“Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much.”   Erich Fromm

Below, you’ll find links to our Pledge Form, along with a thorough F.A.Q. and a Comparison Per Member of Financial Support Among UU Congregations

What is the Annual Stewardship Drive? The Annual Stewardship Drive is a time when we each reflect on what The Fellowship means to us and consider what financial support we can offer so that it will thrive. People’s response to this annual drive provides the “time, talent and treasure” that support the health and growth of our Fellowship. Every spring, we ask our members and friends to make a commitment of financial support – or pledge – for the coming fiscal year, which begins on July 1. Based on pledges made, the board is then able to present a realistic and visionary budget to the congregation for a vote at the annual meeting in June. 

Because most of us were taught not to talk about money, it’s often a relief to discover that the  stewardship drive is also an opportunity to tell each other what the fellowship means to us.

Here is some of what we are already hearing:

• “I can’t imagine my life without the Fellowship!”
• “It is a source of comfort I can count on.” 
• “When I first found a Unitarian Universalist congregation, I knew I was home.”

What is a Pledge? A pledge is a commitment to donate a certain amount of money to The Fellowship over the course of the year. It is a statement of intent. It is not a legally binding obligation. Do not hesitate to pledge because you are uncertain about your financial situation. Pledges can be adjusted in times of shifting resources. We depend upon your pledges for the continued health and wellbeing of The Fellowship and to determine our annual budget. 

We hope everyone for whom The Fellowship is important, will give, either by pledging and becoming a member, by pledging and remaining a friend or by making a gift or contribution.

• If you have found any of our online or in-person services meaningful …

• If the life and the work of the Fellowship makes a difference in your life …
• If our commitment to religious pluralism and to the democratic process matters to you …
• If you think the life and work of the Fellowship makes a difference in our community …

… Please pledge today! 

How is a Pledge Different from a Gift or Contribution? A pledge is a promise of support and customarily associated with becoming a member. A gift or contribution is appreciated and valued, but it is not something The Fellowship can count on when planning for the future. 

Additionally, we gratefully receive contributions to our general operating fund, for specific programs like music or religious exploration,  for our endowment fund, or for our monthly charity on an ongoing basis. 

Contributions may be mailed to The Fellowship or put into the Sunday collection basket. Please make your check payable to MCUUF and indicate if it is for the operating or another fund.  

Is a Pledge Required for Membership? Yes! We need all members of The Fellowship to financially support the fellowship, as they are able. If we don’t hear from a member for 2 years in a row, we remove them from the active membership list, which is the list of names we report to the UUA as a record of our official members each year. 

What If I Currently Do Not Have the Financial Capacity to Make a Pledge? That’s okay! No pledge is too small, so when you become a member, you will be asked to complete a pledge form. In community, we count on those with the capacity to make a  larger pledge to help carry the load for those who cannot.  

There is an option to say, “I am unable to pledge this year,” because we understand that all personal situations are different and that some people will not be able to  contribute to The Fellowship financially.  Nevertheless, completing the process ensures we all know that you have chosen to be in community with us and will  contribute in whatever ways you can. 

When Should I Make My Pledge? We welcome financial pledges at any time of year. People often make their first pledge when they become a member. Every year, during the Annual Stewardship Drive, people reflect on their capacity to give and adjust their pledge accordingly. Spring pledging allows our Board to create a budget for the coming fiscal year with greater confidence.  

How Much Does It Cost to Run the Fellowship? That depends on what The Fellowship decides it wants to do.    

How Much Should I Pledge? Give until it feels good! Generosity is a foundational spiritual practice. As a community of people who are intentionally transforming dominant cultural norms that shame us for having and for not having wealth, we ask people to be generous in the years they have the ability to do so.

Over a lifetime, often our fortunes change. We embrace the financial diversity of our congregation and have faith that we are stronger together. To support the vitality and future of this Fellowship, we ask that people consider pledging a percentage of their annual income. 

The UUA has  developed a Fair Share Giving Guide (below), with 2% of annual income considered as a target for “fair share” giving. This is simply a guide – some of our members pledge at higher levels based on their situation. 

For those interested in numbers and details, see the pledging worksheet at the end of these FAQs for one approach to determining fair share. 

For those who are able, please consider carrying a  greater financial commitment to our beloved community. We have always counted on those who can pledge more, to do so.  

Is There a Minimum Annual Pledge? No, there is no minimum  … or maximum pledge!

How Much Did MCUUF Members Pledge in 2024-25?  $70,060

Can I pay my annual pledge as a single lump sum? Yes, you may pay your pledge as a single lump sum. Some people do this by check, some by stock  transfers, some by Required Minimum Distribution payments. If you are making a single payment and  this will be done before the start of the new fiscal year (before July 1, 2025), please let our bookkeeper know, so that we can credit the payment to the correct fiscal year.  

What If I Cannot Complete My pledge? Financial hardship should never be an obstacle to participation in The Fellowship. Through good times and bad, we are all in this together. Waivers or pastoral passes are available to any member facing financial difficulty. No paperwork needs to be filled out and there is no eligibility requirement.  Please indicate on the stewardship form that you are unable to make a financial pledge or have a quick conversation with our minister.  Reverend Barbara Prose can be reached at [email protected] or 918-804-2844.  

Is My Pledge Tax Deductible? Yes, the MCUUF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization recognized by the IRS. The Fellowship  issues end-of-year tax letters showing total contributions made. If you made a financial contribution, you will get a letter in January letting you know the amount you gave. 

Can Collection Basket Offerings Be Used in Place of Pledging?  No. In 2024, half of our Sunday offerings represented 5% of  our annual budget. The other half of our Sunday offerings goes to support local organizations doing good works in the larger community.      

What about the Time I Spend Volunteering? Members and friends of the Fellowship are encouraged to give regularly of their time as volunteers. Without our volunteers doing much of the Fellowship’s work, our paid staff budget would need to be much higher, or this work would not get done. Through volunteering, you spend time with others whom you admire and learn to love. You also learn new skills and share yours with others. Memories are often made. We encourage you to combine your pledge with your volunteer time to further our collective goal of living our values. The bottom section of the stewardship form provides a place where you can indicate volunteer interests if you are not already engaged in such work. 

Ready to pledge? Please fill out our pledge form online, or pick up a pledge card during service.

Comparing Per Member Financial Support Among UU Congregations

(R Withers – May 6, 2025) 

Google’s AI was queried on May 5, 2025 and provided the following: 
What is the average annual pledge for members of a Unitarian  Universalist congregation?  

The average annual pledge for members of a Unitarian Universalist  congregation can vary, but generally falls between $2,600 and  $3,500. The UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) suggests a fair share contribution of 2% to 6% of take-home pay. Some congregations have specific pledge guidelines, while others encourage members to determine a fair contribution based on their financial capacity and  commitment to the church.  

For many of us, these figures seem high. 

So I have been doing some research using the UUA’s list serve for people interested in congregational finance. It’s called – not surprisingly – “UU Money”, and participants are invited to sign their messages with figures for  membership and annual budget total. # members/$ total annual budget.  

For about a year and a half I’ve been collecting the figures for 55 congregations. Congregations vary widely: some are without paid staff or  ministers; most budgets support ownership and maintenance of facilities; a  few have significant endowments; and definitions of ‘members’ may be  different. 

I chose to look at the congregations with 50 to 150 members and – after  eliminating the highest and lowest per capita support – I took the average  per capita support for the remaining 16 congregations. This figure was  $2,386 per member. 

Of course, each congregation is different.  

AND these numbers suggest that MCUUF could be doing more if we  choose (81/$98,000). Our average per capita member support for this  year’s budget is approximately $1,200.

The figure below is based upon information from a survey  of 4,000 congregations across a number of denominations  and was published in May of 2024. 

(https://www.churchsalary.com/content/articles/average-per-person-giving in-church.html).

I still have questions, who can answer them?

Board Chair, Dick Withers, [email protected], Pledge Team Chair, Paul Blackburn at [email protected] or our minister, Reverend Barbara Prose, at [email protected].