A Message from the Treasurer

The pomegranate tree in our garden inspires the logo for this year’s pledge drive. What a fitting and beautiful image. The seeds that were sown by our predecessors in years past are bearing fruit now. In turn, the seeds we sow today will bear fruit and sustain our descendants in the future.

Last year, our Vestry made a commitment to balance Incarnation’s budget. The community responded in full force, increasing our total pledge dollars by more than $50,000 over the prior year. Between the increased pledges and some targeted budget-cutting, the Vestry managed to make a major reduction in the operating deficit. That would not have been possible without your generous support!

We hope to go even further this year and eliminate the deficit altogether. What does a balanced budget mean? It means that Incarnation would no longer have to dip into reserves to cover basic operating expenses. Instead, we could dedicate our reserve toward longer-term projects and initiatives. What an incredible gift that would be to the next generation of Incarnationions!

New or New-ish to Incarnation? Consider joining the community of pledging members for the first time by making a pledge of any amount.

Mulling Over How Much to Pledge? Consider designating a percentage of your income that is meaningful and sacrificial or making an incremental increase over your pledge amount from last year.

Looking for a Tax Break? Making a prayerful pledge while also getting a tax break is a win-win! Consider donating appreciated shares of stock in lieu of cash, or pre-paying next year’s pledge in the current calendar year to load up on itemized deductions, or making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Talk to your financial planner, investment advisor, or tax preparer for details.

If you have questions, or if you have ideas or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Please contact me, or Rev. Stephen, or any Vestry member.

Joe Ferrucci
Treasurer