Supporting Our Beloved Spiritual Home

March 2026

This year’s Stewardship Campaign theme is “Hold On. Dig Deep. Rise Up. Together!”

Our UU values – with Love at the center – are under assault.  Each day we learn of more suffering in a dramatically changed world.  Our confidence and sense of safety have been shaken. Some days it is enough to just Hold On.    

Yet we also need to Dig Deep. We are being tested to live up to the values we say we have. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Our faith has love at the center.  

We must Rise up. We need this UU faith more than ever. We’ve turned to each other in troubled times to gain understanding and strength from one another. We yearn to be part of a community – and a wider world – that lives with love at the center. 

Together we can strengthen and protect this place and this community we call our religious home.

The Stewardship Team urges everyone to think carefully about the chart, individual letter, and pledge form you received at worship on March 1 (or shortly thereafter in the mail). We need pledges of $495,000 for the coming year.

More information and links about this year’s campaign are below. I hope you will join me in making your promise of financial support as generous and as heartfelt as it can be.

~ Kevin O’Connor, Stewardship Team chair

Pledge Process & Pledge Materials

• 2026 Pledge Drive Handout & Chart:  Please read this to learn more this year’s theme and why your financial support matters to UUSS. 
• Online Pledge Form:  Please complete this confidential form by March 15 to tell us what you intend to donate during 2026-27.
• Printable Pledge Form: If you prefer a paper copy, you can print this, fill it out, and bring it or mail it to the church. (Doing this by March 15 would be greatly appreciated!)
• NOTE:  If you have questions or any trouble accessing information about your pledge, please let Church Administrator Lillian Johnson help you!  Call 518-374-4446 or contact her at admin @ uuschenectady.org 

Testimonials

• Who should pledge?
• How do I know the right amount to pledge?
• When are 2026-27 pledges due and what is the best way to pay them? Can pledge payments be deducted automatically from a bank account?
• What is the 2026-27 pledge drive goal? What do our pledged donations make possible?
• Why are we asked to make a pledge instead of just paying as we go?
• I don’t remember what I pledged this year. Can I look that up?
• What if my circumstances change and I need to change my pledge?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should pledge?

Everyone who is regularly participating in the congregation and who cares about the congregation is invited to pledge. That includes not just members, but also friends, seekers, and visitors.

Choosing to become a formal member of UUSS includes making a commitment to support it financially. As members, we jointly own and care for two buildings, we jointly employ a number of staff, and we jointly accept responsibility for the costs that come with running such a wonderful, life-enriching, inspiring organization.

Except for our Youth members, Emeritus members, or persons who have sought a hardship waiver, all members are asked to demonstrate this commitment by making a generous pledge regarding what they intend to contribute in the coming fiscal year and then by fulfilling that pledge as the year progresses.

How do I know the right amount to pledge?

The right amount for each person or family to pledge is a personal decision. Here is some information that may help you think about what to pledge.

• Try to make your standard of giving reflect your standard of living. Given your budget, what can you contribute on a weekly or monthly basis? When you pledge, you are demonstrating your commitment to a place you have chosen as your spiritual home — not simply making a donation to yet another charity. So let your pledge celebrate your generosity and commitment!
• Sustaining our congregation costs well over $550,000 a year, and we have approximately 170 pledging households. Even after income from other sources, our costs would work out to an average pledge of more than $2,900 per pledging household. Some can give at that level or more. Others cannot. Some have suffered financially during the last few years. Others have seen their assets grow and may find themselves in a position to provide an extra level of support to UUSS at a time when others cannot.
• If you currently pledge less than $2,900, can you double your pledge, or make a different increase with a leap of faith?
• A pledge commitment in our faith tradition often ranges from 3% to 7% or more of household income. Many have achieved a 5% pledge. Some UUSS members pledge at a 10% tithe. Other folks have proudly set themselves a multi-year goal of reaching those levels. One way to achieve this is to calculate what percentage of your income you give to UUSS now and see if you can go up by 1% more of your income each year.
• If you are giving all you can, Thank You! Whatever amount you choose, we hope you will give until it feels good. Maintaining your pledge and fulfilling your promise are SUPER appreciated!
  

When are 2026-27 pledges due and what is the best way to pay them? Can pledge payments be deducted automatically from a bank account?

2026-27 pledge payments are due anytime from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. You can pay them in several ways described below. Please think about a method that is easy and consistent for you; this will help both you and the church with budgeting and cash flow.

We encourage households to consider monthly automatic withdrawals from a bank account to UUSS for your pledge payments. The process is easy and is initiated (upon your request) by Lillian in the church office using the VANCO system. These automatic monthly payments are not only convenient for members, they are also a great help to the church. We can rely on planned monthly income that relieves the church of seasonal cash flow worries.

You can also mail checks to the church or put them in the Sunday offering basket to pay your pledge. An important thing here is to write “2026-2027 pledge payment” in the check memo line so that we can credit your payment properly.

You can donate online using a credit/debit card or using ACH bank transfer. See our Donate page for where and how to do this. Again it is important to select the “Give to the 2026-2027 Pledge” payment option so that your payment can be recorded properly. Also please note that the church incurs a lower fee if you use ACH bank transfer.

Another pledge payment option that our older members may find attractive is to have money from your IRA sent directly to the church as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Members who are old enough to be required to take a Required Minimum Distribution from some types of investments may find that using a QCD reduces their taxes. Please talk to your financial advisor about this.

What is the 2026-27 Pledge Drive Goal? What do our pledged donations make possible?

The Pledge Drive Goal is $495,000. The Board of Trustees has set that as the goal for our NEXT church year (i.e. July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), though they hope to generate pledges that are higher than that.

Historically, the pledge drive provides approximately 75% of the income needed to operate UUSS year-round. In other words, in a typically healthy year, pledges cover at least 75% of the money our congregation needs to pay for staff salaries and benefits, utilities, insurance, all types of supplies, equipment, services, care for our buildings and grounds, trash removal, etc. — the whole enchilada.  The remaining roughly 25% of our income has typically come from fundraisers, rentals, income from the investment of bequests, the Sunday offering, reserves, and other donations.

But pledges declined as a percentage of our expenses during the pandemic years. In the last few fiscal years, pledges have covered anywhere from 72% of our expenses during 2021-22 to 65% during 2025-26. To make up the difference, in these years the staff and Board have cut and managed costs again and again and have relied on one-time unexpected bequests that we have received. Ultimately, the Board could need to withdraw money from the Operating Reserve account to balance the budget. Clearly this is not a sustainable situation.

Why are we asked to make a pledge in advance, instead of just paying as we go?

It’s all about planning and being able to use UUSS assets as wisely as possible. Imagine if your boss said to you, “I can’t tell you what your hourly pay rate or your salary will be in advance. I’ll just give you whatever I can each month.” Would that work for you?  How would you know what mortgage payment or car payment you could afford? How could you plan anything?

Like you, UUSS has many obligations — to our Mission, our staff, our members, etc. Reliable income predictions are crucial for balancing spending with income, and for choosing the best ways to fulfill our obligations and serve our Mission. A reasonably reliable income forecast results in better decision-making and helps our Board of Trustees and Finance Advisory Committee members sleep at night.

I don’t remember what I pledged this year. Can I look that up?

Sure. If you are a member of UUSS, our online database Breeze is your friend. It has a Profile for each member where you can see your pledge commitment and your pledge payments. Our Member Area webpage has the link to Breeze and instructions.

• If you have trouble, contact our Church Administrator at admin at uuschenectady.org or call 518-374-4446, ext. 4.

If you are not a member and you have pledged previously, the Administrator can look this number up for you.

What if my circumstances change and I need to change my pledge?

We know that unexpected things can happen. If your circumstances change and you need to adjust your pledge, simply contact the Co-Ministers and let them know you need to make an adjustment and what amount you will be increasing or decreasing. If you need a partial or full waiver of your pledge, please ask them for a request form.