As a loving community, we invite members and friends to commit to taking care of the many things we love about UU Meriden:
- a caring congregation that is a welcoming place for all
- weekly worship gatherings that inspire, connect, and transform
- meaningful faith development for all ages
- support and care for each of us as we encounter joys and sorrows in life
- opportunities to serve the greater good, take care of others and the environment, and advocate for social change
As Spring approaches, UU Meriden leaders begin planning next year’s budget. We ask all members and friends to reflect on the future and commit to sustaining and growing our spiritual community.
Our Annual Stewardship Campaign (or Pledge Drive) supports UU Meriden as a self-sustaining congregation. It is up to all of us to ensure our community remains strong, welcoming, and financially healthy.
Stewardship is more than financial giving—it’s also about sharing time, energy, and talents. Volunteering, participating in worship and programs, serving on committees, and helping at events all strengthen our community.
Please take a few minutes to complete this online form or to print and fill out the paper form. If you choose the paper form, please mail it to UU Meriden, 328 Paddock Avenue, Meriden, CT 06450 or bring it to Liz Hall on Sunday.
UU Congregations don’t tell you how much to give, but we do find that our members and friends appreciate a guide to giving.
Because our congregation depends heavily on our staff and building to help provide a caring and inclusive community. We are fully member-supported, giving levels are in a different category than other charities you may have given to. It is not unusual for a household’s annual pledge to be either your only donation or your largest donation.
Because we all have different resources and responsibilities, we ask you to consider income, wealth, and comfort when determining how much to pledge. We think it is important for you to know that 55% of our income is coming from 6 families. If for some reason they can’t continue at that giving level that could put our budget into an emergency situation. We ask that if you can give more please do!
You might start by asking yourselves the following questions about your income:
- Is your income steady?
- Are you and your homeowners or landowner?
- Have you had ease accessing and affording healthcare or health insurance for yourself and your family members?
- Do you have no/or minimal debt such as student loans, credit card debt, and medical bills?
- Do you have income for entertainment, eating out, and/or travel?
Were the majority of you answers yes?
Consider pledging 5-10% of your net income.
Did you answer some yes and some no?
Consider pledging 3-4% of your net income
If a pledge does not fit your financial situation, you can make a one-time donation, or you can contact Liz Hall, Stewardship Chair for other options. Your pledge and any financial donations are personal and confidential and will not impact your relationship with the congregation.
How Much Do Members and Friends Actually Pledge?
Although we keep confidential how much each individual or household pledges, we are transparent about trends in giving. This is a broad brush view of our giving levels with the following information:
- Range of Annual Gift amounts of each group
- Number of pledges in each group
- Percentage of the total Pledged Income for each group
How Much Do Members and Friends Actually Pledge Graph
| Dollar Range | # of Pledges | Dollar Amount | Percentage of the Total Pledged Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10-$99 | 18 | $7,269.00 | 7.00% |
| $1,000-$1,199 | 11 | $13,550.00 | 14.00% |
| $2,000-$3,600 | 8 | $21,820.00 | 23.00% |
| $6,000-$18,000 | 6 | $55,030.00 | 56.00% |
-
Location