Pledging
The Ethical Society of St. Louis is our community—members create it and support it. Member pledges sustain the people, facilities, and programs of the Society. National surveys reveal that religious congregations need members to contribute at least two percent of their income to fund a successful community. Our Society asks the same.
Each member of the St. Louis Ethical Society is expected to contribute annually to the financial well-being of the Society. Pledges from friends of the Society are also welcomed. A campaign to solicit pledges from each member of the Society is held during January and February every year. The goal of the campaign is to determine the total amount of money the members will pledge to contribute during the next fiscal year which begins on the first day of May. At the annual meeting of the membership, which is held in late April, the membership of the Society votes to approve a budget based largely on the total amount of the pledges that have been made.
New members are asked to make a pledge when they join. Guidelines for giving are published to help people decide their level of contribution. Provision is made by a waiver process to accomodate people who are not financially able to make a minimal pledge.
Pledging percentages distribute more fairly the costs of community membership than a flat membership fee. Members making less money or struggling with unusual financial circumstances can elect to give an amount that makes sense to them. And members can increase pledges as their circumstances change or as the Society becomes more meaningful to them.
Pledges are requested in the spring or upon joining the Society. You stipulate the amount that you pledge. You can elect to contribute that amount in one lump sum or to pay it in quarterly, monthly, or weekly installments. The Society will send you statements for tax purposes.
For more information, please contact the office administrator.