Church Council and the Stewardship Committee encourage members and friends of the church to consider a contribution to the StimUUlus Campaign to raise additional money for an essential reserve fund. The goal of this campaign is to raise $36,000, and we hope to end the campaign on Sunday, May 2.
Why? Our church has historically relied on the generosity of a few individuals to achieve the funds necessary to fund our annual operating budget. The Stewardship Committee has been working hard to reach a more equitable distribution of donations for a number of years, with limited success. Consider this:
In 2021 14 households contributed 50% of the $262,000 raised,
with 114 households donating the remaining 50%.
In the past few years a few of our most generous donors have moved out of the area or have passed away, creating a loss of over $40,000. We have not met our pledge goal for the last three years. Fortunately, we have had resources from reserve funds and the endowment to make up the difference. But our reserves need to be replenished so we can continue to sustain and grow our church community.
During the next three to five years we will work together to achieve a more sustainable distribution of donations to avoid having half of our budget coming from so few households.
Why Now? Congress recently passed a third COVID relief bill that will provide stimulus payments described in the chart below:
Maximum total (per adult) – $1,400
Dependents (flat rate) – $1,400 (any age)
Income to receive maximum amount –
$75,000 (single); $150,000 (married filing jointly)
Single taxpayer upper limit – $80,000
Filing jointly upper limit – $160,000
At their March meeting, Church Council approved the recommendation of the Stewardship Committee to launch a StimUUlusCampaign asking members and friends to consider donating a portion of their stimulus checks to replenish our reserve funds.
When? The StimUUlus Campaign was announced in a special video invitation during the Zoom service on Sunday, March 14; official counting began March 28.
Check out these FAQ’s for more details.
Please consider what you are able to contribute to the church to ensure our community continues to thrive.
How To Donate:
- Check payable to the UU Church of Canton, mail to 3½ East Main Street, Canton, NY 13617. Please note on the memo line StimUUlus.
- Make your payment online using Vanco or Venmo, noting it is a StimUUlus contribution.
Important Distinction: Our StimUUlus Campaign is a special initiative to fund reserves. It is not a substitute for our annual canvass drives conducted in the fall of each year to raise pledges for funding the following year’s operating budget.
If you have questions or would like to discuss giving options please contact a member of the Stewardship Committee or email or call (315-386-2498) the church office and someone from the Stewardship Committee will be in touch with you.
Stewardship Committee: Steve Coffin, chair; Pete Beekman, Louise Bixby, Dennis Morreale, Tim Opdyke, Carol Pynchon