News: May 22, 2026
Dear Members and Friends,
When I first joined First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston back in 2019, I did not fully realize how much love, care, and detailed coordination go into the financial side of our church. Like many, I initially thought church operations simply required someone to answer the phones, pay the utilities, and count the Sunday collections. I also assumed that churches had significant funds available in the operating accounts to support the budgeted expenditures each year.
Over time, I learned just how much our church relies entirely on the shared generosity of our community to fulfill our overall mission. Your gifts directly sustain our Sunday worship services, Religious Exploration programs, dedicated staff, and impactful social justice outreach.
Because we are entirely self-funded, the timing of our gifts/donations significantly matters. Our annual budget relies on funds being available right at the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1st. Receiving pledges early helps us plan confidently and avoid operational gaps and shortfalls.
To make supporting our shared home as easy as possible, we offer several convenient giving methods:
Thank you so much for your ongoing generosity, your presence on Sunday mornings and online, your volunteer efforts (which aids in keeping costs down and the need to hire additional staff), as well as everything you do to make First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston a thriving spiritual home. Your support is a vital part of our 110-year legacy.
With love & gratitude,
Tawanna Grice
Director of Finance & Operations
When I first joined First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston back in 2019, I did not fully realize how much love, care, and detailed coordination go into the financial side of our church. Like many, I initially thought church operations simply required someone to answer the phones, pay the utilities, and count the Sunday collections. I also assumed that churches had significant funds available in the operating accounts to support the budgeted expenditures each year.
Over time, I learned just how much our church relies entirely on the shared generosity of our community to fulfill our overall mission. Your gifts directly sustain our Sunday worship services, Religious Exploration programs, dedicated staff, and impactful social justice outreach.
Because we are entirely self-funded, the timing of our gifts/donations significantly matters. Our annual budget relies on funds being available right at the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1st. Receiving pledges early helps us plan confidently and avoid operational gaps and shortfalls.
To make supporting our shared home as easy as possible, we offer several convenient giving methods:
- Annual Stewardship Pledges: These commitments form the foundation of our operating budget and allow us to plan effectively for the future.
- Special Operating Gifts: If you feel moved to make an extra contribution to our annual budget, you can mail a check with “Operating Gift” in the memo line. All donations are fully tax-deductible.
- Online and App Giving: You can easily set up one-time or recurring gifts through Realm by visiting the "Donate" tab at firstuu.org.
- Text-to-Give: Send a quick, secure donation from your mobile device by texting the keyword "firstuu" to 73256.
- Sunday Services: You can place cash or checks into the collection plate during worship services. Through our Shared Offering program, 50% of our Sunday plate goes directly to our local community justice partners. Checks do not incur a 3% service fee as does credit card donations.
- Securities and Legacy Gifts: For tax advantages and estate planning, you can donate appreciated stock, make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) from an IRA, or include the church in your will (which will make you eligible to have your name added immediately to the Chalice Society plaque on the wall in the sanctuary).
Thank you so much for your ongoing generosity, your presence on Sunday mornings and online, your volunteer efforts (which aids in keeping costs down and the need to hire additional staff), as well as everything you do to make First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston a thriving spiritual home. Your support is a vital part of our 110-year legacy.
With love & gratitude,
Tawanna Grice
Director of Finance & Operations
