The Midcoast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is supported by its generous members, friends, and visitors. Their gifts – both large and small – fund the ongoing work of our shared ministry. Financial support is crucial to ensure the health and vitality of our Fellowship, now and into the future. Accepting responsibility for the wellbeing of the Fellowship, members and friends are encouraged to contribute financially at a level that they deem appropriate. This “sharing in stewardship” enables the essential resources and activities that make our Fellowship strong and help us translate our faith into action by:

• Sustaining professional and engaging ministry
• Sustaining the professional leadership of our Director of Religious Exploration
• Providing meaningful music and guest speakers in worship
• Maintaining our home at Skidompha Library
• Ensuring that our social justice projects are vital, visible, and effective
• Being a proud member of the wider Unitarian Universalist community

Stewardship season begins in the fall, when pledge request forms are sent to all members and friends. A pledge represents a promise to the community that a stated amount of money will be contributed over the span of the upcoming year. The submitted pledge forms provide feedback to the Board for its process of budget development for the coming year.

Pledges may be made at the household or individual level, and can be fulfilled in a variety of ways:

• A single check for the full amount at any point in the year (or multiple partial checks) can be made out to Midcoast UU Fellowship, or simply M.U.U.F., and mailed to the Fellowship or placed in the collection plate Sunday morning;
• Online donations can be made through our website . Click on the “Donate” tab on the homepage, then select “Donate” from the drop-down menu and follow the prompts. PayPal provides this service to the Fellowship, but you don’t need a PayPal account to avail yourself of it. The online option can conveniently be set up as a monthly contribution, distributing your pledge automatically across twelve payments of equal amounts.
• Use the “Bill Pay” option at your personal bank, so that your bank handles the distribution of the check(s) to the Fellowship. Again, this can take the form of a one-time payment or multiple/monthly/etc. automated checks.
• Other approaches exist and are utilized by Fellowship members, such as donating appreciated stock or making annual IRA distributions. If you are age 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). This method can reduce your taxable income.

Stewardship isn’t necessarily limited to the annual campaigns. It is a statement of confidence, trust, and commitment to the ongoing work of the congregation, and can be expressed at any point in time. Planned giving options are available and are encouraged. The Fellowship has been the grateful beneficiary of estate bequests made by generous, long-term members. Please contact the Fellowship’s Treasurer for more information on these options.

Thank you for your contributions to the life of our congregations!