another and Rev Ed, who will attend to speak and answer questions about this year’s Fund Drive.

Sign up for a party at church or online here, choosing a time and date that’s convenient for you. When you attend, please make your pledge there. If you can’t attend a party, please click here to pledge online!–click here to pledge online!

This coming year will be a pivotal one for the future of the congregation. Our goals include funding the search for a new settled minister, expanding staff hours with a cost-of-living adjustment, growing our social justice initiatives and paying increased costs for utilities and property maintenance.  

If you have the resources, we hope you will consider increasing your pledge by 30% (for the next church year, starting July 1). Some members are able to pledge more, others less, but we can all share in supporting our church. Every gift is appreciated!

Thank you for your support, and please reach out to us if you have any questions or need any assistance with your pledge.

For more information, review the Frequently Asked Questions below or contact the Annual Fund Drive co-chairs.

Fund Drive FAQs

What is a Pledge and what is a Pledge Unit?   

A pledge is a promise to contribute a specific amount of money to UUCDC over a specific period of time (typically a church year, which runs from July 1 to June 30). Collectively, pledges paid by the UUCDC church community constitute over 80% of the income received by the church to fund salaries, the mortgage, utilities, religious education, etc. An individual or family who makes a pledge is referred to as a pledge unit.

Why and when are Pledges solicited?

UUCDC operates under annual budgets, which are prepared by church leadership and presented and approved by the congregation at the annual meeting in May. To support building the budget, a pledge drive is held in February to canvass the UUCDC church community to make their pledges for the upcoming church year.  The results of the pledge drive enable church leadership to project the pledge income for the upcoming church year and to set the budget accordingly.

Are church members expected to make pledges?

Voting church members are expected to pledge and pay at least $100 per year (per individual voting member). If financial constraints preclude doing this, a waiver can be obtained from our minister.

Can I restrict the use of my pledge payments to support a particular church program or activity?

No. All pledges payments should be made payable to “UUCDC,” without restrictions on how the pledge should be spent. Restricting pledge payments to a member’s favored program or activity limits the church’s flexibility to meet its overall operating budget. For example, if some members were to restrict their pledges to a given program, the church could then face a shortfall in funding other requisite expenses. The church must have the flexibility to meet all the expenses in its annual operating budget, as approved by the Congregation at the May annual meeting. 

Do I need to be a member of the church to make a pledge?

No; anyone who wants to financially support the church can make a pledge.

How much should I pledge?

The upcoming church year (starting July 1, 2024) will be pivotal for the congregation, as we begin the search for a new settled minister, work to sustain and grow our religious education and social justice programs, as well as continue to maintain and improve our facilities. For these reasons, we ask you to pledge generously. Some members are able to pledge more, others less, but we can all share in supporting our church. Every gift counts! 

When should I pay my pledge?

To help the church maintain steady cash flow throughout the year, it’s best to pay your annual pledge in regular installments, such as monthly. That said, everyone’s financial situation is different, and the decision of when to pay your pledge during the year is up to you. Note that the online Breeze portal makes it easy to send recurring gifts (e.g., monthly) to fulfill your pledge over the year (see next question).

Can I set up automatic pledge payments?

Yes. Log into your Breeze account and use the give button.  If you do not have a Breeze account, please email our administrator, Megan Grissom at megan.grissom@uucdc.org to set one up.

What is the church’s fiscal year?

At UUCDC, the church’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the next year. In practical terms, that means current year pledges should be fully paid by June 30, 2024. This spring, when you make a new pledge for the upcoming fiscal year, those future contributions should be made after the start of the new fiscal year, which is July 1, 2024.

Can I make changes to my pledge?

Yes; to do so you should contact the church office at churchoffice@uucdc.org

Does all of the money I give to the church count against my pledge commitment?

No; only pledge payments count against a pledge commitment.  Other money given to the church, such as for Religious Education registration, the auction, other church events, plate donations, and Share the Plate donations does not. To ensure your pledge payment is recorded as such, please write “pledge payment” on the check memo line or, if paying your pledge with cash, please enclose a note that designates the contribution toward your pledge. 

What about using Capital Campaign funds for church expenses?

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the church had been raising money through a Capital Campaign to expand and renovate church facilities. The campaign was (and remains) suspended for the time being, but many who had already donated to the campaign asked the church to keep their contributions for other important capital expenses. These funds are reserved only for major property improvements, aligned with the campaign’s original goals to improve facilities. For example, some Capital Campaign funds have been spent on new A/V equipment and to connect into the township’s sewer line. While the Capital Campaign fund is an important financial asset for UUCDC, this money cannot be used to fund the annual operating budget, which pays for the church’s day-to-day operations. 

Who do I contact if I have questions regarding my pledge? 

You can access your pledge status via the Breeze Log in button on the UUCDC website home page or contact the church office at churchoffice@uucdc.org.