Generosity
The North Shore Unitarian Church encourages people to use the resources at their command to lead lives of meaning and purpose. Those resources take many forms including time, talent and treasure.
Just look around our church. You’ll see that many people give generously in all three ways.
Charitable Giving
NSUC fosters the belief that charitable giving is the hallmark of a life well lived. Being a generous person or family is one of life’s great privileges.
Charitable giving at our church takes many forms including the bid night auction, contributions to special outreach projects, open collections, and an endowment fund. But most of the funds that support the ongoing efforts of our church come from our annual pledge campaign.
Annual Pledge Process
“Charitable giving at NSUC begins with a thorough analysis of our expenses and giving patterns. From this evolves a straightforward plan to accomplish our dreams.”
Canvass team
Each fall, every committee and function of the church provides an estimate of revenues and expenses over the next fiscal year (January 1 to December 31). At about the same time each member and friend pledges the amount they expect to give the church over the next fiscal year.
Balancing expenses and anticipated income, the finance committee then develops a church budget for the upcoming year. The congregation votes on the budget at an annual congregational meeting.
The funds collected through the annual pledge process are key to the ongoing operation of our church. They enable us to support our programs, staff and church facility.
For information on the pledge process, please review Frequently Asked Questions About Pledging.
Endowment Fund
“I made a contribution to the fund in loving memory of my husband, John R. Cox. I’m so grateful to know it will remain in perpetuity, and that the annual income will benefit the church that represented so many of the values by which he lived.”
Joan Cox
North Shore’s endowment fund provides a meaningful way to leave a legacy. Whether it celebrates a happy occasion (such as the birth of a child) or honours a lost loved one, the endowment fund empowers you to make a difference for future generations.
All contributions to the fund are tax deductible. The principal remains in perpetuity. The interest is spent in specific ways as approved by the congregation.
All endowment contributions of over $300 are recorded in NSUC’s beautiful memory book, which is on display in the church lobby.
Making your contribution last is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
- Call the church treasurer Brian Funt at 604-925-3815. He’ll answer questions, and confirm how you wish to proceed.
- Send a cheque or payment details to the church, c/o Brian Funt.
- Relax, knowing that your contribution will make a difference in perpetuity.
“This spiritual community has been important to me for over 20 years. By making a bequest to the endowment fund in my will, I can rest assured that future generations will benefit.”
Julia Covell
Bid Night
Every May our congregation holds a service auction, where fellow congregants offer up dinners, car rallies, costume parties, andvarious other creative social events for auction. Some people say that if it weren't for the auction, they wouldn't have a social life. Bid Night contributes over $20,000 to our operating funds annually. All funds raised generate a tax receipt for the service providers.
Other Ways To Be Generous
There are many other ways within NSUC that you can lead a generous life.
For example, at least four times per year we authorize a special collection to support a specific outreach effort.
Additionally, some generous people provide funds to support specific improvements to the church building. Examples include: the art glass windows in the sanctuary, the lovely hardwood floor at the front of the church, and the electric piano that supports the choir.
What other ways might you like to contribute to our endeavours in some lasting way? Please let us know.
