Current Membership for 2024-25

Barb Nordstrom (Chair)
Christine Niskanen
Marilyn Angelo
Carol Finch
Eric Cotts
Ed Ware (Finance Rep.)
Ferd Haverly (Board Rep.)
Rev. Douglas Taylor (ex-officio)

By-Laws

Mission and Purpose

The Endowment Committee of UUCB is charged with the stewardship of the congregation’s Endowment.  It is responsible for the raising, administration and disbursement of Endowment funds. The Endowment supports the long-term stability of the congregation, and assists community projects and organizations that are consistent with its mission and principles. 

Governance

Committee members are elected by the Congregation, and meet periodically to oversee endowment fund-raising activities and investments, and to make decisions on grant applications.  Members of the Congregation interested in serving on the committee should make their interest known to the chairperson of the Endowment Committee and/or the Leader Development and Resources Committee.

Endowment Committee Grants

UUCB’s Endowment Committee is responsible for granting funds for projects in five broad categories: capital improvements to congregational property, community outreach programs, education, wider missions (for example the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee), and other charitable purposes.   Previous grants have supported projects such as the beautification of our gardens, facilitation of a series of Self-Empowerment for Women workshops, and the completion of a new building for Planned Parenthood. 

The Endowment Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton is pleased to announce that it has approved the congregation’s grant request for the following:

• Endowment Loan Interest Forgiveness in the amount of $5,000
• $10,000 towards operating funds to support UUCB’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024
• Any additional undistributed funds from the amount Endowment has to grant during this grant cycle will be used as forgiveness for the endowment loan principal. (These are estimated to be about $3,500; the final figure will be available soon.)

All the funds available for grants for the 2024 grant cycle have been used to meet this request.  Therefore, there will be no call for proposals for other grants in Fall 2023.

The Endowment Committee is pleased to be able to support the congregation in this way.

Susquehanna Society

The Susquehanna Society was founded by the Endowment Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton to recognize people who have contributed to its Endowment or who have expressed a formal commitment to do so.  Just as the Susquehanna River flows on timelessly, so does our Endowment continue to serve our congregation forever.  Contributors to the Endowment make a timeless commitment to our congregation and the liberal religious tradition upon which it is based.  A plaque honoring members is on display in the main hallway of UUCB.

Gifts are invested in the Unitarian Universalist Common Endowment Fund, which ensures that our investments are in line with our values, and investment income from the Endowment is used annually to provide grants suggested by the congregation.  Persons become members of the Susquehanna Society by informing the UUCB minister, Board of Trustees President or an Endowment Committee member that they have made plans for a gift or bequest to UUCB.  The nature or the amount of the gift/bequest need not be disclosed.

Here are the most recent Susquehanna Society invitation letter and brochure.