The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa
FirstU's Annual Pledge Campaign
Our annual Pledge Campaign is the most important source of revenue for our FirstU congregation, representing more than half of our annual income.
This is vital because the congregation is entirely self-funding. There is no higher authority that sends us money. The money we raise during our annual Pledge Campaign is used to fund our mission and our events and activities, operate our church, pay our staff, and maintain our building. Actual payment of your contribution will be made in 2026, on a schedule that suits your finances.
The theme for this year’s campaign is Hopes and Dreams. We have a new minister, Reverend Lara Cowtan. It is a time of new beginning. We have hopes and dreams. We dream of a world free of tyranny, oppression and injustice.
Our Religious Exploration program brings hope, aiming to show children how to build a better world. We are living our vision by moving toward reconciliation with the Odayanhaway project and the promise of affordable housing on our campus. We are building to attract new and younger members, and it is working.
We are growing!
The FirstU community shows its generosity in many ways: with our time, with our compassion, with our ideas, and with our spirits. We also need to follow through with financial generosity. Because of our recent growth, last year’s pledge campaign exceeded its goals in both dollars and number of pledges. This is fortunate because we have been forced into running annual deficits as we await the start of rental income from our affordable housing project, Odayanhaway.
Since our current growth rate is even more pronounced, we are raising our sights and setting our goals even higher to keep our deficits as low as possible:
We are asking for a 10% jump in pledge totals. We will break the cycle of budget deficits and reverse the depletion of our investments, but we need your help. Proper funding allows our congregation to achieve our many goals: liberal religious exploration, social justice action, refugee support, and community building. There are many ways to support your church - monthly donations, legacy giving, one-time donations, and more.
Have Questions? Call our Finance Manager Michelle Jackson at 613-725-1066 X 222 OR:
Our Annual Commitment
Thank you for your past generosity. Our campaign for 2026 will run from late September to early December 2025.The pledge team is now accepting pledges. Donations are welcome, of course, at any time. Your pledges will nurture and support our community, and allow us to plan our programming year with any eye to what resources are available.
Click here to see examples of what your generosity supports.
How much to give depends very much on your personal situation.
Click here for guidelines on giving.
"I give so there is a place for truth and hope to grow."
~ C.T. (FirstU member since 2001)
Why We Pledge
Words from Our Members on Supporting Our Church
You may be wondering why people give financially and how they determine an amount that is right for them. Listen to some of our members share their feelings and experiences about the Congregation and their annual giving experience.
Making Your Commitment to Give in 2026
There are various ways to participate in the Annual Pledge Campaign, as outlined in the Pledge Campaign Brochure and our Guidelines for Giving.
Other Ways to Support Our Mission
One-Time Donations
Perhaps you'd like to make a donation in memory of a loved one, or to support a particular cause we are championing. Thank you. Visit our Donations page, call the office at 613-725-1066 X 222, or email our Finance Manager, for details.
Tax receipts are issued for amounts over $25.
Funding Programs
Annual giving is supplemented by other ways of supporting the church, including Planned Giving, also known as Legacy Giving, and the Endowment Fund. If you would like to know more about Legacy Giving and bequests read about Legacy Giving here, or call the church office: 613-725-1066
What Your Generosity Supports
With Covid-19 well behind us, we are returning to a normal that is better than ever. Our on-line presence is now permanent. Those hampered by distance, schedule, or lack of mobility can now access FirstU from home. Choir rehearsals and performance are back, unmasked, and coffee hour has returned.
Your support going forward will help fund programs like Odayanhaway, our affordable housing and reconciliation project, and the Ajashki Project as well as our ongoing Refugee Support. We are rebuilding our Religious Exploration and Adult Learning and Growth programs. We will continue to meet the spiritual needs of existing members and newcomers by offering opportunities for non-dogmatic spiritual development to our thriving, growing community.
Who Should Give?
We enthusiastically invite everyone who is part of the FirstU community – whether or not you are a member –
to pledge your financial support. Contributions from Pledgers enable the financial sustainability of FirstU and our mission.
If you are part of the FirstU community, but not yet a member, you can contact the Welcome & Membership Team
to find out more about the benefits of the stronger connection that membership brings.
When and How Do I Give?
Giving Regularly
For your own budgeting, you may prefer regular monthly donations. We encourage this, as it helps with FirstU’s budget too! There are several ways to donate, including Pre-Authorized Chequing (PAC), Credit Card, Etransfers and postdated cheques. You can also donate regularly by Sunday Service plate offerings, either in person or electronically. See the Pledge Form for details and contact Michelle Jackson at fm@firstunitarianottawa.ca to set up a payment plan that suits your needs.
Giving a One-Time Gift
You may prefer giving by an annual one-time cheque. We require donations for the 2026 Pledge Campaign to be post-dated for 2026. Note that all donations are receipted in the year in which they are received though, of course, we encourage donations at any time. You can also donate publicly-traded shares. Michelle Jackson has special forms to accomplish this in a tax-efficient manner.
How Much Should I Give?
How much to give depends on your personal situation. It is often much easier for someone who makes $100,000 a year to give a certain percentage of their income than for someone who makes $20,000 a year to donate the same percentage. We encourage you to donate what you can without harming yourself or your family. If you would like some guidance, please see the Sample Pledge and Contribution Chart, below.
We encourage everyone to make a pledge that fits with their personal circumstances and commitment to the congregation. Consider your UU values and place yourself along this continuum:
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Supporter: The congregation is a significant part of my spiritual and intellectual life, It supports my spiritual growth.
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Sustainer: The congregation is my central community; I am committed to sustaining the programs and ministries of my congregation.
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Visionary: My commitment is a clear demonstration of the unique importance to me of this congregation and of my spiritual principles. I am committed to its present and future growth
Consider Increasing Your Monthly Gift
If you are already donating monthly by PAC or credit card, we thank you for your commitment.
This is an ideal time to consider increasing your monthly donation in 2025 to reflect the increase in cost of living.
Thank you for pledging to support your congregation in 2026! This year’s campaign - held from September to November, 2025 - will secure financial support for FirstU throughout 2026, for all our resources and programs.
How much to give depends very much on your personal situation.
You can download the Pledge Form here OR fill out and submit the online Pledge 2026 form below.