Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pledge?

A pledge is your annual financial commitment that you offer to Follen Church.

Why is pledging at Follen Church important?

As a medium-sized UU congregation with a variety of enrichment programs, support groups, community events and activities, church building, and campus, social justice initiatives, regular Sunday worship in-person and online, and a robust team of worship leaders, administration, facilities, music and support staff, Follen has an annual budget of close to $900K. Our primary source of income to cover our expenses is annual pledges from our members and friends.

When will you ask for my annual pledge?

Follen Church operates on a July 1–June 30 fiscal year. We host our annual pledge campaign from January to March so we can have an understanding of what financial resources we will have available for the year ahead. With this information, the Program Council and staff create the annual budget for the church year ahead. Your pledge commitment is vital to planning for the important work we want to do in the next church year. The members of Follen Church vote on the budget for the next year at the Annual Meeting in May.

How do I submit my pledge commitment?

During the January–March pledge campaign, you may submit your pledge commitment for the following church year by connecting with your assigned steward (you will receive an email from the Stewardship Committee) or completing the online pledge form. Outside of this time frame, if you would like to set up a pledge commitment, you can contact our congregational administrator directly at admin@follen.org.

How do I decide how much to pledge?

Deciding on the amount to pledge is important business. One resource you can use to help you in making this decision is the contribution guide (PDF) created by Stewardship for Us, an organization that helps UU congregations’ stewardship efforts. Our Stewardship Committee is also available to offer support. If you would like to meet with a steward to talk through your pledge commitment, email stewardship@follen.org.

I’m not a member of Follen Church. Do I need to pledge?

We have many people in our congregation who are not (yet) members and who pledge as a reflection of the value this congregation holds in their lives. We encourage everyone engaged in our community to pledge, and we invite everyone to explore membership at Follen.

Is putting cash in the offertory plate on Sunday the same as pledging?

Cash in the basket doesn’t take the place of a pledge. Many Sundays throughout the year, we donate the offertory collection to a nonprofit organization or identified group. For your ‘cash in the plate’ to count towards your pledge, you’ll need to put it in an envelope and label it with your name, pledge, and the amount included.

I volunteer a lot. Do I still need to pledge?

Our congregation deeply values your contribution of volunteer time and talent. However, your contribution of financial resources helps us provide staffing, programs, and resources to fulfill our mission.

When does this pledge take effect, and when do I start paying toward my pledge?

You will start paying toward your pledge on July 1 and have until June 30 of the following year to fulfill your pledge. If you begin paying next year’s pledge before July 1, please note the pledge year in the memo line on your check.

What if my financial situation changes after I pledge?

If your financial situation changes significantly—either increasing or decreasing—and you want to change your pledge commitment, please email the treasurer at treasurer@follen.org. They can adjust your pledge record in our database.

How do I activate my Breeze account?

You should have received an invitation to activate your Breeze account if you are currently in our database. If you did not receive your invitation, please email breeze@follen.org and ask that an invitation be sent. Once you receive your invitation, it is pretty easy to activate your account.

How do I view my pledge amount in Breeze if I need a reminder?

1. Log in to your Breeze account. You’ll use our unique web address—follen.breezechms.com—and enter your username and password.
2. Click on the “Giving” tab or option at the top.
3. Find the “Pledges” tab or a similar option within the giving section.
4. You should now see a list of your pledges, including the pledge year, the total amount pledged, and how much has been paid toward the pledge. You can adjust the date range to view pledges from a different time period.

How do I pay my pledge?

There are several ways you can pay your annual pledge.

Personal Check

• Pledge year: When you are writing your pledge payment check, please include a note in the memo that includes the pledge year. For example:  Pledge 2025–2026
• In-person delivery: Add your pledge check to the Sunday offertory plate or leave it in the Congregational Administrator’s mailbox.
• Mail delivery: You can mail a pledge check to Follen Church, attn: Congregational Administrator, at 755 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, MA 02420.

Credit Card or ACH Online via Breeze

You can set up a one-time or regular pledge payment and select whether this will come from a credit/debit card or ACH bank transfer.

• Select the account you want to submit your pledge. We are currently in church year 2025–2026 and soliciting pledge commitments for the next church year, 2026–2027.
• Select whether this will be a one-time pledge or a regular pledge collected weekly, bimonthly, monthly, or annually.
• Select whether this pledge will come from a credit card, debit card, or an ACH bank transfer.

Automatic Payment through Your Bank

To set up a monthly payment via a bill paying system, log into your online banking account, navigate to the “Bill Pay” section, add Follen Church as a payee, and then choose the “recurring payment” option to schedule automatic monthly payments on a specific date with the desired amount. Here is information that you will most likely need to set up automatic payment/bill pay through your bank, and if you need additional information you can email treasurer@follen.org:

• Follen Church, 755 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420
• Point of Contact: Congregational Administrator
• Phone Number: 781-862-3805
• Memo: List the church year where the pledge should support; for example, “for CY 2025–2026” (which is our current year).

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from Your IRA

Many Follenites pay their annual pledge through a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). A QCD transfers funds directly from an IRA of a person at least 70.5 years old to a qualifying charity.

• QCDs count toward the IRA owner’s required minimum distribution for the year.
• The maximum annual exclusion for QCDs is $100,000.
• Your contribution must be made directly by the trustee of the IRA to the church to receive tax-deductible contributions.
• For more information, visit www.irs.gov or contact your financial advisor.
• Charity information needed:
  • Follen Church, 755 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, MA 02420
  • EIN: 23-7203536

Text-To-Give

• The text-to-give phone number is 781-285-7171.
• To pay toward your 2025–2026 balance, enter: Amount[space]FY26
  • For example, 100 FY26