We know that talking about money can be difficult for folks.  Being a good steward includes all the ways we support and grow CVUUS – with financial support as well as sharing our time and talents.

In January 2026, on behalf of the newly formed Stewardship committee, Michelle Spohnheimer, Heidi Sulis, and Steve Maier invited us to attend an engagement session on stewardship at CVUUS.

They were interested in learning the following:

• What does stewardship mean to you?
• How might we best focus our efforts and chart our path forward in the new year?
• How does an overall stewardship effort truly reflect the values and ideas of all of us?

If you’re interested in joining the Stewardship committee, please contact Michelle, Heidi or Steve.

Taking Wing Annual Campaign 2026

As we look ahead to the 2026–27 year, CVUUS stands at an exciting threshold. With a new settled minister joining us and a strong foundation beneath our feet, we have an opportunity to grow stronger, reach further into our communities, and deepen the ministries that sustain and inspire us — from worship and music, to religious exploration, pastoral care, and social justice work.

Our Annual Pledge Drive outlines our proposed operating budget of $400,738 for fiscal year 26-27 and shows how your financial support directly fuels the life and mission of our congregation. More than 85% of our budget is supported by pledges and gifts from members and friends like you. Every gift matters and helps ensure a vibrant, welcoming, and financially secure CVUUS.

We invite you to reflect on what generosity looks like for you this year. Many of us find that pledging is not only a practical act of support, but also a meaningful spiritual practice — one that deepens our sense of interdependence and belonging. View CVUUS Taking Wing Pledge Drive Brochure

How may I make an Annual Campaign commitment, and how is it to be paid?

You can make your commitment ONLINE today.

You can pay in many ways:

• Writing a check. We can accept a check monthly, quarterly, annually, or in a lump sum.
• Making credit card payments. A charge can be made to your VISA or MasterCard, monthly.
• Donating stock or other assets. If you donate stocks directly, you may reduce capital gains taxes.
• Making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA for those over 72.5. A QCD has some tax advantages, which you should discuss with a financial professional. 
• Making a grant from your Donor-Advised Fund.

Taking Wing Campaign Team: Heidi Sulis, Steve Maier, Michelle Spohnheimer, John Barstow, Mary Hadley, Llyn Rice, Ellen Flight, Mary Conlon, Rev Tricia.

Roots and Wings Capital Campaign 2025 – 2027

Updates

January 2026 saw us pay off the mortgage!

August 2025 arrived giving Mary Conlon (CVUUS Treasurer) and Mary Hadley (Campaign Treasurer) an opportunity to update the congregation on where we are with the Roots & Wings Capital Campaign. Video Update on Capital Campaign

Campaign Details

To take us boldly into the future, were building on decades of commitment to our beloved community. Securing our Roots is about strengthening our financial health in order to support the people and programs that will allow CVUUS to spread our Wings into the future.

The Roots & Wings Capital Campaign supports projects that serve the current and future needs of people, programs, and infrastructure by maintaining what we’ve already built. The Campaign was a forward-looking investment. A Capital Campaign to fully maintain and improve our Sanctuary and Fenn House, pay down our mortgage, replenish the Building Reserve Fund and establish a Strategic Initiatives Fund. We exceeded our capital campaign goal. Thank you for helping us reach 100% participation…EVERY gift mattered and was important!

View the Roots & Wings Campaign Brochure

Roots & Wings Campaign Team: Heidi Sulis, Steve Maier, Kate Gridley, John Barstow, Mary Hadley, Andrea Sambrook, Alan Moore, Ellen Flight, Mary Conlon. Mark Ewert, Consultant.

How is a Capital Campaign different from the Annual Pledge Drive, special projects, or the endowment?

The Roots & Wings Capital Campaign is designed to put CVUUS on a sound and predictable financial footing. As we have seen recently, capital costs, such as a new roof, a heating & cooling upgrade, and repairs to Fenn House, currently cause CVUUS financial stress; stop-gap fundraising has to be done to cover costs because the building reserve fund is inadequate. The Roots & Wings Campaign goal was to raise $880,000, payable over THREE years.

The Capital Campaign does NOT take the place of our Annual Pledge Drive. 

Campaign funds do not grow our endowment, but rather:

• Pay down our 15-year-old mortgage ($400,000)
• Seed a new Strategic Initiative Fund ($50,000), which will allow CVUUS to respond to opportunities, aside from long term or annual operating funds.
• Increase our Building Reserve Fund ($430,00) based on anticipated expenses over the next decade to maintain and/or upgrade our buildings and systems. 

Can my usual annual donation be applied to the Capital Campaign?

NO, IT CANNOT.

What if I want to make some of my capital contribution after 2025?

You have THREE FULL YEARS to make your gift to the Capital Campaign: 2025-2027.  We welcome you to “frontload” your payments; if we have more financial resources in hand earlier, that will allow us to get more done sooner.

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