2025 - 2026 Canvass: Courageous Generosity
2025 - 2026 Canvass: Courageous Generosity
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Make Your Pledge:
What is the Canvass?
What is the Canvass?
The Canvass is UUCR’s annual pledge drive – an opportunity to renew our philanthropic commitment to UUCR’s core mission, programs, and staff. This year’s theme, Courageous Generosity, inspires us to acts of generosity and of courage in our own lives, in community, and in the world. The bird-on-the-wing is a symbol of the freedom and transcendence we feel as we live our mission.
Your pledge of financial support is a promise to sustain our beloved community for the 2025-26 fiscal year (July 2025-June 2026). As you consider your giving level for the year ahead, think about what UUCR means to you. Are you inspired by Sunday services and weekday vespers? Moved by the beautiful music? Energized by social justice opportunities? Gladdened by deep friendships? There’s something for everybody in this congregation that practices love and celebrates diversity.
Please mark these important Canvass dates on your calendar:
March 9: An inspiring Canvass message from the Rev. Dr. Rebekah Savage
March 9-30: Canvass committee volunteers available in the lobby to provide information and answer questions
March 29: Fellowship and Gratitude Dinner
How to Pledge
How to Pledge
You may fulfill your pledge with a single gift payment or pay it down in weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual installments through June 2026. Our Canvass team is happy to work with you on a payment plan that makes it as easy as possible to support UUCR with courageous generosity.
You can read more about the Canvass, check out the latest budget data, and make a pledge online. Just go to Realm on the UUCR home page and hit the "+Pledge" button.
Fill out our Pledge Google Form
A confirmation email will be sent to you once your form is submitted.
Pledge card.
You may obtain a pledge card at the Canvass table in the lobby or request a physical pledge card by emailing us at canvass@uucr.org.
What is This Year's Canvass Goal?
What is This Year's Canvass Goal?
The UUCR Board of Trustees Canvass request is $660,293 for UUCR’s planned programs in FY 2025-2026. This is an increase of 9% over last year’s Canvass budget—a lofty goal, but a necessary one if we are to care for our congregation and underserved neighbors, as well as address current challenges to our democracy.
Who Can Pledge?
Who Can Pledge?
As a part of our covenant, all members are expected to make a financial pledge, according to their ability to give. There is no minimum amount for a pledge, and you do not need to be a member to make a pledge. We encourage everyone to give a gift that is meaningful for them and is an expression of courageous generosity and love. UUCR could not exist without your presence, your passion, and your philanthropic support. Generosity is not one-size-fits-all. A pledge of $250, or $2,500, or $25,000 may be within reach for some pledgers, depending on their life situation and journey. Be assured that every gift is valued, stewarded carefully, and received with deepest gratitude by our community.
What is the purpose of pledging?
What is the purpose of pledging?
You may not know that pledges make up 70% of UUCR’s annual operating budget. The need for financial support is obvious, but the need for pledging might not be. By pledging your support in advance, you make it possible for our congregational leaders to plan for the upcoming 2025-2026 budget year.
Here are some of the blessings that you provide through your pledge:
Our excellent staff
Programs and events to support our principles
Social justice in our community and beyond
Outreach to our local community and beyond
Family faith formation for all ages
Youth classes and programming
Sunday morning worship and fellowship
Joyful music and arts ministries
Remote access to services and programs
Beautiful spaces indoors and out
Last year, our income fell short of our Board-approved FY 2024-2025 budget, so the Board reluctantly drew down our reserves. This year, to avoid drawing down reserves further and having to make painful decisions about staff or services, we need to increase the budget at least 9%. This is a critical moment that will require us to come together as a community and practice courageous generosity.
If you have made a pledge to UUCR in the past, please consider increasing your pledge as you are able. If you have never pledged, you may want to do so within your means. No gift is too small or (need we say it) too large.
What is New for Fiscal Year 2025-2026?
What is New for Fiscal Year 2025-2026?
Our highest priority is to fully support our excellent staff and prevent the loss of their contributions to our congregation. We also plan to fill the Director of Religious Education position this next fiscal year and have budgeted accordingly.
We will build upon existing equipment and technical support to provide a seamless interface between the website, Realm, social media, and calendar to enhance our online presence and engage new audiences.
We also must plan for the maintenance of our aging facilities and landscape (4 of our buildings are close to 60 years old). Expenses include custodial services, utilities, building and grounds maintenance,trash and snow removal, water, sewer and insurance.
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) helps to strengthen and expand Unitarian Universalism beyond our own congregations. We aspire to remain an Honor Congregation to help our denomination grow and to nurture the next generation of UUs. Our full contribution to the UUA to sustain their annual programs is estimated to be $39,275.
How does the UUCR Budget Work?
How does the UUCR Budget Work?
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville has a tradition of strong financial management. It maintains solid financial records that are auditable, and from a financial management perspective, operates similarly to a small non-profit organization. Its financial officers consist of a treasurer, an assistant treasurer for receipts, and an assistant treasurer for disbursements—all supported by a bookkeeper. The finance and investment committees provide regular oversight of church assets. Members of these committees are congregants and serve on a voluntary basis and bring a wealth of diverse professional experiences and expertise to their roles.
UUCR operates on a July to June fiscal year. Each October, the Board issues budget guidance to staff and committees so they can submit funding requests for the upcoming fiscal year. The finance committee reviews and assembles these submissions into a draft budget that is submitted for approval to the Board in January. This approved budget is the basis for the annual spring Canvass drive. Each June, at the conclusion of the Canvass, the Board adjusts its operating budget (to begin in July) to reflect UUCR’s income.
Our largest expense, at 70% of our Canvass budget, and the heart and soul of our congregation, is its staff. UUCR employs five staff who work ¾ or full-time (Minister, Director of Religious Education, Congregational Administrator, Director of Congregational Engagement, and Director of Communications). UUCR has two half-time employees (RE Coordinator and Director of Music). Five staff members work 10 or fewer hours/week (Pianist, RE Youth Facilitator, Bookkeeper, and Facilities Assistant).
Questions regarding UUCR finances can be directed to the Finance committee.
What Is UUCR's Financial Condition?
What Is UUCR's Financial Condition?
Our financial condition is good, but there is a growing shortfall between the congregation we wish to be and what we can afford. In FY 2024-2025, UUCR fell short and had to draw down its reserves. Our hope is that the FY 2025-2026 Canvass will be successful in avoiding a shortfall.
You are a valued part of this congregation. Let us come together to practice courageous generosity and sustain this beloved community.
Have more questions? Contact us at canvass@uucr.org!
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