FY26-27 Pledge Drive: First Church: Here for Times Like These

>> fy26-27 pledge submission form <<


Submitting Your Pledge
We will not be collecting paper cards this year, and will instead be focusing on individual canvassing and online submissions.
When you are ready to submit your pledge, the form can be filled out by you or your canvasser. Thank you!

Giving Guide
If you are interested in a tool to help reflect on your giving level, we recommend this guide prepared for UUs by the consultant group Stewardship For Us.

Stewardship Potlucks:
These gatherings foster deeper connections with fellow congregants and provide the opportunity to engage in small group discussions about our vision for the future of the church. The initial events were held in March, but we’re hoping to schedule more soon!

Sunday, March 1:
Our kick-off luncheon in Willson Hall was a lovely gathering with over 60 folks in attendance.


Read Rev. Danielle’s Feb. 27 Minister’s Message


Each Spring, we hold a pledge drive which provides an approximation of member giving for the upcoming fiscal year. For fy26-27, our campaign goal is $175,000. This level of funding will set us up for growth and expanded vision without sacrificing our financial health. In recent years, our endowment draw-down has accounted for nearly 60% of our income.

We also use this time to reflect on stewardship in the fullest sense of the word. This stewardship season is an opportunity to come together and dream big about how our church can show up at this critical moment in history. Let’s continue to discuss what unique gifts we have that we can share with one another and our community to make our vision possible.

We are grateful to all who are part of the First Church community and for the ways that you help create this increasingly vibrant place for worship, fellowship and social action. Everyone’s contribution, whether of time, money, or both, makes the First Church in Salem the welcoming place that it is.


fy26-27 Campaign Goal: $175,000

fy25-26 Campaign Numbers:
Funds pledged: $139,656
Individual pledges made: 80
Median pledge: $1,020
Average pledge: $1,746

fy25-26 Pledging Levels   
$1 - $499 :  14 pledges
$500 - $999 : 23 pledges
$1000 - $2499 : 27 pledges
$2500 - $4999 : 10 pledges
  > $4999 : 6 pledges

fy24-25 Campaign Numbers:
Funds pledged: $99,050
+ $39,500 = $138,550 (additional funds pledged during the Winter 3:1 Drive)
Individual pledges made: 75


Online payments can be made via our breeze Giving portal.

Payments can be applied to our current fiscal/pledge year (fy25-26), which will end on June 30, 2026.
If you are still wishing to fulfill a past pledge, please reach out to the Stewardship team, or the Church Office.
For additional information, please see our page on How to Give at First Church.


Thank you!

Stewardship Team Members:
Anna Brandenburg
Mike Giauque
Charlie Hildebrand
John Wathne
John Wendelken

Email the team: stewardship “at” firstchurchinsalem.org


Log into your Breeze account to review your giving history, make payments, and access the Member Directory.