Pass It On

Giving with Purpose

There are a lot of factors to consider when committing financial gifts to any organization, but we believe that the practice of giving regularly to the church is, in itself, a discipline of faith. It not only is a tangible sign of our invested hope that gospel ministries will strengthen and grow, but it also deepens our faith as we put our trust in God to direct our resources and our lives to better serve God’s kingdom.  

Where do our investments go when given to the church? 

• Staffing –pastors provide organizational leadership, spiritual care, and teaching for all ages; musicians provide meaningful leadership for our worship services; administrative staff manage personnel,  facilities, and communications; custodial staff manage our physical space 

• Campus Operations – including utilities, maintenance, inspections, and supplies; the majority of our ministries happen in this space, whether Sunday mornings in worship, at mid-week meetings or studies, or through our preschool. 

• Program Ministries – missions support (augmented by special gifts for particular projects throughout the year); ongoing educational programming for children, youth, and adults; ministries of outreach and welcome; worship. 

• Denominational “Apportionments” – local churches belonging to the United Methodist denomination provide funding to support regional leadership and administration, as well as global agencies that direct ministry and missional support around the world.  

Where does funding for these expenses come from? 

• Pledges and Offerings make up about 45% of our income. About 90 households contribute regularly toward this amount, which includes annual pledges between $50 and $20,000. 

• St. Mark’s Foundation contributes about 27% of our income from the interest of several endowed  funds for both maintenance and ministries. (Legacy gifts to the Foundation help sustain ministries long into the future. Contact the front office with questions about how to make an estate or legacy gift.) 

• Facility Use Fees including support for operational expenses from the Preschool

• Rental Property Income from the three residential properties next door to the church and CCSA∙ We do not receive outside financial support from the denomination. 

What are St. Mark’s current annual expenses?  

Each year, our Finance Committee proposes a budget based on projected income and expenses. This year, our projected expenses are close to $815,000, and do rise some every year just to meet cost-of-living  increases for staff and increasing operational expenses like property maintenance and utilities. 

What could an increase in giving allow us to do in 2027? 

With the growing number of children and youth in our midst, we hope in 2027 to provide more staffing support for the nursery, young people’s worship, and programming for youth on Sunday mornings. The number of  young people is growing faster than our current volunteer base can manage (and Pastor Kathy is only one  person!). Staffing these three positions would increase our budget by close to $20,000 for the year.  

What should I consider when discerning my pledge amount?

• A Weekly/Monthly Pledge – if you are new to regular giving, consider what might be a consistent  weekly or monthly amount that feels both within your means and faithful to what you’re able to share. No amount is too small to be significant to the work of the church, and every offering is an act of faith.

• Step-Up – If you are already pledging or giving regularly, but are considering making a greater  commitment this year, the included chart might help you identify a faithful next step-up in giving. 

• Tithing - A historical “tithe” is considered 10% of one’s income. Whether you discern that to be pre- or post-taxes, inclusive of benefits, or just net-income is up to you. 

• Charitable Donation Tax Deduction – beginning with the 2026 tax year, Federal law now allows up to $1,000/individual ($2,000/couple) to be tax deductible even for those claiming a standard deduction!

How can I make payments toward my pledge? 

• Cash or Check – if paid by cash in the offering plate, please use an envelope with your name written clearly on the outside so the amount will be attributed to you and your pledge. (There are giving  envelopes in the back of every pew in the sanctuary.) Checks can be made out to St. Mark’s UMC, with “pledge” or “general fund” in the memo line. These payments can be made at any interval desired.

• Credit Card, Stock, or Crypto – from our church website (stmarksumcsd.org) you can click the  “Donate” button in the top right corner and navigate to our giving page. Then, “click here” leads to our Vanco home page. To give toward your pledge, click the “contribute” button on the top left tile labeled “General Fund.” (There is a button at the top of the Vanco homepage that is specifically for stock or crypto donations.) 

• Automatic Payments – automatic withdrawal authorization forms are available in the church office, through this link, or by reaching out to our Administrator, Taylor Lane, to set up regular payments to withdraw directly from your checking or savings account. Email admin@stmarksumcsd.org for more information. 

• Pre-pay in lump sum – some households prefer to contribute the full amount of their pledge for the coming year prior to the end of the current fiscal year for tax purposes. These gifts are placed in a  restricted fund and distributed throughout the year to the general fund. 

• Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) – tax-deductible donations may be made directly from  certain IRA accounts, and may count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if you are over a certain age. Details can be found here: https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11377

What if I can’t fulfill my pledge? 

We know that life can change quickly, and what we once hoped to contribute may no longer be possible when circumstances change. You can stop or amend any recurring payments at any time, or contact our  Administrator, Taylor Lane, to even change your pledged amount during the year.  

Who receives our pledges, and who should I contact with questions? Pledges are all received and managed by our Administrator, Taylor Lane, and giving information remains  confidential among the few volunteers who participate in receiving and tracking donations given. You can  reach Taylor at admin@stmarksumcsd.org or by calling the front office at 858-273-1480.