The Budget and Finance Committee:
- Identifies, defines, and supports those financial needs that contribute to the greater vision and work of the church
- Oversees the disbursement of funds to insure the greater mission of the church is fulfilled.
- Communicates the financial needs and concerns of the church to the church community.
- Develops an annual budget for congregational approval.
- The committee has two subcommittees – Investment and Planned Giving.
Budget and Finance Subcommittees
Investment Committee
The Investment Committee maintains the financial health of the church by administering the church’s endowment, which is managed by the UUA Endowment Fund following socially responsible investing goals. “Currently, investments of the UUCEF monies in specific companies or aggregates are to be avoided or preferred according to their performance in the areas of environmental, social, and governance conduct (ESG) conduct.”
Planned Giving Committee
The Planned Giving Committee encourages membership in the Olympia Brown Society, all of whose members have placed the UU Church of Canton in their estate plans.
Annual Budget Process
The UU Church Program budget is broken down into four broad categories: Religious Education (23%), Worship Services (36%), Church Community (23%), and Wider World (18%).
- In April, the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee contacts all committee chairs and staff to request “maintenance” and “growth” numbers for their budget lines.
- In June, the Budget and Finance Committee reviews the first draft.
- A preliminary budget is presented to Church Council at their August meeting.
- Following the canvass in October, Budget and Finance and Church Council create the final budget for congregational approval in late January.