Annual Pledge Drive

Annual Pledge Drive 2025 – together we fan the flame

Our First Church community depends on everyone’s generosity to thrive and grow. Our First Church community nurtures our spirits, forges meaningful and supportive connections, and challenges us to make a positive and lasting impact in our world. All of the worship, religious education, music, social justice and other programs you love and value are sustained by annual pledges.

Pledges Build First Church!  Pledge commitments are the primary support for our community’s: transformative worship, powerful music, and life-changing faith formation. Your Pledge also creates care and connection for our children, youth and families; pastoral care that wraps our people in love during hard times; human connection and a sense of belonging for our people in church and those beyond our walls.

Pledges Create Future Opportunities!  With your investment this year, we are building the bridge to our pledge-sustained future. With a pledge-sustained community, we can keep growing in our values by: Grow our community, providing more people with access to Unitarian Universalist values. Give more support to our UUs of Color and our young families. Support our trans and queer UUs and families in these difficult times. Grow our social justice work in Milwaukee. Live our values with fair compensation for our staff members.

2, 4, 6, 8 Who do we appreciate?!  We are in the middle of our plan to close the gap between our annual operating income and expenses. This year, our pledge goal is to keep up with inflation, so we don’t fall behind in closing the gap! Can you help by increasing your pledge 2, 4, 6, or 8 percent? While not everyone can increase at the highest level, those who can create the strength of balance in community for those who have tighter budgets.

Pledge Now!

Please help us reach our goal and return your annual pledge on or before March 2 when we will close our pledge drive on Celebration Sunday. You can use this convenient web form: https://bit.ly/FUSM_Pledge   Or ask for a paper pledge form at the church.

What is a Pledge?

A pledge is a promise to donate money to the church within a 12-month period. Like many non-profit organizations, our Finance Team begins our budgeting process for the following fiscal year in the Spring. They base the budget on the commitments we make in the annual pledge drive. A pledge is a non-binding promise for how each of us want to support our community throughout the coming year. If unexpected financial challenges come up for your family during the year, please let us know and we will adjust your commitment per your instructions immediately.

Generosity as a Spiritual Practice

We think of generosity as a spiritual practice at First Church, a practice that opens our hearts and expands our joy. So ultimately, any pledge amount that is meaningful for you is appropriate and very much appreciated. We are also a community that relies almost completely on our members’ gifts to exist. So please consider the “ask” you’ve received in the mail and pledge joyfully.

If you are interested in automatic Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on the 15th of each month, click here for the online form to submit your bank information in the encyrpted form. If you have questions contact Shari Wright.

For help with any of our giving options, please contact Shari Wright, Office Manager, by email or phone at (414) 273-5257 x207.