First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans

CANVASS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

WHAT IS A CANVASS?
Canvass is our name for our annual stewardship or pledge drive to obtain commitments of financial support for the operations of the church for the upcoming year.

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM GIVING MONEY TO THE OFFERING?
While donations via the weekly offering are greatly appreciated, and are used to support the church, they are variable and we cannot rely upon them in planning our budget. Pledges give us a formal record of the funds we can expect during the year. Pledge payments may be placed in the offering plate, but we ask that they be via check, with a notation that they are for a pledge; cash can be placed in an envelope with your name on it. Otherwise we have no way to track cash contributions.

I AM NOT READY TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH, SO WHY AM I GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT PLEDGING?
We have many non-members of the church who pledge financial support. We call them “friends” of the church. We invite everyone who is regularly participating in church activities to make a pledge.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I PLEDGE?
This is a personal decision. We ask that you consider your personal budget, and determine an amount you can contribute to the church on a weekly or monthly basis. Many people find it appropriate to pledge $50 to $100 per month, depending upon their income. You may also wish to consider a percentage of your available income. For more guidance, see the UUA’s fair share giving guide.

WHERE DOES MY PLEDGE GO?
If you are a member of the church, almost $100 of your pledge goes to pay national and district dues for the Unitarian Universalist Association. The rest of the pledge is kept at First Church, and is used to pay salaries and benefits to our staff, building maintenance costs, administrative costs, and programming and committee costs. Our budget details the amounts budgeted for sub-items in each of these areas, and we share regular reports of our expenses.

WHY ARE WE PLEDGING NOW FOR 2007?
We must bring a 2007 budget to the Congregation for approval in November. In order to complete the budget, we must know how much to expect in income from pledges.

CAN I DESIGNATE WHAT I WANT MY MONEY TO GO TO?
Not specifically. If you are a member of the church, you have a voice, when considering the budget, in deciding how the overall church pledge income will be used. However, it is not possible to earmark specific pledges to specific costs.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN'T FULFILL MY PLEDGE ?
While we keep track of pledge payments, and send statements for reminders and tax purposes, we understand that some people’s circumstances change during the year, which prevents some people from fulfilling their pledges. If this occurs, we ask that you let us know so that we can note this on our records.

WHAT IF I HAVE A HARDSHIP SITUATION THAT PREVENTS ME FROM MAKING A FINANCIAL PLEDGE?
If you cannot make a financial pledge due to hardship, and wish to remain an active member in First Church, please discuss your situation with a canvasser and/or the minister.

WHAT ABOUT PLEDGES OF TIME AND TALENT? DO YOU JUST CARE ABOUT MONEY?
We could not survive without the generous donations of our members’ and friends’ time and talents.

If you are eager to know more about our volunteer opportunities, committees, and other areas where energies are needed, please read our weekly announcements or talk to Rev. Marta, board members, or resident extroverts about the options open to you.

Canvass is the only time of the year we talk more about money than other things, because we need to make sure our financial house is in order so we can do more with and for our members and the community.

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...to seek meaning and wholeness in our lives and justice in the world.

GATHER THE SPIRIT, HARVEST THE POWER
OF OUR SHARED MINISTRIES
CANVASS 2007

October 2006

Dear Members and Friends of First Unitarian Universalist Church,

Thanks to our own perseverance, and the kindness of many, many friends and strangers, we are still here! The last year and a half has been tumultuous, but we are still here! We are worshipping back in our own neighborhood; our building, despite its unfinished state, is being used for a variety of activities; and we, as a congregation, are more connected that ever to the larger community and to our UU counterparts around the country. Newcomers are finding us, and staying to help us as we move to achieve our vision of First UU church as a center for spiritual and social justice renewal in New Orleans.

We invite you to support the efforts of First Church in 2007, to reaffirm our presence, and continue to expand our programming and services to the community, by pledging your financial support for the year. The canvass is our primary method of obtaining funds for the operations of First Church. The operational budget covers personnel cost (staff salaries and benefits), administrative costs, building maintenance costs, and program/committee costs. Since Katrina, we have had significant assistance from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) to cover personnel costs. However, that assistance will end in late 2007, and we need to make our very best effort now to move toward becoming self-sustaining once again.

The funds pledged in the Canvass do NOT go toward the renovation of our church building. That will be achieved through a separate, national campaign, which will seek the majority of the funds needed through grants and donors outside our congregation. However, in seeking the support for that campaign, it will be important to show that we have the will and the resources from within to maintain and expand our operations. So, a strong canvass for 2007 is important. Our canvass goal is $70,000 in pledges.

In determining how much to give, please consider that we are not a once a week church. Our members and staff are active daily in a variety of activities. Pledges enable us to plan a realistic budget. In considering how much to pledge, you must, of course, consider your circumstances. We ask that, in doing so, you think about your weekly or monthly budget, and what is possible within that to contribute toward the church. Enclosed is a fair share giving guide, prepared by the UUA that suggests ranges of giving.

If, based on this information, you are ready to make a pledge, please complete the Pledge Form and return it. If you would like a personal canvass visit, please let us know. Finally, we invite you to our celebratory dinner on November 11th. Please see the flyer for more information.

Thank you for your support of First Church. Together we can and will build the world we dream of living in!

In Fellowship,
Ann Maclaine, Treasurer,
For the Board of Trustees

CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE 2007 PLEDGE STATEMENT