Together We Thrive

Annual Pledge Drive   May 11-June 7, 2025

If you are ready to pledge right now and don’t need all the verbiage–just click here!

The Annual Pledge Drive is here—our opportunity to affirm the values that make our congregation a place of welcome, inspiration, connection, and action. Your financial commitment ensures NUUC remains a beacon of support—whether in worship, learning, celebration, or the pursuit of justice.   Last year, we planted seeds for sustainability, expanding programming and strengthening our children’s religious education. This year, we look outward and inward: growing our engagement, deepening our connections, and building teams that can help us serve more people. Every contribution matters. Together, we can ensure that NUUC remains a powerful force for good—for ourselves, our community, and the future. Please pledge today.  We depend on those who have signed the membership book as well as friends of the congregation to make pledges that cover our operational costs. All contributions needed and appreciated!  If you have participated in the worship services, religious exploration materials and classes, social and service opportunities, please pledge!

What is the Annual Pledge Drive?

Each spring the NUUC asks its members and friends to make a commitment of financial support (a pledge) for the coming fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Our Annual Pledge Drive provides the funds that make the life of our congregation possible. 

What are our Budget Needs This Year?

To continue thriving, we need to grow our budget. We aim to sustain our new and renovated facility, fairly support our staff, and expand administrative assistance so our minister can focus on leading and inspiring. Specifically, we need to assume more of the cost of the loan on our new and renovated facility into the operating budget (currently, our loan is being paid from reserve funds).  We also would like to increase our commitments to our staff.  We have not offered any increase in salaries for the last two years, as well as more than half of the budget cycles in the past decade—with the rising cost of living, our staff is compensated much less well than before.  It is also time that we increased the amount of administrative assistance that we have; now we budget for five hours a week, which is not enough to support our vision for growth. Currently our minister assumes most of the administrative burden; we would love to see her freed up to continue to expand our mission.  

How Can I Pledge?

• If you would like to be contacted by a steward—a fellow member of the congregation who is helping us with our pledge drive–you can request one by writing to minister@nuuc.org.
• You can fill out a pledge form online–just click here!
• You can set up an automatically recurring donation by clicking here.  If you already have a recurring donation and would like to increase your contribution, you can ask us to cancel your current contribution schedule, and then you can establish a new one (just write to minister@nuuc.org). 

What is a Pledge? Is it Binding?

A pledge is a commitment to donate to the congregation during the fiscal year—an intention, not a legal obligation. If your financial situation changes, pledges can be adjusted. Your support is vital to our community’s wellbeing, helping us plan our budget. For transparency, our budget is publicly approved each year.

Do I Have to Pledge?

Making and fulfilling an annual pledge deepens our faith and sustains the UUFC for the benefit of us all and the wider community we serve, but you are not required to make a pledge. You do not have to pledge to be a member, although you do need to make a financial contribution (of any size) annually.  The congregation depends upon pledges to fund almost all our operating budget, so all are encouraged to make a pledge.

What Are My Payment Options?

• Online: You can give online by clicking on the big red donate button at www.nuuc.org.
• Mail a Check: Checks can be made out to NUUC, please write the word “pledge” in the memo line of the check, and mail to NUUC, PO Box 541, Lewis Center, OH 43035
• Required Minimum Distribution: for those who hold retirement accounts (401K, IRA, and some others) who are 72 or older (if you were born on or after July 1, 1949) or those 70.5 and older (if born before July 1, 1949), you can have your required minimum distribution (RMD) transferred directly to the NUUC. The advantage of this for you is that you then do not have to pay tax on these monies.

How Much Should I Pledge?

Our Unitarian Universalist Association offers a Fair Share Giving Guide. While pledges vary based on individual means, we embrace our congregation’s financial diversity. To sustain an inclusive community, we ask those who can to contribute more.Your landscape team is currently busy working with a native plant and sustainable design landscape expert in planning the development of our outdoor spaces.