Pledge Drive Financial Information

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Pledge Drive Financial Information

The purpose of the Pledge Drive is to raise money for the UUCR operating budget. This year's Drive raises money for the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, which covers the period from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.

Next Year's Budget

In January, before the start of the Pledge Drive, the Board of Trustees establishes a Canvass Budget. It reflects the needs and wishes of the UUCR community, but is not the final, approved budget. The Canvass Budget allows the Board to determine how much money the Pledge Drive must raise to support church programs and priorities. Once the Pledge Drive is complete and the pledged total is known, the Board establishes the final operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Pictorial representation of the UUCR budget development process

The Board approved this year's canvass budget at $696,869. The breakdown of expenses covered by the budget is detailed in the table below.

Board-Approved FY 2011 Canvass Budget — Summary Income and Expenses

Operating Expense	FY 2010 Budget	FY 2011 Canvass	Percent Change	Dollar Change
Payroll	$379,340	$389,324	3%	$9,984
Building Mortgage	$61,716	$61,716	0%	$0
Buildings & Grounds	$149,429	$147,445	-1%	($1,984)
Office Expenses	$23,000	$22,800	-1%	($200)
Committees	$28,748	$31,500	10%	$2,752
Social Justice & Partner Church	$11,350	$16,229	43%	$4,879
Denominational Affairs	$23,587	$27,355	16%	$3,768
Miscellaneous (bank charges)	$500	$500	0%	$0
Total Expenses	$677,670	$696,869	3%	$19,199

Church Income	FY 2010 Budget	FY 2011 Canvass	Percent Change	Dollar Change
Contributions	$559,470	$577,443	3%	$17,973
Rentals	$79,404	$79,676	0%	$272
Special Events (Auction, Bazaar)	$35,000	$35,000	0%	$0
Other Income	$4,000	$4,750	19%	$750
Total Income	$677,874	$696,869	3%	$18,995

The Pledge Drive Goal

The goal for the 2010 Pledge Drive is to raise $583,000. This number is slightly larger than the "Contributions" amount shown above. The goal is set higher to reflect the fact that less than 100% of pledged amounts are fulfilled with actual contributions.

Why should I increase my pledge in 2010?

(1) 2010 Canvass Budget calls for increases for Social Justice to:

Better support the "safety net" programs in our community given the deep and long recession (e.g., homeless shelters, soup kitchen, food bank, Rockville Community Ministries, Interfaith Works),
Give to the new Rockville community health clinic,
Expand our successful Rainbow Youth program to include young adults,
Better support the UU Beacon House program in NE Washington,
Pay fair share to UU's for Social Justice's regional efforts.

(2) Our Minister is going on a well-deserved Sabbatical, which will benefit all in our church community

Extra funds needed for guest ministers and other speakers to continue excellence in Worship.

(3) Continue to reward excellence and our commitment to fair compensation for our exceptional staff

Small payroll increase for 1% COLA and modest salary/benefit increases

(4) We want to more fully support our national and regional UU organizations, which provide us with assistance and give us a national voice

Increase our Denominational Dues from 80 to 90% of our Fair Share.

(5) We have been seeing the effects of this difficult economy on our own members

Budget has 8% contingency (pledgers who cannot fulfill their pleges) instead of 6% because more people are having difficulty paying pledges
So, in the spirit of blessed community, we hope those who can do so will want to increase their pledges

Please send comments to the webteam -at- uucr.org. Content last updated 2/28/2010.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville · 100 Welsh Park Drive · Rockville, Maryland 20850 · 301-762-7666