Heritage UU Church

Celebrating Life
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HUUC Pledge Campaign 2020-2021

The Story of Heritage Begins with You

We are a congregation of storytellers, from Candles of Community to Stories for All Ages we love to share our experiences and our favorite stories with each other. Our support for Heritage tells a story too. And pledging is a great opportunity to share what the Heritage community means to each of us.

Of course we start with a monetary pledge, a financial commitment to sustain the church over the course of the next fiscal year. That commitment should be informed by the upcoming needs of the church and the goals of the HUUC Board of Trustees for maintaining a healthy budget. For the 2020-2021 fiscal year, those goals are as follows:

Provide cost-of-living increases to our ministerial, music, administrative, and childcare staff based on UUA guidelines for a church of our membership and staff size.

Rebuild our church maintenance fund to provide a buffer for repair costs that are becoming more frequent as our church facility ages.

Sustain our commitment to significantly supplementing pledge income with fundraising efforts to build community and provide needed funds for church operations.

As you consider making that pledge, please think about the joy and love that characterize the strength and fabric of the Heritage community. What motivated you to come to Heritage for the first time? What keeps you coming? What keeps you involved? What delights you?

You’ll have the opportunity to share a story as part of your pledge that captures your love for our church community. We’ll share your stories along the way as we report on the progress of the pledge drive. Our goal is to look at the full picture of the “assets” that make our church community what it is because finances are just one part of our story.

And now for some “pledge facts” that might help you to think about an amount to pledge towards our budget for the next fiscal year:

  • For the 2019-2020 church year, our congregation pledged $221,000, and for 2020-2021 our pledge goal is $243,100, a 10% increase.
  • The average pledge at HUUC is currently $1,700. A 6% increase to the average pledge would be an increase of about $100 per year.
  • The UUA Fair Share pledging guidelines are a great place to start, especially for first-time pledgers. These guidelines will help you to make a pledge that takes into account your specific household financial situation.

And now, it’s time to submit your pledge. This is our second online pledge drive. The pledge form is right here on the HUUC website, just below on this page. Your pledge is secure and private and will only be received by our Stewardship Chair, Reid Hester.

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Pledging – Frequently Asked Questions

(Click on a question to go to the answer.)

What is a pledge?
When does the pledge drive begin and end?
What time period does my pledge cover?
What is the amount that I should pledge?
How many people pledge at Heritage?
What is the total membership of Heritage UU Church?
What is the cost to HUUC for each member?
How are financial record keeping and budgeting handled at HUUC?
Is pledging a requirement of membership at HUUC?
What if I need to change, or cannot fulfill, my pledge?

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What is a pledge?

A pledge is a promise to donate a certain amount of money to the church within the church fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year.

When does the pledge drive begin and end?

This year’s pledge drive will formally begin on Sunday, March 15, and it will end during the first week of May. The Board of Trustees will use the final pledge total to finalize the budget for approval at our Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 31st, beginning at 8:30 a.m. All members are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting to vote on the budget, and to vote on candidates for the Board of Trustees and other elected positions.

What time period does my pledge cover?

Your pledge that is submitted during this spring pledge drive will be in effect from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, in accordance with our church fiscal year. Pledges from new members are welcome at any time during the year.

What is the amount that I should pledge?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The UUA offers Fair Share Pledging guidelines, which offer different levels of pledging for different income levels, and the guidelines take certain expenses into account as well (kind of like deductions on your taxes). The guidelines are available here: UUA Fair Share Pledging Guidelines.

How many people pledge at Heritage?

For our 2019-2020 fiscal year we have 120 pledges. A “pledge unit” often counts for more than one member of our church, and we also receive pledges from many friends of Heritage who may not be formal members of the church.

What is the total membership of Heritage UU Church?

We currently have 190 members.

What is the cost to HUUC for each member?

We all share in the fixed operational costs of the church, costs such as staff salaries & benefits, utilities, office supplies, building maintenance, etc. In addition to these fixed costs, we currently pay a total of about $50 per member per year to the UUA, UU Justice Ohio, and the UU Council of Greater Cincinnati for membership in these important denominational organizations.

How are financial record keeping and budgeting handled at HUUC?

Please read a recent Heirloom column from Reid Hester for an explanation of our approach to budgeting and record keeping: Keeping a Finger on Our Financial Pulse.

Is pledging a requirement of membership at HUUC?

Yes, our church constitution stipulates that members are required to make an annual financial commitment in the form of a pledge that is consistent with your individual circumstances. The congregation depends upon your pledge and those of all other members to create a realistic annual budget for the upcoming year. We welcome pledges or donations from visitors and friends as well. Everyone is welcome to attend services at Heritage UU Church, whether formally a member or friend, or not, with no financial obligation.

What if I need to change, or cannot fulfill, my pledge?

You may change your pledge any time during the year. If you find your life is taking an unexpected turn, a call to the ministerial staff might be a good step, too. Whether you’re adjusting your pledge up or down, know that we will be grateful for the information, which helps us budget and manage the budget. Know that every gift is valued. To change your pledge, contact:

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Building Closed – Church Open

Most church activities are occurring virtually. Through June 2021, no church-affiliated groups are gathering indoors. You can read more at the HUUC Policy Related to COVID-19.

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Have you visited us for a Sunday morning worship, a Virtual Vespers Service, or other event? Feel free to share your thoughts through our Virtual Guest Book. (No one will contact you unless you request it.)

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Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church
2710 Newtown Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45244-3511
Phone: 513-231-8634.
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