Congregational Finance

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) provides many resources—web pages, publications, and people—that can help congregational leaders charged with fiscal oversight and management of the following issues.

Endowment Resources

Endowment assets need to be invested prudently, but in a way that will generate income for the congregation. The Unitarian Universalist Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF) may be a good option for many congregations, but it is important to make sure that the objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon are consistent with those of the congregation. Learn more about the endowment resources the UUA offers.

Legacy Giving Program

Perhaps the best way to grow an endowment is to create a legacy giving program. At its most basic level, this means letting members of your congregation know that they can put the congregation in their wills. But there are other structured vehicles that allow people to make legacy gifts during their lifetimes. Along with the resources listed, Moira Pulitzer-Kennedy, Legacy Gifts Manager (giftplans @ uua.org), would be a tremendous source of information.

• Planned Giving: A Guide for UU Congregations (PDF, 22 pages)
   
• UUA Planned Giving Resources

Umbrella Giving Program

The UUA’s Stewardship and Development group is happy to work with congregations and donors to structure gifts that benefit more than one organization. Contact Katrina Foster (campaigndirector @ uua.org), for more information.

Stewardship and Fundraising

The UUA department of Congregational Stewardship Services offers consulting guidance with annual budget drives, strategic planning, capital campaigns, and planned giving. Contact Wayne Clark, Director of Congregational Stewardship Services (csdirector @ uua.org), for more information.

• Congregational Stewardship Services
   
• Buildings and Facilities

Annual Program Fund 

The  Annual Program Fund (APF) office has designed many stewardship resources to help promote an intergenerational culture of giving in your congregation, and to communicate the role of generosity in funding your community. In addition to the resources below, please feel welcome to contact Laurel Amabile, APF Director (apf @ uua.org), for more information.

• Nurturing Generosity in Your Congregation
   
• Budgeting and Contribution Resources for Congregations

Benefit Programs

The UUA offers a full complement of benefit programs for ministers and employees of our congregations and related organizations. These include: retirement, health insurance, life insurance, dental insurance, and disability insurance. Rev. Richard Nugent heads the Office of Church Staff Finance (ocsf_director @ uua.org), which administers these programs.

• Unitarian Universalist (UU) Organizations Retirement Plan
  Contact Joyce Stewart, Director of UUA Retirement and Group Insurance Plans (retirementplan @ uua.org), for more information.
   
• UUA Health Plan
  Contact Jim Sargent, UUA Health Plan Director (hp_director @ uua.org), for more information.
   
• Group Insurance Plans
  Contact Patti Angelina, Insurance Plans Coordinator (insurance_plans @ uua.org), for more information.

Tax Issues

Often congregations get confused about their tax status under IRS rules. Every UUA congregation is a “church” under U.S. tax law, therefore tax exempt, charitable, and exempt from tax filing. There is no “blanket exemption” from the UUA, but the UUA will provide a letter saying a congregation is in good standing.This addresses most tax exemption issues. However, it still may be in the interest of a congregation to get it’s own classification letter from the IRS.

• IRS Pub. 1828: Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations (PDF, 32 pages)
   
• For a tax letter from the UUA, contact Nancy Lawrence, Assistant to the Executive Vice President (administration @ uua.org).

The other tax-related questions that come up often relate to permissible behavior on political issues, elections, and lobbying. The UUA, in collaboration with our legal counsel, has prepared a guide laying out the boundaries for political speech and action.

• The Real Rules

Financial Management

Some general guidance on best practices in the financial management of congregations can be found here:

• UUA Financial Advisor's Page (Dan Brody)
  Church Financial Management
   
• Audits and Financial Reviews (PDF, 5 pages), by James Wu

If you need more information, please don't hesitate to contact Tim Brennan (treasurer @ uua.org) or Susan Helbert, Assistant to the Treasurer (treasurerasst @ uua.org).