Giving & Generosity
Rev. Terry Sweetser writes, "At the heart of Unitarian Universalism is the faith that every person can make a meaningful difference in our communities and in the world. We have faith in generosity, a conviction that our shared gifts of love and labor can heal ourselves and others.” (from the UUA site)
The active and generous participation of our members and friends is essential to our community. Our gifts of time, energy, talent, and financial support make possible the maintenance of our building, the fair compensation of our staff, and the richness of our programs.
By far the largest part of our budget is funded through the generosity of our members and friends as we make yearly pledges as part of the canvass campaign. But there are other ways to help support the UUFH financially:
Shopping Online
If you shop online, please consider going through our Amazon connection, or join in the IGive program. The UUFH receives a percentage of every purchase made this way.
Click on this link to shop on Amazon.com, and UUFH will receive 4% or more of the total purchase. You can choose books, music, software, electronics, housewares, and many other merchandise categories. But in order for us to get the credit, you must go through this website, and complete the purchase within 24 hours – after that you will have to enter through this website again.
The iGive program also gives the UUFH a percentage of each purchase you make from one of the participating online merchants, and there are many to choose from. You must sign up individually through the IGive website link above, and then when you go on to the merchants’ sites, your purchase will automatically be credited to the UUFH. Currently there is a $5 bonus donation to the UUFH for first-time users!
Special Gifts
Special gifts are often made to the UUFH when people wish to honor the lives or deeds of those important to them. There are several UUFH funds which can direct your gifts to specific projects:
The Endowment Fund: The Endowment Fund is used to assure the long-term financial well-being of the Fellowship. Only the interest can be used, and it can only be used for special non-budgetary items. Some recent examples of endowment interest use are:
1) $3,300 for seed funding for a parttime youth advisor, and
2) $11,380 for several improvements to the Fellowship building and grounds (e.g., weather protection for the handicapped entrance door, etc.).
If you also would like to provide a gift to the Endowment Fund, or consider this in your estate planning, please contact the UUFH Office at 631-427-9547. We would like very much to add your name to our Fellowship Legacy Circle.
The Minister’s Discretionary Fund: This fund, handled by the minister, is to aid those within the Fellowship and in the larger community who are experiencing financial difficulties. All assistance is confidential.
The Memorial Fund: Memorial Fund donations are used for special projects of the Memorial Program. Examples of this use are the development of the Memorial Garden, and the installation of the Memorial Panel in our Main Hall.
Gifts of Appreciated Investments
If you give appreciated stocks to the UUFH as part of your pledge or other gift, your contribution can save you the capital gains tax otherwise due.
Easy Ways to Pay Your Pledge or Make Contributions
Just as you rely upon receiving income on a regular basis, the UUFH relies upon your regular contributions. Our finance committee deeply appreciates the efforts of congregation members to make consistent donations throughout the year. To assist you, we provide a convenient electronic giving option for setting up regular contributions. Please contact the UUFH Office at 427-9547. It is really easy.
You also have the option of contributing by credit card through Razoo.com. A Razoo account will let you make donations by a private and secure process, linked to Network For Good. If you are not currently a Razoo member, it only takes a moment to sign up. Go to:
http://www.razoo.com/organization/Unitarian-Universalist-Fellowship-Of-Huntington-Ny
or click on this button:
Donate Now
UUA Annuities
The Unitarian Universalist Association has the resources and expertise to help you support the future of Unitarian Universalism. For instance, we can show you how to make a gift today and receive payments for the rest of your life. We can explain how to make a gift from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). We can help you craft your estate plans to provide a significant, lasting contribution to our common work as Unitarian Universalists. For information about UUA annuities and other opportunities for planned giving, see the website at: www.uua.org/giving/plannedgifts/index.shtml.
Your gift to the Association and member congregations will keep the chalice fires burning.
UUFH Rentals
Think of the UUFH when you, or people you know, are planning an event – see our rental section (http://www.uufh.org/rentals.html).
UUFH Fundraisers
Various groups within the UUFH propose fundraisers from time to time, either for a specific project/recipient, or for the UUFH Operating Fund. A proposal must be made for such fundraisers to the Finance Committee, and the form to use for this may be found at the following link: http://www.uufh.org/catalogimages/fundraiserproposalform2003[1].pdf.
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