A Thank You and an Invitation to Supporters of UUC

by · Published · Updated

Headshot of Byron (beardless)

Byron Krystad, UUC Director of Operations

Endurance, patience, and deep goodwill: members and supporters of UUC have embodied these qualities and much more throughout 2021. You have sustained yourselves, your families, and your church community through difficult, liminal times, and will continue to do so in the year ahead. Individuals and organizations throughout the region and beyond have counted on all the members of UUC to lend strength and resources to many causes and immediate needs in our larger communities. As second Sunday collections for UUC partners have shown, our congregation feels called, and readily answers!

The generosity of UUC members and supporters cannot be over-thanked, but I will try. I have felt a great deal of gratitude throughout the year as I have watched responses to our spring pledge campaign come into the office, and as members and supporters were able to return to the church building for our ever-growing Sunday services in the summer. There was so much delight among those returning to the new building with fresh eyes!

Everyone’s patience with the growing pains of technology (oof, technology!) has been a solid foundation for the technical crew at the church—staff and lay leaders alike—who try to bring everyone the best experience of church in a dramatically unusual time. We are all thankful for the smiling faces of everyone involved in programming on weekdays and Sundays, whether in their little Zoom boxes or in person. So many people have done so much to make UUC an enduring institution this year. I offer my deepest thanks to you all.

And for those inspired and with opportunities, there’s still time to do more before the end of 2021!

  • Not everyone was able to participate in our pledge campaign this past spring. Those we have not heard from still have an opportunity to help us meet our goal for pledged gifts before the end of the year. Setting up a pledge can be done online at UUC Connect or with just a phone call to the office. Please contact me if you have questions about your pledge status or setting up a pledge or making gifts. Monthly gifts are an essential part of UUC’s stability.
  • Many new supporters who have arrived this fall may not have settled into a giving pattern yet. There’s always time to do so, and as we approach the middle of our fiscal year in December and January, a show of strength in pledged or new one-time donations will make a tremendous difference. It is easy to give online at UUC Connect or by texting UUCHURCH and a donation amount to 73256.
  • Tax-advantaged gifts are a great way to end the year. If you have appreciated stocks or mutual funds that you would like to donate and skip paying capital gains tax, UUC can receive those assets at Schwab or Vanguard. If you are over 70.5 years old and have required distributions from retirement accounts that need to be met before the end of December, those can be given tax-free directly to UUC. Please contact me if you have questions about donating investment assets or giving from a retirement account. Many UUC members have done both for years and have found it very easy.
  • There are still tax advantages for cash donations to consider. If you take the standard deduction, you can also take a modest charitable deduction. Under the CARES Act, in 2021 gifts to UUC qualify for a “Universal Deduction” in addition to the existing standard deduction. The limit is $300 for individuals and $600 for married couples filing jointly. If you itemize your deductions, the CARES Act increased the previous charitable deduction limit of 60% Adjusted Gross Income to 100%. Those who can afford to give away as much as they earn can completely offset their income with charitable giving in 2021. Consult your tax professional with questions about charitable deductions.

Please make certain that the date on any gift you wish recorded in 2021 is no later than December 31. Note, this is the date you give your gift, not the date it is received, so New Year’s Eve donations are welcome! Pledge payments should be marked for “operations” or “capital.” Split gifts are accepted as well; please clearly indicate the proportion of your divided gift. If you are giving to a special collection in December, please describe the collection purpose in the memo line.

If you have any questions about pledge or gift information that appears or has not yet appeared in UUC Connect, please contact me at byron.krystad@uuchuch.org or Chris Budd, our accountant, at chris.budd@uuchurch.org. Either of us would be glad to help you.

Thank you for holding UUC in your generous care this year, and for considering UUC in your end-of-year giving! Best wishes for the holiday season and a healthy and thriving new year.

Byron Krystad, UUC Director of Operations