Latest News from the Legacy Capital Campaign
Legacy Campaign Director Position Announced
On Monday, February 8th, The Board of Trustees from the First Unitarian Church approved a motion to post for a newly created position for fundraiser for the Legacy Campaign. This will be a one-year paid position with scheduled milestones during this period. The Legacy Campaign will fund this position.
Both the Board of Trustees and The Legacy Committee wish to maintain total transparency about this process to our Church community. The position will be posted in a number of prominent places including The Torch, Utah Non-Profits, The Society of Utah Fundraisers, UU Website, and other featured places.
It has been problematic to garner the total needed funds for The Legacy Campaign by a volunteer. The work is too demanding and time-consuming as an unpaid position.
The Legacy Campaign Committee is very proud of the work done so far but realizes that to reach maximum financial potential, we need a professional.
A PDF of the job description can be found here. It will also be posted in The Torch. The Legacy Campaign Committee performed a salary survey to benchmark this position to other positions within Salt Lake City development community.
The position will be posted in March and the committee hopes to have someone in place by June. The Search Committee will consist of Margaret McGann, Judy Barnett, Julie Swaner, and Rebecca Heal. All of these individuals have strong experience in the non-profit and development community.
Legacy Informational Meeting
The Legacy Captial Campaign Cabinet hosted an informational meeting for the congregation on January 24, 2010 after the 11:00 a.m. service. For a PDF of the presentantion document, please click here.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Legacy Capital Campaign
We need YOU to continue the Legacy of First Unitarian Church!
Why: In considering whether we can get by in our current facilities, the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City believes that our congregation must consider not only our immediate needs, but also the needs of the next three to five generations. We need an environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient, sanctuary large enough to sustain a growing presence in the Salt Lake Valley. So, as the question, “Is it really necessary?” lingers in our congregation, the research by the Legacy Campaign and architects, the feedback gathered from congregational focus groups, and the Board of Trustees vision of what will be necessary moving forward leads to a more powerful question: what can we do now to build a foundation for the future of First Unitarian Church?
Answering the important questions from our congregation, after careful assessment of the voluminous information and details gathered, the Board of Trustees concludes NOW is the time! The Legacy Campaign addresses current sustainability and maintenance concerns that must be rectified regardless of the Legacy Campaign. In addition, the Legacy Campaign envisions additional space options that will provide room for greater outreach, more events, and serving the ongoing needs of a growing congregation with, for instance, an elevator and an updated kitchen. The proposed zero-net energy sanctuary not only honors our commitment to the environment, but also will be the only house of worship of this stature in the state. The vision is to inspire other religions and people in our Salt Lake community to respect the earth.
It takes vision to build for the future. Our situation today would be markedly different if our forebears had not shared the philosophy of the Legacy Campaign. Our initial worship sites from 1891 until 1903 were rented facilities. In January 1903, however, the Board of Trustees purchased a lot to build its first building. Was it necessary? It surely wasn’t crucial. But there was a vision that owning our own building would “assure the permanency of the Unitarian society in Salt Lake City.” The Board of Trustees concurs heartily today.
Building for the future begins now. The present is ripe with possibilities for reduced costs even as we pursue a building plan – decreased construction costs due to the economic downturn make- this an ideal time to seize the opportunity to offer a visionary legacy of sustainability to those who will inherit our liberal passion, while making it possible for larger numbers to affect and be affected by Unitarian Universalism in Salt Lake City and in Utah.
Standing on the shoulders of those willing and courageous, the Legacy Campaign needs you to be a part of our vision. The momentum is there to prepare First Unitarian Church as a flourishing community far beyond our lifetime. To date, 80 families already have pledged almost $1.8 million. Approximately 120 families have not made their pledge – we need your support! To honor the legacy we have inherited and to perpetuate our liberal church safely into the future. Canvassers will be calling you to discuss donations and special naming opportunities. Please be generous – your individual commitment will make this vision possible!
Sincerely,
First Unitarian Church's Board of Trustees
