In 2023 the Board of Trustees developed the Four Pillars Strategy as a follow on to the successful Meet the Moment campaign. Confronted with another deficit budget the strategy was implemented with the goal of reaching a balanced budget and setting the stage for future financial stability for the congregation. The great news is that this work is starting to pay off. Going into the 2025-2026 church year we have a balanced budget! Here’s a quick recap of the Four Pillars.
Pillar 1 – the Annual Budget Drive: Your generosity to supporting this community was so heartwarming. We had an increase in the number of pledging households from 280 to 310 and came in at 99% of the goal. The board is grateful to the work of the ABD team and all of the volunteers who helped with events and follow up.
Pillar 2 – Care and Connect: Building and strengthening ties within our congregation is the core of what we do. We have seen an increased number of visitors and high attendance in our new member classes. This helps our community continue to thrive and to widen our base of financial supporters. Trevor along with the Care and Connect team is also to be commended for all of their hard work.
Pillar 3 – Long-Range Planning: The board hopes that you had a chance to participate in one of the sessions organized by this team. They have taken a deep dive into the state of our buildings and will be presenting a plan of next steps soon. This plan will help guide some big decisions that are coming before the congregation about the future development of our campus. We are deeply appreciative of the many hours of work that the team has devoted to this important work.
Pillar 4 – Legacy Circle: This pillar has expanded and is now “Other Sources of Income”. This change reflects the effort to seek financial support beyond the members of our congregation. The Legacy Circle continues to widen the number of congregants who commit to including UU Asheville in their estate plan. These gifts become part of an endowment to support the long-term sustainability of the church. Along with the Legacy Circle, we have the start of a Grants Team and, most enjoyably, our new FUNraisiing Team. If you enjoyed the Bunny Breakfast or Asheville’s Got Talent, these are the folks to thank. Their events serve to both build community and to reach out to the wider community. Please keep an eye out for future events and consider volunteering to make them a success.
The board welcomes your questions or feedback on the Four Pillars or other congregational business. Look for members with green name tags or you can email us at board@uuasheville.org.
In stewardship,
Ben Fleming
Member, Board of Trustees