Pledge Today

Goal: $825,000

Co-Chairs: Chantel Boshears and Judy Payne
Contact: aof@uusf.org

Pledge Drive FAQ

Ways to Give & Types of Gifts

Dear Beloved Members and Friends of UUSF, 

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Something is burning bright at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco. Can you feel it? It’s not just warmth — it’s a fire. The fire of community, of courage, of commitment to one another and to the world we are determined to help build.

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This year’s Annual Giving theme is Igniting the Fire of Commitment — and it could not be more fitting. In a year when the forces of fear and injustice have never felt more present, our congregation has not flinched. We have shown up. We have spoken up. We have stood up. And together, we have tended the fire that feeds us.  

 

What We Have Done Together This Year

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Whether it’s UU the Vote, holding weekly protests in front of our church, or sending our ministers to Minneapolis to stand as witnesses against the actions and murders by ICE agents, UUSF has been on the front lines. We are not by-standers, willing to surrender the rights of our neighbors or ourselves. Instead, we have raised money: the Defend Our Rights Fund has supported migrant and trans folks in these times in concrete ways as well as in spirit. We have protested at the immigration courts and advocated behind the scenes with health care systems and city leaders. 

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Meanwhile, inside our walls, our community is growing and deepening. Our new Youth Group has blossomed into a vibrant circle of 12 young people who gather not only for friendship but for fellowship — learning financial literacy, thinking critically about the issues of the day, assisting with Sunday services, working in Sunday School, and yes, lacing up their skates for a joyful outing at Union Square. Our children’s religious education program continues to grow, with consistent, dedicated teachers who show up Sunday after Sunday. Students delve into our UU Shared Values through story and Legos. And our Young Adult community is thriving. This year that even included our organizing and leading an offsite weekend retreat with 16 young adults from UUSF, UUCB, and UU Redwood City, building bonds that cross congregational lines.

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We are blessed with a strong and inspiring ministerial team — including a fabulous ministerial intern — and a staff that is not only skilled but deeply committed to this community and its mission. Our Forum programming continues to bring powerful voices and important conversations into our midst. The Starr King Way Performance Series enriches our spiritual and artistic life month by month, just as our Sunday music consistently moves and inspires us. And throughout it all, this congregation has done what it always does: show up for each other and for the world.

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The Fire Must Be Fed

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None of this happens without resources. This year, our Annual Giving goal is $825,000. That goal funds everything that makes it possible for UUSF to be the community it is. It keeps our historic building standing; it keeps it warm and safe and welcoming. It pays our staff and funds budgets for worship, music, religious education, outreach, and so much more. It sustains our Winter Shelter, our partnerships with the Interfaith Council and Faithful Fools, our Interfaith Food Pantry, our witness efforts in the streets, and even a few great celebrations! 

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Last year, when all the dust settled, our pledges exceeded the goal, hovering at $780,000 with gifts from not just members and friends but many of our new visitors! With everyone giving as generously as they each can, together we carry our shared life and this great institution forward. That is the spirit of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco. And it works.

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This year, to meet this moment, we are asking each of you, if you have the means, to consider increasing your pledge by 5–10%, or more if you are able. Every increase, however modest, adds fuel to the fire.  The challenges ahead are not entirely known and there is a lot we may need to be ready to face. As we step into the unknown, your pledge and your involvement at UUSF is what lights the way. Let’s keep this fire burning — for our children, for our neighbors, for the strangers who will walk through our doors looking for exactly what you found here.

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We are so grateful for this community. We are grateful for each of you — your time, your leadership, your presence, and your generosity. We are grateful that when the world grows cold, we know where the fire is.

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Let’s ignite the fire of commitment together brighter and stronger than ever.  Will you join us?

With deep gratitude,