GA goes virtual, COVID-19, UU the Vote and more
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Seasons of Giving | April 2020
Stewardship and Development News
Friend,
I hope you and those close to you are all well and safe.
At a time of great disruption and uncertainty, our hearts are with all those who are struggling to find a way forward—whether it’s to care for loved ones, to find some measure of financial security, or simply to be good citizens at a time when we are called to serve the common good.
This is a moment when the demands on our Association is high, and which we need to maintain or expand our capacity to serve congregations and leaders, and advance our values when society's social safety net is frayed.
Friend, I am so grateful for the support you have given to our UU faith. You will be receiving our 2020 Matching Gift appeal in the mail this month; please be as generous as you can in this moment. If you are able, consider signing up as a monthly donor—and join more than 900 UUs nationwide who provide a steady and reliable source of income for our vital work.
Please continue to take good care of yourself, your loved ones and your communities. We will get through this.
In faith and gratitude,
Rev. Lauren Smith
Director of Stewardship and Development
P.S. Take a moment to read Susan Frederick-Gray's latest message, Opening Our Communities in This Sacred Season.
UUA resources and information regarding COVID-19
- UUA Launches COVID-19 Response Fund
- Leadership resources for congregations that can't meet in person
- Planning for pandemics in your UU community
- Summary of COVID-19 resources available on UUA.org
Please continue to monitor UUA.org and UUWorld.org, as well as your congregational and UUA regional websites, for the latest updates. You can also follow the UUA on Facebook.
Poetry Month Selection from Beacon Press
In the midst of these dark woods, we find ourselves in April—National Poetry Month. It’s in times like these that we really need poetry.
Now available in paperback, How to Love a Country, is a timely and moving collection from a renowned poet on issues facing our nation—immigration, gun violence, racism, LGBTQ issues, and more. Blanco's poetry is “a visionary hymn of love to the human beings who comprise what we call this country,” writes one reviewer.
UU the Vote Hires National Organizer
Nicole Pressley has joined the Organizing Strategy Team, supporting congregations, state action networks and other UU groups mobilizing to #VoteLove in November’s elections.
She joins just as UU the Vote is retooling its work for an electoral landscape disrupted by COVID-19. No one should have to choose between participating in democracy and risking their life: Tell Congress to act now.
Currently on leave from her role as Director of Communications and Marketing at the UU Congregation of Atlanta, Pressley has ten years of experience working with progressive organizations including Planned Parenthood, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, and Citizen Advocacy.
She brings a robust skill set of program development, electoral organizing, advocacy, communications, and data management. Pressley holds a degree in African American Studies from Northwestern University, is an ardent WNBA fan, and loves to hike. She is member of the Abundant Love UU congregation. Learn more at uuthevote.org.
General Assembly Goes Virtual
The UUA Board of Directors voted this week to make General Assembly (GA) 100% virtual. The decision alleviates the anxiety and concern shared by many about how GA might proceed given the impact of COVID-19. It also gives the Association time to plan a more robust and rewarding virtual experience.
For many years GA has offered virtual attendance as an option and, this year, we will scale and enhance our technology so that we can accommodate a wider, ideally more global, audience.
A virtual GA has many benefits, including a significant reduction in our carbon footprint and the possibility of higher attendance, since it is more accessible for delegates and anyone else burdened by travel costs or time.
Across the country, UU congregations have embraced virtual meetings and Sunday services and we know that the number of screens that log in has grown each week. We are excited for what lies ahead! Learn more at UUA.org/ga.
Charitable Giving Tax Law Changes
The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) passed by Congress includes several provisions that impacts charitable giving:
- Non-itemizers eligible for $300 charitable deduction—For 2020 non-itemizers may claim up to $300 ($600 for married couples) in charitable contributions.
- RMDs waived for most individual retirement accounts—Required minimum distributions from IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b) plans are waived for 2020. RMDs that would have been required to start in 2020 can be deferred to begin in 2021. Itemizers and non-itemizers may continue to make tax-efficient, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from their IRAs, up to $100,000 annually.
- 100% of AGI limit available for cash gifts to charity—For 2020 only, donors may elect to apply a new 100% of adjusted gross income (AGI) limit to cash gifts to public charities (“50% charities”). Gifts to donor advised funds or supporting organizations are not eligible. The 100% limit is reduced dollar-for-dollar by other itemized charitable deductions, such as gifts of appreciated stock.
Everyone's situation is different; consult your tax adviser to learn how these changes impact you.
When times are tough, every gift matters even more. All gifts to Friends of the UUA made by April 30 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the UU Veatch Program at Shelter Rock, up to a total of $125,000.
Seasons of Giving is the quarterly e-newsletter from the UUA's Stewardship and Development Office. We are publishing monthly during the COVID-19 crisis. Questions can be directed to Suzanne Murray at development@uua.org or (617) 948-4392.
