2013-14 Annual Pledge Drive

2013-2014 Annual Pledge Drive:

Stoke the Fire of Commitment

Fire. It's one of the most powerful spiritual metaphors that Unitarian Universalists use: the fire burning in a chalice or the fire in our hearts to be part of smething nobler. Like fire, First Church is transformative. From cradle to grave, in good times and bad, this church helps fulfill our need for connections, meaningful dialogue and opportunities to serve. Its warm, loving community and purposeful programs tend to our evolving personal needs and fuel our passion to be our best selves.  

Just as we need First Church's support, it needs ours. First Church is facing a budgetary crisis: an annual budget gap of $100,000. Our current discretionary reserves are likely to be exhausted in only four years if we fail to bring annual income and annual expenses into balance. Now, we're ready to implement a four-year success plan to grow annual income, continue our careful management of expenses and close the budget gap by 2017. Please see details of the plan below.

For your convenience, you can submit your pledge here. If you would like your pledge payments automatically withdrawn from your checking account each month, please download an authorization form. Or, you can contact Kathy Porter, our Director of Membership and Development, at 414.273.5257 ext. 120 or kathy [dot] porteruumilwaukee [dot] org.

Be Part of the Solution! Commit Yourself to Our Four-Year Success Plan

• Increase pledges by $40,000 in our spring 2013 Pledge Drive. Then, incease pledges by $30,000 in each of the following three pledge drives.

• Use $140,000 of our discretionary reserves over the four years, preserving $250,000 for new initiatives and a cushion for the future.

• Set pledge goals more in line with giving at other churches as shown in the Gifts Pyramid (on the right) suggested by Dan Hotchkiss, our consultant from the Alban Institute. Dan noted that First Church has only three households in the top tier and only 17 in the second tier. Most churches our size have far more pledges within these ranges.

First Church is such a source of light and hope in our lives. The light that arises in worship and music that makes our hearts soar. Hope that our justice-seeking work will change the world. The light that is embodied in the values-based religious eduction we offer children and youth. And hope that is felt through the deepening experiences shared in our adult programs. First Church's ability to do these things depends on everyone's support. Please pledge generously now.

Click below to watch the Stoke the Fire of Commitment video!

Love for First Church and the Green Bay Packers are brought together in First Church member Christian Becker's Stewardship testimonial "Going in for the Team"!

Listen to one member reflect on the effects of stewardship in his own life.