Stewardship

The Stewardship Committee is responsible for ensuring the financial health of our church via (1) Current Year Pledging and (2) Long Term Planned Giving. The Stewardship Committee complements other activities, including Fund Raising Committee events and Finace Committee special on-time capital campaigns.

Giving
What could feel better than to donate money locally where you can see and benefit from the results? Giving to the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church can be done in several ways that are described here. If you have questions, please contact the chair of the Stewardship Committee at stewardship@melroseuu.org.

Pledging
Our church is fully self-funding which means we turn to our members, investments and rental income for a substantial amount of our income. Our Pledge Drive is typically held each March for the coming church year. Members and Friends are asked to make a financial pledge, and state how the pledge will be paid. The pledge is then fulfilled as the donor has chosen. New members are asked to make a pledge when after signing the book, and usually after attending a New Member Luncheon.

How much should I pledge?
During the year, many people ask "What is my fair share?" or "What should we give?" You are not alone in asking these questions. We are not the only church that is asked these questions and figures out how to respond in a thoughtful and caring way.

What the Melrose UU Church has done in recent years is to present the UUA Fair Share Giving Guide. The guide suggests levels of giving based on income and one's devotion to the church, and recommends a percentage of income as a pledge.

We have included a version of this guide on the pledge form that includes "monthly" columns, so you can see how an annual pledge is distributed throughout the year.

So what should YOU pledge? Only you can answer that. But as you think about it, remember that our church is supported only by the income we receive from our members, friends, rents and investments. We do not receive money from any outside source. So, consider giving generously close to home--your church home.

Where does our income come from and how is it spent?
Below are tables that show the church income and expenses from the 2005-2006 budget. Note that almost half of our income comes from pledges that are fulfilled throughout the year by our members and friends. This year, the income and expenses do not match because we approved a deficit at our June 2005 Annual Meeting. This deficit was partially addressed with our special Fall 2005 Pledge Drive.

Planned Giving (How to remember the church in your will.)

What is it? Planned Giving Program is a new initiative under development by the church's Stewardship Committee with a mission to assist members who wish to remember the church in their wills. A planned gift (e.g., a bequest in your will) is one of the simplest and most rewarding gifts you can make. Many of us want to provide generously for the organizations we cherish, in addition to our loved ones. A bequest of any size in your estate plans can shape the future of this congregation and ensure its vitality for generations.

How can we help you? Are you ready to make a planned gift? Are you seeking more information before making a planned giving decision? Are you interested in learning more about making a will? In time, the Melrose UU Planned Giving Program will include components to help you at each of these stages in the process. Soon, members of the Planned Giving Team will contact individuals who request a visit to answer questions and provide information to help them make planned giving decisions. In the future we plan to organize presentations at the church that focus on estate planning topics.

How you can help us? Have you already included the church in your will? Can you recommend an estate planning attorney or financial planner? If so, we want to hear from you! If you've made a gift, we want to know about it so we can thank you and recognize you for the generous contribution you have made. If you can recommend an estate planning attorney or financial planner we want to know so we can draw up a list of recommended professionals to whom we can refer other members seeking help. If you are interested in learning more about planned giving, please contact Stewardship Committee.

Holiday Offerings
The Stewardship Committee has two key holiday giving opportunities during the year. Each Christmas and Easter, we contact our members and friends by mail with a letter along with special offering envelopes and request that special donations be made to support the work of the church.


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Committee Overview Adult Enrichment Caring Ministry Committee Council Denominational Affairs Finance Fundraising Information Technology Membership Nominating Property Publicity Religious Education Social Justice Stewardship Trustees Religious Services Welcoming Congregation Links: UUA UUSC MBD	Stewardship The Stewardship Committee is responsible for ensuring the financial health of our church via (1) Current Year Pledging and (2) Long Term Planned Giving. The Stewardship Committee complements other activities, including Fund Raising Committee events and Finace Committee special on-time capital campaigns. Giving What could feel better than to donate money locally where you can see and benefit from the results? Giving to the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church can be done in several ways that are described here. If you have questions, please contact the chair of the Stewardship Committee at stewardship@melroseuu.org. Pledging Our church is fully self-funding which means we turn to our members, investments and rental income for a substantial amount of our income. Our Pledge Drive is typically held each March for the coming church year. Members and Friends are asked to make a financial pledge, and state how the pledge will be paid. The pledge is then fulfilled as the donor has chosen. New members are asked to make a pledge when after signing the book, and usually after attending a New Member Luncheon. How much should I pledge? During the year, many people ask "What is my fair share?" or "What should we give?" You are not alone in asking these questions. We are not the only church that is asked these questions and figures out how to respond in a thoughtful and caring way. What the Melrose UU Church has done in recent years is to present the UUA Fair Share Giving Guide. The guide suggests levels of giving based on income and one's devotion to the church, and recommends a percentage of income as a pledge. We have included a version of this guide on the pledge form that includes "monthly" columns, so you can see how an annual pledge is distributed throughout the year. So what should YOU pledge? Only you can answer that. But as you think about it, remember that our church is supported only by the income we receive from our members, friends, rents and investments. We do not receive money from any outside source. So, consider giving generously close to home--your church home. Where does our income come from and how is it spent? Below are tables that show the church income and expenses from the 2005-2006 budget. Note that almost half of our income comes from pledges that are fulfilled throughout the year by our members and friends. This year, the income and expenses do not match because we approved a deficit at our June 2005 Annual Meeting. This deficit was partially addressed with our special Fall 2005 Pledge Drive. Planned Giving (How to remember the church in your will.) What is it? Planned Giving Program is a new initiative under development by the church's Stewardship Committee with a mission to assist members who wish to remember the church in their wills. A planned gift (e.g., a bequest in your will) is one of the simplest and most rewarding gifts you can make. Many of us want to provide generously for the organizations we cherish, in addition to our loved ones. A bequest of any size in your estate plans can shape the future of this congregation and ensure its vitality for generations. How can we help you? Are you ready to make a planned gift? Are you seeking more information before making a planned giving decision? Are you interested in learning more about making a will? In time, the Melrose UU Planned Giving Program will include components to help you at each of these stages in the process. Soon, members of the Planned Giving Team will contact individuals who request a visit to answer questions and provide information to help them make planned giving decisions. In the future we plan to organize presentations at the church that focus on estate planning topics. How you can help us? Have you already included the church in your will? Can you recommend an estate planning attorney or financial planner? If so, we want to hear from you! If you've made a gift, we want to know about it so we can thank you and recognize you for the generous contribution you have made. If you can recommend an estate planning attorney or financial planner we want to know so we can draw up a list of recommended professionals to whom we can refer other members seeking help. If you are interested in learning more about planned giving, please contact Stewardship Committee. Holiday Offerings The Stewardship Committee has two key holiday giving opportunities during the year. Each Christmas and Easter, we contact our members and friends by mail with a letter along with special offering envelopes and request that special donations be made to support the work of the church.
70 W. Emerson St. Melrose, MA 02176 (781)665-7504 Comments or questions? Email: office@melroseuu.org.