FINANCE

(Stewardship, Canvass. Endowment, Fundraising)

      To provide mechanisms for the congregation to have the finances it needs to support its Mission.

• Develop an annual budget.
• Plan and conduct an annual pledge drive.
• Monitor and expand the Endowment Fund.
• Plan and facilitate fundraising activities throughout the year.

Contact Person:  Rex Rundquist
            Stewardship (budget) / Canvass (pledge drive)
                  Maria Rundquist
 
            Endowment
                  John Cowley
 
            Fundraising (eBay/Rummage)
                 Maria Rundquist
                 Susan Peete – eBay     
                Jill Lary Sand - eBay
                Ginny Duncan – Rummage Sale
                Judy Cowley – Rummage Sale

Stewardship / Canvass Guidelines

Guidelines for Annual Canvass Chair

• Prior to February 15th, organize a Canvass Committee (4-5 people) explaining to volunteers that there is only one meeting date two weeks after the pledge dinner that is required for their commitment.

• Set date for Pledge Kickoff Dinner prior to March 17, and develop a theme for the Pledge Drive. Also set a date for two weeks after the pledge dinner to meet with Canvass Committee to finalize pledge drive. Work with Hospitality Committee to select dinner menu and volunteers to cook.

• Obtain a working spreadsheet from church secretary of past pledge history and pledge payments for each member/unit including blank spaces for upcoming church year.

• Set date in early March for budget meeting. Enlist treasurer and various committee heads to attend this meeting (taking maximum of 1 1/2 hrs. time) to rough-out a proposed budget for the next church year.

• Present the proposed budget drafted at that meeting to the Board of Trustees.

• Have secretary mail out pledge dinner invitations one and one/half weeks prior to pledge dinner, asking for RSVPs. The Wednesday prior to pledge dinner call and/or e-mail those who have not responded.

• Prepare Documents for handouts and later mail outs. Have secretary prepare manila envelopes containing the appropriate documents for each pledge unit available at the dinner.
  1)Blank pledge sheet - (Showing in pencil, on the margin, last year’s pledge amount,      if applicable)
  2)Letter of explanation
  3)Proposed budget
  4)Thank you letters (One for monetary pledges and one for in-kind support.)

• Plan dinner and program (speakers/entertainment).

• Educate members on the intent of an “every member pledge drive” and on the need for every member pledging ($ or in-kind). Explain the need to turn in signed pledge sheets. Collect as many pledge sheets as possible at the close of the pledge dinner.

• On the Monday following the dinner, instruct secretary to immediately mail out information (Letter of Explanation, Proposed Budget, Pledge Sheet, Return Envelope) to members who did not attend dinner.

• Ask secretary to email you daily with pledges mailed back. Keep record on spreadsheet of all pledges as they are turned in.

• Two weeks following the pledge dinner meet with Canvass Committee Members to equally divide names of those church members who did not turn in a signed pledge sheet after the pledge dinner or during the past two weeks. Canvass Committee members then call on those members to make arrangements to pick up signed sheets even for in-kind donation or $0 dollar pledges within the week.

• Make certain thank you letters are mailed out by the secretary for all members thanking them for their pledge amounts, or in-kind support, and that quarterly and/or monthly statements of monetary payments received are mailed out by church secretary.

• Submit completed pledge totals to the Board so that the budget can be finalized in time for the Annual Congregational Meeting in April. Congratulations! You’ve done a great job!

Endowment Guidelines

• To oversee the management of the church endowment fund to insure that these assets are invested in a prudent manner to not only insure security and growth but that they are invested in a manner in keeping with our congregation's ethics and principles.

• To share knowledge that will help to educate and encourage members to contribute to this fund.

Fundraising/ eBay / Rummage Guidelines

eBay-Half.com project
  eBay:
1) Research donated items as to the value and ability to sell.
2) List items on eBay.
3) Package and mail sold item.
 
  Half.com:
1) List donated media objects (books, DVDs, CDs,records, VCR tapes) by logging on to the Half.com church account. Items can be listed by ISBN numbers, titles or authors. Rate the condition of the item, choose a price to sell and list item.
2) Check yahoo mail daily for email notification of sold item.
3) Print packing slip off of Half.com account.
4) Carefully package sold item in padded envelope or box if necessary.
5) Take to post office to mail(media or first class-whichever is less expensive)
    There is a debit card attached to this project for postage or packing materials, if needed.

General Fundraising

1) Select a date for annual Service Auction

2) Plan fundraising dinners, luncheons, or breakfasts advertised to to the public.

3) Plan and set the date for a bake sale, plant sale, art sale, etc.

Rummage Guidelines

1) Annual Rummage Sale is held in November. Send out requests via newsletter, e-mail, and Sunday announcements for clean good quality items (no clothes) to be brought to the church beginning two months prior to rummage date.

2) Make arrangements for advertising date and time:

•          Ad in rummage section of Sioux City Journal
•          Card stock fliers to be posted throughout the community
•          Find signs for church yard.

3) Beginning a week prior to rummage set up tables, arrange and price goods not already priced, check supply of sacks and wrapping materials, make arrangement with treasurer for change and cash box.

4) Early, morning of sale, place church rummage signs and banners outside of church.

© First Unitarian Church of Sioux City, IA 2008