Instructions for Giving

Time, Talent, and Treasure

Inspired by our mission to nurture the human spirit for a world made whole and our Covenant of Engagement, we cultivate a spirit of generosity and mutual support. Unitarian Universalism calls us to be engaged in economic equity and justice for all. Our faith in the worth and dignity of every person reminds us that we belong to and are accountable to one another. According to our bylaws, the requirements for membership are to sign the Membership Book and make an annual pledge of record or affirm membership. Beyond these, the implicit expectations are that each person share of themselves by being in covenant with other members of our congregation and offering their time, talent, and treasure to the extent that they are able. We hope that each person is able to participate in the life of the congregation in ways that are life-giving and spirit-sustaining. Your giving should be a reflection of the community, spiritual nourishment, meaning, and strength you receive by being part of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston.

Definitions

Each year our operating budget is drafted to reflect goals set by the Board of Trustees along with needs recommended by staff. Most important, it reflects our priorities as a congregation and the ways in which we seek to live out our shared values together. At the heart of our budget is support for our staff, whose dedication helps bring our mission statement to life by providing the vision and structure through which you, our members and friends, can contribute your gifts and passions; and funding for a clean, safe building where we can gather to learn, grow, and serve. We welcome guests as part of the overnight shelter, host community events, and invite in visitors who are seeking a spiritual home.

Member pledges — including yours — provide about 80% of the operating budget. For this reason, your pledge should be your first responsibility as a member. Any other donations you make to UUCE would be in addition to, rather than in lieu of, your annual pledge. The other sources of funding for the operating budget are:

The UUCE Operating Budget for the coming year is voted on at our annual meeting in May and covers our fiscal year of July 1st through June 30th. The annual pledge drive occurs before then in the hopes that we have all pledges submitted before we draft the proposed budget for approval by the congregation. You may always talk with one of our ministers or a member of the Membership Team to discern what amount feels best to give.

These funds support various initiatives in the congregation that fall outside of the Operating Budget. Unlike the Operating Budget and the money set aside for grants each year by the Endowment, these funds never go away or get reabsorbed into the larger fund respectively. Suggestions for new funds should be submitted to the Senior Minister and the President of the Board of Trustees.

The current list of funds is:

  • Alice Swan Community Fund: These funds are used to support our food and housing scarcity, such as the Soup Kitchen and Overnight Shelter.
  • Anti-Oppression Seed Fund: These funds are used for our anti-racism, anti-oppression, multicultural work.
  • Garden Fund: These funds are used to support the beautification of our gardens and grounds.
  • Immigrant Family Fund: These funds are used to assistance the refugee and asylum-seeking individuals, couples, and families who our congregation supports.
  • Katie Mitchel Library Fund: These funds are used to enhance our library located in Room 6 and the lending libraries in the cafe area.
  • Lifespan Faith Formation Fund: These funds are used to enhance our Lifespan Faith Formation programming for children, youth, and adults.
  • Marjorie Fisher Environmental Fund: These funds are used for our work on environmental issues.
  • Memorial Services Fund: These funds are used to support memorial receptions held at UUCE for members.
  • Music Fund: These funds are used to support our music programing, including making donations to the Evanston Reparations Community Fund each time we use an African-American Spiritual in our worship service or other events.
  • Pastoral Care Fund: These funds are administered by the Senior Minister to cover the emergency needs of UUCE members & friends.
  • Rosemary Zwick Creative Arts Fund: These funds are use to support creative works to beautify our building.
  • Susan Walker Social Action Fund: These funds are used for our social justice work from individual equity to systemic change.
  • UU Engagement Fund: These funds are used for scholarships and sponsorships of events held by local, regional, and national UU affiliated organizations.

Established in 1986, the Endowment Fund is a vehicle for members to make lasting contributions to the congregation through their will ,or a memorial gift, as a legacy for future generations. Each year a percentage of the  endowment’s growth is distributed to support our congregation and the wider community that further the mission of UUCE to make the world whole. UUCE members and partner nonprofits can apply for grants. To donate, to apply for funds, or to see how funds have been used, please click here.  Like the roots that nourish and stabilize a tree, Endowment dollars strengthen our community and promote its health and vitality.

A capital campaign is a large fundraising initiative used to pay for large projects that are well beyond the scope of the Endowment or the annual Operating Budget. They happen roughly once every ten years, although the time between capital campaigns can vary depending on the overall financial health of the congregation. During a capital campaign, congregants will be asked to make a second pledge towards the campaign’s goal in addition to their normal pledge.

The leadership of the campaign will decide what financial goal feels realistic for the campaign and prioritize which projects to address. In 2019, our capital campaign had a one million dollar goal and the funds were used to repair our leaking wing roof, repave our parking lot, renovate our kitchen, replace all of our aging chairs in the sanctuary with new ones, install air conditioning in our worship space, install an accessibility ramp to our south lawn, and set up our intergenerational playscape there.

To make a donation:

  • Click the button above.
  • If you have never given to us before, after you click the button above, click Sign Up in the top right-hand corner, then follow the instructions on screen to make an account.
  • If you already have an account, after you click the button above, click Log In in the top right-hand corner, then follow the instructions on screen to log in.
  • Click the purple Donate/Contribute/Give button below the category you would like to give to.
  • Enter the amount, select the frequency, enter an optional note, then click Add to Basket.
  • You will automatically be taken to your basket. If you are ready to finalize your giving, click Continue to Payment and follow the on screen instructions to enter your payment and contact information. The summary of your giving will be on the right-hand side. By default, the option to help us offset our processing fees will be enabled. Please be mindful of this and make your selection before clicking Continue to Review.
  • You may be asked to prove that your are not a robot. Complete whatever challenge is necessary.
  • There is one final summary. When you are ready, click Submit. After processing, you will see a confirmation that says Thanks for your support!
  • You will receive an e-mail receipt from support@vanco.com.
  • Thank you!

Need more help?

If you’re having trouble accessing the website, setting up an account, or looking up your giving history in Realm, contact Adam Gough at agough@ucevanston.org.

If you have financial questions, contact Mark Westcott at finance@ucevanston.org.