We are thrilled to announce that the Endowment Fund recently received a $1,000,000 donation from some very generous UCE members. This amazing gift will allow our congregation to further live out our UU values and principles—to unite as a church community and dream together about how we can do the most good, who we can impact, and where we can effect change.

How does the Endowment Fund work?
The Endowment’s Fund’s by-laws state that each year, 5% of the fund’s year-end balance can be released in the following calendar year to:

  • Support special church projects not anticipated in or provided for by the operating budget
  • Support the communities in which UCE resides
  • Enhance, repair, or improve the UCE’s building and property
  • Provide scholarships and grants to UCE members and staff for education and training
  • Support the wider mission of Unitarian Universalism

With the addition of this donation, Endowment’s current balance is now over $1.4 Million, which means that in 2019, we will be able to grant approximately $70,000 – a significant jump from the $21,000 we can grant this year.

How does this impact UCE’s financial picture?
Issues many church communities grapple with when they receive a gift of such magnitude are: How will this impact our church in the long run? What about our annual pledge drive? What about capital campaigns? And, how do these three work together?

  • Our annual pledge drive provides the operating funds to keep the lights on, the staff here and programs for our church community.
  • Capital campaigns are intended to finance significant maintenance and improvements to UCE’s structures.
  • And the Endowment Fund is designed to insure a lasting financial base so we can continue to nourish our congregation and empower our life-changing work in the community.

As stated earlier, in 2019, the Endowment Fund expects to grant around $70,000. While a remarkable number, it is less than 10% of our annual operating budget of $750,000. Our community still needs to live out our commitment to UCE through our annual pledges. (So, if you haven’t turned in your pledge form, please do so!) And, we will still need to mount periodic capital campaigns to address improvements that go beyond our annual pledges.

But now we also get to imagine and dream bigger than ever before about our work in the world. To lengthen our vision and create a new reality for UCE. To use this extraordinary gift for an even stronger future as we continue to “nurture the human spirit for a world made whole.”

We hope you will join us in celebrating this extremely generous and transformational gift.

—The UCE Endowment Committee