Annual Pledge Drive 2026-2027
Support Our Beloved Community
Or read on for more information!
Why Pledge?On Sunday, May 3, 2026, we launch CANVASS, the Church’s annual and only month-long fund raising campaign in support of upcoming annual operating expenses. Every member is gratefully asked to make a pledge to support the Church with specified gifts of money throughout the upcoming fiscal year.
Our gifts to CANVASS, pledged in this May, will provide 85% of what we can spend to again produce another year of “church” of the caliber of excellence we have experienced and come to expect. Our target is $85,000, and, frankly, we will reach this goal only if members are able and willing to increase the amount of their gifts.
Our pledges of financial support are part of our shared covenant for those who are part of the community in membership or friendship. We ask everyone to pledge, regardless of the amount, as all gifts are precious and valued. Our volunteer gifts and financial gifts make this church powerful and sustainable. We depend upon both.
Answering the Call of Love
What does your pledge support?
Your contributions, time and talents help to support all aspects of our UUCSB Community, including (but not limited to) to the following :
"Tree of Hope" Holiday Offering
Weekly and Monthly Newsletters
Choir led by Music Director Ellie Rolnick
Unexpected Community Outreach
Ministry Support
RE Facilitation
Gifted Ministry by Dr. Rev. Lori Whittemore
Upkeep for our grounds and building
Social Justice Work
Our growing web team and video support
Community meals
Ministry team
Administrative leadership
Building upgrades like fresh carpet.
Sunday services
Community Education
Special Projects
Regular maintenance
Special musical guests
Family game nights
Small Ministry groups
Caring Connection Outreach
Share the plate outreach
Organ performances by Paul Benya
What Should You Pledge?
This year’s goal is 100% Participation.
With a target of $85,000.00
How much you pledge is a personal decision. It is informed by your financial means, your connection to the mission and work of the Church, and the needs of the Church. UUA Fair Share Guidelines suggest that a new member pledge 2% of adjusted gross income. Some prefer to evaluate based on a monthly payment, i.e., $100 a month = a pledge of $1,200. Last year, annual gifts to CANVASS reflected five pledges in the range of $5,000; seven at $2,500; nine at $1,200; and thirty more.
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We are a small congregation that has done so much with very modest means! We are growing fast and require additional funds to live into the church we are becoming. We hope it is helpful to explain the leap in the need so you can see the value for the stronger ask we are making!
The increased need for funds comes in several categories.
To support families with children of all ages, we need to expand our Religious Exploration (RE) program in robust ways. We have families attending with middle and high school age youth for whom we have no programming. We want to elevate our current part-time RE position from lead teacher of our pre-school and elementary age children to an RE Coordinator who can grow our programming, including introducing a youth group. Extending our curriculum to older youth will necessitate expanding our access to Soul Matters curriculum.
This year we hired Ryun as our filming and tech coordinator. His presence has provided consistent preparation and streaming of Sunday services. He has identified the need for technology and wiring updates to resolve ongoing filming glitches in the sanctuary. We would need to do some repairs and updates as well as increase the hours he will require to do the repairs and/or hire electricians to help with this. Additionally, we want to enhance tech coordination to the Parish Hall which will require updating our network systems.
We had some additional funds come in this year which helped us buy additional programming to build our web presence, and pay for our Web Chaplain, Morgan. This fiscal year, we will need to budget to pay for the programs and labor to support this critical ongoing ministry.
We begin to transition from all-volunteer maintenance of the building and will need additional paid supplemental help. We have also encountered higher contract prices for services such as snow removal and lawn care. Heating oil prices will continue to fluctuate and we need to be ready for likely increases.
We are creating more adult RE opportunities and other programming that may require funding. There are new fees associated with online music resources. We also want to be able to provide scholarships for delegates to represent us at General Assembly and support planning retreats for our committees and ministries. Because fundraising efforts from the Christmas Fair and Yard Sale have leveled off, we may not be able to bring in the funds we budget for in the future.
All of these factors have created a need for building a larger budget.
~ The Board of Trustees
May, 2026
“Alone We Can Do So Little;
Together We Can Do So Much”
How do I pledge?
Written Pledge (Check as Usual)
If you prefer the time-honored tradition of writing out your pledge and turning in payments to the office, you’re always welcome to do that.
Online Giving & Automatic Payments
For the first time, you can also make your pledge online using Zeffy, our fundraising platform. Zeffy is a Canadian company that supports nonprofits without charging transaction fees—so 100% of your donation goes to UUCSB.
You can choose automatic payments on a schedule that works for you. Plus, Zeffy will send you a tax-deductible receipt automatically, which makes things easier for you and helps UUCSB save on administrative costs.
Pledge F.A.Q.s-
A pledge tells the Church how much financial support you plan to give toward the ministries of the church during the upcoming fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) and at what intervals.
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Our pledge is our promise to each other of financial stewardship. The amount pledged is a critical factor in determining the annual budget.
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Our pledges of financial support are part of our shared covenant for those who are part of this community through membership. We ask everyone to pledge, regardless of the amount. All gifts are precious and valued.
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Your pledge is a personal decision. It is informed by your financial means, your connection to the mission and work of the church, and the needs of the church. UUA Fair Share Guidelines suggest that a new member pledge 2% of adjusted gross income, and increase it over time to 5%. The church’s work in the world requires that many of us increase our pledges annually.
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Our volunteer gifts and financial gifts both make this church powerful and sustainable. We depend upon both. Putting money in the offertory plate is separate from the annual pledge drive and is a special kind of worship, half of which we contribute to an outside charity. Those funds help us directly too and are gratefully received. The bylaws require a member to receive approval of the Board or Minister to contribute service in lieu of a financial contribution to the Annual Pledge Drive.
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We use our financial resources to provide spiritual development, promote UU values in the wider community, care for our facilities, and grow adults and children with open minds, helping hands, and loving hearts, living the principles of our liberal religious faith.
One Sunday worship service costs about $1,500
Religious education for one child for a year costs about $500
Opening the church building and office for one day costs roughly $150
About 85% of the church’s annual funding comes from the annual pledge drive.
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The annual campaign is being conducted during May. We need to know the total amount of anticipated pledges in time to approve the upcoming budget in June. Please plan to attend the campaign kickoff and pot luck lunch on Sunday, May 3.
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Each of us has a different way of thinking about money and the work of the church, and it is important that our pledges feel meaningful, sacred, and just right. If you'd like to talk with someone about the vision you want to manifest, the church budget, or your pledge, please email
or telephone Trustee/VP/Canvass Chair, Tim Black, at timblack723@gmail.com or 513-615-0875
Our small but mighty church is growing—and so is our vibrant community of young people, guided and supported by the wisdom and dedication of those who have long been the heart of our congregation.
Together, across generations, we create a welcoming, joyful space where children and families can belong, explore their values, and grow. Your gift helps us honor this strong foundation while nurturing the next generation for years to come.