Pledge Drive Resources

Your generosity supports the ministries of UUC. We couldn’t fulfill our mission without you!

During our annual pledge drive, members and friends of UUC are invited to make financial commitments to support our congregation for the coming fiscal year. UUC receives no outside funding and relies solely on the generosity of congregants for support.

How to Pledge

Your commitment is so valuable to us. Thank you! There will be several different ways to submit your pledge at the Pledging Party Brunch on March 22 and in the weeks before and beyond. You can submit your pledge via our online pledge form or a paper card.

How Much Should I Give?

How much one donates is a very personal decision. The Unitarian Universalist Association recommends a donation of from 2-5% of one’s adjusted annual income. If your circumstances make this unrealistic, consider making it a goal to work toward. In the end it is not so much about “raising money” as it is creating a community of generosity where lives are transformed, where children learn our values, where we each find support in all areas of our lives, and where our values spread out into the larger world of social service and social justice. Give as generously as you can, experience the sense of joy and well-being that comes from creating and participating in the abundance of UUC.

How to Fulfill Your Pledge

You give generously, let us make it easy. Payments to fulfill your pledge can be made in a variety of ways:

  • Your Banking Institutions. Make a one-time or recurring payment to UUC directly from your checking or savings account through your bank’s online bill pay. Most banks offer this service for free.
  • Personal Check. Please have checks written to “UUC” with PLEDGE 26-27 in the memo line. Drop it in the offering basket at service; place it in the secure box in the administrator’s office door; or mail it to UUC, PO Box 10116, Blacksburg, VA 24062.
  • Online. Pay through our secure online giving portal  Please note that this method incurs fees paid by UUC. You also have the option to donate to offset these fees. To avoid fees, consider setting up auto-pay through your bank. 
  • Other. If you have a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA, you can choose to donate it to the UUC. This is called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD)*. Contact your financial advisor for more details. Important: be give us a heads up to expect this payment and also ask your financial institution to include your name when they make this payment so we can record it on your contribution record.

A note on Qualified Charitable Donations (QCDs); anyone over 70 1/2 can make a tax free withdrawal from an IRA-type account if sent directly to a charity – a QCD. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) now (as of 2023) are not required until one reaches 73. If you are over 73, a QCD will count toward your RMD but you need not be required to take an RMD (over 73) to be able to make a QCD (over 70 1/2). Contact your financial advisor for help.

MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU DISCERN YOUR PLEDGE

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VIDEO SERIES FROM 2025

Our stewardship ministry team produces videos to help inspire generosity. Enjoy these videos and stay tuned for more to come in our current campaign!

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MORE ARCHVIED RESOURCES FOR PLEDGE DRIVE 2025–2026