Guest Post by Robin Stemen, Stewardship Team Chair

At the Stewardship Coffees on March 1 team members had a good time sharing, learning and talking with attendees about QUUF’s financial health. 34 surveys were also completed! Here is how folks responded to some of its inquiries:

• There is a special urgency to funding QUUF this year. True – 31, False – 1
• Being a member of QUUF helps me live my love out loud. True – 33, False — 1
• This is a year some people might re-evaluate their pledge and give more because needs will be greater. True – 27, False – 1, Unlikely – 2
• I believe QUUF has the potential to increase our average pledge of $1,725 to match the UUA’s average pledge of $2,257 for congregations our size this year. True – 18, False – 1, We can do it in two years – 11, I don’t know – 1
• I plan to re-evaluate my pledge and give more. Ten people checked this!

It’s a small sampling, but interesting (and hopeful). We appreciate the involvement and honesty of everyone who participated. Speaking of participation, we are grateful to those who, regardless of membership status or level of involvement, support QUUF financially. Our vital work matters. Each contribution matters. As we each do what we can, our goal gets closer!

We shared that a financially healthy congregation is one with sufficient pledges to support its operating costs and sustain normal dips. It has a spread of both pledge units and pledge amounts sufficient to maintain stability even if a few households move away. We also described a quartile analysis, which helps assess the health of a congregation’s pledge income. Here it is:

Pledge Distribution Comparison Graph

This graph compares the percentage of pledges for each quartile at QUUF to the ideal percentages of a financially healthy congregation of our size. (The financially healthy statistics come from the UUA.) As shown in the black box, the ten households in the first quartile of our congregation give the same amount as the 159 households in the fourth quartile. This is a risk to our financial stability.

Next year, unless we cut some programming and restructure staff, we need $505K in pledges to cover our expenses. That is a steep climb. One way to look at it is with our average pledge. If we can bring our average pledge up to the UUA average, we will have enough to fund the budget.

Can we reach the UUA average pledge? Last year 66 households made a Fair Share pledge and 14 said they were moving toward one. If more households make Fair Share pledges our average pledge will surely increase.

Click here to see the Fair Share Contribution Guide to help you decide about your pledge.

We will also raise our average pledge if some households give more than their Fair Share for those who can’t. That’s economic justice. The Fair Share Contribution Guide is not just a pledge guide, it’s an economic justice tool and a way to demonstrate commitment at the right level for you.

The guide doesn’t ask everyone to just give, give, give, or to give the same amount or the same percentage. That’s not fair. Instead it’s progressive: it starts with 2% and goes up to 10%. It’s a suggested approach that rises with capacity and commitment. It’s private and flexible.

After the service on Sunday, March 16, we’ll pass out packets with a beautiful brochure, the Fair Share Contribution Guide, and your pledge form. Packets that aren’t picked up Sunday will be mailed on Monday the 17th.

If we want to live out our mission and do our work, we need to fund it. It’s been an honor and a pleasure to serve on this team. And what a talented, heartfelt group! Mary Forster, Donna Frostholm, JoAnne Heron, Liz Lindstrom, Cris Wilson, and I have done our best to bring you education, inspiration and heart. We hope you join us in supporting our beloved QUUF. Let’s live our love out loud!