Pledging & Planned Giving
Stewardship is an intentional choice of how to share our time, talent and treasure in support of what we value.
It includes care for the natural world and the ecosystems of our communities. It also includes planning for our estates through wills & trusts, and, for those who are able, gifts to the congregation or charity at the end of our life.
There are many different ways you can contribute to Common Flame & the causes we fight for. Click on each box below to learn more.
Pledging
Pledges are the cornerstone of the operating budget that is built in support of our mission.
The largest source of income to the church is from pledges by members and friends. Pledges are promises to pay an amount over the course of a year that the church can plan on.
We use a Year Round Pledge (YRP) system that staggers pledge start and end months throughout the year. Each month, roughly one-twelfth of the households are asked to consider their pledge and respond to the covenantal relationship established by membership. Most pledgers are members, but we do have quite a few pledging friends. Membership is not required to make a pledge of financial support! As you consider your pledge, please consult the Giving Guide. If you have questions about your current pledge or pledging in general, please contact the Administrator Carol Wilsey.
Planned Giving
We want to give to what matters most in our lives: family, friends and institutions that share our core values.
A current or deferred gift to Common Flame and/or the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is a way to bend the world closer to the principles of freedom, tolerance, justice, love and respect.
An undesignated gift provides the most flexibility for it to be used in ways that most benefit Common Flame and its mission.
There are also several opportunities to designate your gift as you wish:
Questions?
There are various levels of giving that you can consider. At the highest level, there are Legacy Circle members. There are more than 66 members and friends who have included Common Flame in their estate plans or have made current gifts that equal or exceed $10,000, making them Legacy Circle members.
Endowment and Memorial Gift Trust (EMGT)
This trust was established in 1996 through the generosity of several members of Common Flame.
Members and friends contribute assets in honor of friends and relatives, in appreciation of the benefits they receive from Common Flame, or as a demonstration of their commitment to UU values. The trustees receive gifts, bequests and other donations and invest the proceeds in the Unitarian Universalist Common Endowment Fund. The income and gain on the principal is used to fund special projects that reflect Common Flame’s religious and social values.
Since its inception, the EMGT has distributed more than $650,000 to fund capital improvements, scholarships, internships, conferences, and community outreach. We encourage you to submit your ideas to advance the strategic objectives of Common Flame.
Please remember that all grant proposals must originate from a standing committee or recognized Common Flame group. The guidelines may be downloaded from the link below. Proposals should be submitted via the form link below.
