Would you like to increase your pledge?
Instead of clicking the pledge button, contact Rosie in the OUUC office.
What Is a Stewardship Drive?
Once a year, OUUC asks congregational members and friends to make a pledge. A pledge is a promise of financial support for the coming budget year July 2025 – June 2026. These pledges ensure OUUC can continue funding Sunday worship services and the diverse programs and social causes, as well as funding staff salaries, maintaining our building and grounds, and other operating expenses. Pledges account for almost 88% of the proposed budget. Stewardship is how we care for the congregation — the people, the building, the staff, and the mission.
Our Fund Raising Goal: $593,400
During the stewardship drive we ask everyone who has been touched by OUUC — by a Sunday service, music, a class, committee work, social justice efforts, support of young people, pastoral care, or something else deeply personal — to make a pledge to ensure these benefits continue. When you make your financial pledge, ROOTED IN LOVE, you are helping to fund all that OUUC contributes to this congregation and to our community. Please support all that you Love at OUUC.
Our goal is 100% participation among congregants, everyone pledging according to their means. It takes us all to fund the work of the congregation. Please let your gift be an expression of your spiritual journey, knowing that it will be deeply appreciated and vitally important.
Stewardship Drive Progress
Video Message from Rev. Mary
The word clouds below represent words frequently used in congregants’ responses to the questions “How does OUUC nurture me?” and “How do I nurture OUUC?,” asked and answered at the Gather, Grow, and Guide sessions in January 2025. More details can be found in the PDF embedded above.
“How does OUUC nurture me?”
“How do I nurture OUUC?”
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Pledge?
A pledge is our promise to give a certain amount of money to the congregation over the coming budget year (July 2025 – June 2026). We declare our pledge during the Stewardship Drive in the month of March, to be fulfilled during the budget year. We are encouraged to pledge generously and optimistically even if uncertain about our financial situation because a pledge can be adjusted if necessary. A pledge is a statement of intent, not a legally binding obligation.
Who Is Expected to Make a Pledge?
OUUC strives to be a Beloved Community that supports us throughout our lives. When we attend OUUC, we count on it to provide worship and faith development for ourselves and our families. We give to help each other in intensely personal ways such as when we celebrate, when we grieve, and when we work for justice.
All members, friends and program participants in our congregational life are invited to pledge! OUUC is dependent upon the generosity of all who make pledges, and each pledge is gratefully received and spent responsibly. If you have found solace, support, or meaningful work here, your pledge will help OUUC continue and extend these benefits to others within and beyond our congregation community.
When Should I Make My Pledge?
Your pledge is welcome anytime, but traditionally members and friends are asked to pledge during the March Stewardship Drive in order to prepare for next year’s operating budget, which is voted on by the congregation at the annual meeting in June. This year’s pledges will fund the work and mission of OUUC during the budget year beginning July 2025 through June 2026.
What is the Proposed Budget for 2025-26?
The total stewardship ask is $593,400. The graphic below shows budgeted income sources on the left and expense categories on the right. The OUUC board offered an after-service forum on this proposed budget on March 16 — you can watch the recording here: “Rooted in Love — Aspirational Budget.” After the stewardship season concludes and the budget is revised based on pledges received, a final forum for budget-related Q&A will be held on June 1, the week before the congregational meeting (June 8) where we will vote to approve the final budget. Questions outside of these forums can be directed to Rev. Mary.
Download the budget graphic below as a PDF.
How Much Should I Pledge?
Because everyone’s circumstances are different, we recognize and embrace the financial diversity of our congregation. And because financial need is not an obstacle to congregational participation, we ask those who are able, to carry a greater financial commitment to support our community to ensure we remain a congregation for all.
The Unitarian Universalist Association guideline encourages us to experience the spiritual practice of open-hearted generosity. Let your financial support be an expression of your spiritual journey and know that it is deeply appreciated.
To reach your pledge decision, please take a few moments to consider:
Can I Pledge to a Specific Program?
If you would like to support a specific program, this would be considered only as an addition to your current annual pledge. An additional special financial gift is sincerely appreciated.
If you wish to make a donation to the future of OUUC, please consider our Legacy Giving Program.
How Do I Make My Pledge?
OUUC has made pledging easy!
• You can pledge during any stewardship event or on Sunday mornings during the coffee hour.
• You can pledge online from the OUUC website: OUUC.org. Click on the “Giving” tab to see the drop-down menu. Use the Stewardship Drive link, and click this button:
Would you like to increase your pledge?
Instead of clicking the pledge button, contact Rosie in the OUUC office.
What Are My Payment Options?
There are several payment options listed OUUC.org website. Click on the “Giving” tab to see the drop-down menu, then open the “Ways to Give” link. While automatic bank withdrawals are common and encouraged, there are several options, and you may choose your preferred payment schedule. Note that there is information about direct stock transfers and using annual IRA distributions to fulfill your pledge.
We are grateful for your pledge however you choose to complete it!
What If I Cannot Pay My Pledge?
Our lives are constantly in flux, financially and otherwise. At OUUC we are here for each other, through good times and hard ones! Please contact our business manager Isaac Jennings at businessmanager@ouuc.org or Reverend Mary at minister@ouuc.org if you need to modify your pledge confidentially.
Is My Pledge Tax Deductible?
OUUC is a non-profit religious organization, so your contributions are tax deductible. The office issues an end-of-the-year tax statement showing your total gifts during the preceding tax year.
Can Sunday Service Offerings Replace Pledging?
Gifts of all kinds and amounts are appreciated. And the amount collected on Sundays comprises a small fraction of the congregation’s operating expenses. In fact, Sunday offerings represent just 5% of OUUC’s total income and only 2.5% of the operating budget. We dedicated half of our Sunday offering to putting our faith in action by sharing our resources with community organizations that share our values.
Thank you for giving generously on Sunday morning and in your annual pledge!
I Still Have Questions – Who Can Answer Them?
If you have questions about OUUC Stewardship, please look for the Stewardship Team in the Commons after the Sunday service.
If you have questions about pledging, please contact the OUUC Office.
Pledge Today
Our goal is 100% participation among congregants, all pledging according to our means. It takes us all to fund the work of the congregation. Let your gift be an expression of your spiritual journey and know that it is deeply appreciated. Thank you for supporting OUUC.
Would you like to increase your pledge?
Instead of clicking the pledge button, contact Rosie in the OUUC office.
