Friday, May 15, 2015

How Are Certified Operating Expenses Calculated?

Thinking about GIFT FAQs: 

Why Should We Support the Region and the UUA?

In 2012, the UUA and the Southern Region embarked on a new course to improve how we share our resources. GIFT, Generously Investing For Tomorrow, is intended to be a simpler and more equitable program for providing the resources that enable our UUA and Southern Region team to serve our congregations and to represent our values and priorities at levels we could not do as individual congregations. 

To provide information and to encourage reflection on GIFT, the Southern Region has provided a number of GIFT information tools on its web site, including most recently a set of GIFT FAQs. This blog will, from time to time, focus on one of those FAQs in an expanded discussion. Today we are examining this question: 

Q: How are the expenditures calculated against which the 7% gifts are applied? Is this applied to the entire congregational budget?


A: This is a topic that comes up often, and it’s an important one. Try as the UUA has to keep things simple and clear, developing a formula to fit us all is a complex task, and so its not surprising that there is some confusion from time to time as to what the formula means. Let’s break it down.

First and foremost, the 7% calculation is not based on the entire budget of a congregation, but on those elements common to just about all congregations. The number to which the 7% is applied is know as The Certified Operating Expenditures, as reported by each congregation every year – we tell the UUA what that number is, using terms and definitions established by the UUA in accordance with standard accounting procedures and terminology. 

Certified Operating Expenses common to all congregations are included in the calculation base. Congregations begin with their Operating Expenses, which may include:

  • Personnel expenses (salaries, amounts paid to contract employees, wages, housing allowances for ordained ministers)
  • Benefits (medical, dental, disability, life insurance, pension, employer retirement savings contributions, employer portion of Social Security and Medicare)
  • Rent
  • Mortgage interest expense
  • Utilities (electric, gas, telephone, internet, water/sewer, municipal waste fees, heating oil)
  • Other costs of operating and maintaining the property (ongoing non-capital expenses such as lawn maintenance, annual contributions to major maintenance or restoration fund, repair of normal wear and tear)
  • Program expenses (religious education supplies and materials, social action programming)
  • Fundraising and administration expenses

From these expenses, the following are then DEDUCTED:


  • Contributions to GIFT program
  • Prior Year Total Capital Expenditures (which varies, but could include mortgage principle or other capital expenditures not related to regular maintenance)


A full definition and a calculation tool may be found on the UUA web site at http://www.uua.org/giving/apf/apf-gift-resources/operating-expenditures-calculator
Here you will find definitions, exceptions, and a point of contact for related questions.

The whole process is based upon a system of mutual trust, starting with our certified expenditures we send to the UUA. No one asks for proof of records: This is a mutual relationship, with trust flowing both ways. If you have a question about how to figure out your calculations that the link above does not answer, please don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss it.




Sunday, May 3, 2015

Does GIFT Ask More of Congregations Than the APF Did?

Thinking about GIFT FAQs: 
Why Should We Support the Region and the UUA?
by Bill Clontz, Stewardship Consultant


In 2012, the UUA and the Southern Region embarked on a new course to improve how we share our resources. GIFT, Generously Investing For Tomorrow, is intended to be a simpler and more equitable program for providing the resources that enable our UUA and Southern Region team to serve our congregations and to represent our values and priorities at levels we could not do as individual congregations. 

To provide information and to encourage reflection on GIFT, the Southern Region has provided a number of GIFT information tools on this web site, including most recently a set of GIFT FAQs. This blog will, from time to time, focus on one of those FAQs in an expanded discussion. Today we are examining the question: 

Does the GIFT program ask a higher level of contribution for congregations than the previous system? How much more is being asked of congregations?

A: The short answer is no, for most of us the amount we are asked to contribute is about the same or less than under the old system. Important factors to remember (which some of us forget when thinking about GIFT) in considering this question are in bold text below.

The change in the amount requested from the current system will vary by congregation; you can easily compare what you were asked to pay previously (before the GIFT program) to what you are being asked to pay now. Keep in mind when calculating and comparing that the amount asked by GIFT program covers both the regional and the UUA funding requests (which would now be $86 per member under the earlier APF formula), and that the ask is based upon 7% of your certified congregational expenditures as reported by our congregation on myuua.org. and that the ask is based upon 7% of your certified congregational expenditures.

Under the GIFT program, the majority of our congregations are asked to remain at about the same level of contribution, or are asked for less. About 40% of our congregations have experienced an increase (most minor, but some significant). The system is designed to be a zero sum gain; that is, the Southern Region overall is not giving more than it did under the old system. Contributions at 7% of expenditures across all Southern Region congregations will fund the UUA and region at approximately the same level as they were previously; GIFT just spreads the cost more equitably. We are glad to work with congregations who are asked for more under GIFT to help them make a plan to get to full participation.


As always, your questions, comments, and suggestions are welcomed by your Regional Congregational Life Staff Primary Contact, the Congregational Giving Director, or at a dedicated email address at the UUA: southerngenerosity@uua.org.