Dear Ones of First UU,
In the year that I have been with you as your lead minister, I have felt a growing sense of optimism and an ease among you and between you and me. I am delighted to be with you and am so grateful for the amazing staff team that I get to work with every day. Our new assistant minister Rev. Kristen Kuriga is a joy to know and work with as a colleague, and we are once again a teaching congregation with the arrival of our new ministerial intern. So many gifts in this beautiful congregation. Good people are drawn to you, to this ministry that we all serve. This congregation has been a vital presence in San Diego for 150 years! Over this past year we have celebrated that history with concerts and parties, with a wonderful worship service led by UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick Gray last November and with proclamations from our mayor and our state representative. This year our new UUA President Rev. Sofía Betancourt will lead worship with us on Sunday, November 19th. In many ways, over this past year we are still coming back from the shutdown phase of the pandemic. Just about every Sunday, I meet one of you on the patio and you tell me that you are a longtime member who has been watching online for months but is just now starting to return to in-person worship. It’s lovely to meet you all in person, and I remain grateful that we have found other ways to connect as well. What is clear to me is that we need one another, and that this congregation has a vital place in the hearts and minds of so many of you. I’m writing today to ask you to take a few moments right now to make your financial pledge to First UU San Diego for the coming 2024 year to ensure that we can continue to pay our staff and ministers fair wages, keep our buildings and grounds secure and beautiful and to ensure also that we position this congregation to keep moving forward for another 150 years! For this year’s annual pledge drive we have an ambitious financial goal of $825,000, but my goal, as always, is 100% participation. I want every single one of us to make a pledge or to seek a waiver if circumstances do not permit you to make a pledge this year. If we all make a pledge in an amount that makes our heart glad, we will have all that we need to serve the mission of this congregation. You might ask, “why do I need to pledge since I always give?” The answer to that has two parts for me. The first part is that by pledging, we are saying to our fellow community members, “I am all in. I am a part of this community, and I am invested (and investing!) in our shared future.” The second part is more mundane but no less important. We base our budget on what people pledge. If we make our pledge drive goal, for example, we can honor the commitment we make to our employees to meet UUA guidelines for fair pay. We can take care of our buildings and grounds, and we continue the wonderful programming and events that we have all come to rely on and appreciate. It takes all of us sharing what we can with our beloved faith community. Dale and I have made our pledge for the year. Will you join us? In faith and service, Justine Rev. Justine Sullivan Developmental Lead Minister |
Pledge / Financial Commitment Form
A financial commitment is a promise to donate money to First UU for a 12 month calendar year period. Our gifts are considered “continuous.” Once a commitment is made, that gift continues each year, with the opportunity to revisit the amount of your gift every year. Members will be contacted in the Fall to ask for their financial commitment for the next calendar year. Although gifts can be paid in any timeframe or increments, it may be helpful to think of your gift in terms of a monthly amount of financial support.
We Are Generous People
First UU is self-sustaining and all members contribute time, talent and treasure by attending services, volunteering, becoming engaged in the many ongoing activities this campus offers, and giving regular financial contributions.
Our budget is approximately $1.6 million per year. We strive to be a congregation of generous givers, and recognize the joy and satisfaction that comes with being able to share our resources, financial and otherwise, to build our blessed community. Our financial contributions are an investment we make in living our values and creating a home where those values are nurtured and thrive. Major areas of investment are children's religious education, young adult and youth programs, social justice, and our worship and music programs.
While the amount of your financial commitment is a personal decision, it's hoped members will either pledge 5% of their income or give serious consideration to a plan to reach the 5% level within three years. If your financial situation makes any contribution impossible, you may make a confidential request for an annual waiver from one of the ministers.
Any financial commitment amount that is meaningful for you is appropriate. We view proportional giving as the greatest gift of all. Some of our most generous givers are wealthy, many more are not. To steward this sound base of programs, personnel, and facility, we plan thoughtfully, budget carefully, and act wisely. For a responsible budget, we must forecast realistically the ongoing support of the Congregation. Please consider your fair share and make a financial commitment according your ability.
Our budget is approximately $1.6 million per year. We strive to be a congregation of generous givers, and recognize the joy and satisfaction that comes with being able to share our resources, financial and otherwise, to build our blessed community. Our financial contributions are an investment we make in living our values and creating a home where those values are nurtured and thrive. Major areas of investment are children's religious education, young adult and youth programs, social justice, and our worship and music programs.
While the amount of your financial commitment is a personal decision, it's hoped members will either pledge 5% of their income or give serious consideration to a plan to reach the 5% level within three years. If your financial situation makes any contribution impossible, you may make a confidential request for an annual waiver from one of the ministers.
Any financial commitment amount that is meaningful for you is appropriate. We view proportional giving as the greatest gift of all. Some of our most generous givers are wealthy, many more are not. To steward this sound base of programs, personnel, and facility, we plan thoughtfully, budget carefully, and act wisely. For a responsible budget, we must forecast realistically the ongoing support of the Congregation. Please consider your fair share and make a financial commitment according your ability.
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Who to contact
Please contact Robie Evans, Director of Operations at (619) 398-4433 or [email protected].