Dear Friends,

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Stewardship campaign, “Cultivating a Brighter Future.” Through our online Pledge Parties, we on the Stewardship Team set out to create an experience that would bring members together and help us make connections as well as raise money for WES during this pivotal year. We thank you for your contributions to this year’s campaign — we were able to accomplish our goals of connection and commitment. 

WES members strengthened connections in several ways during this campaign. Through the Pledge Parties, members — both new and old — had the opportunity to get to know members they hadn’t yet met. Throughout the campaign, via the Pledge Parties and follow-up calls, we became aware of trying circumstances in some members’ lives, creating opportunities to foster support and connection. We had a good response to phone calls and emails from our Pledge Party hosts and members of the Stewardship Team, showing that members are eager for connection with each other. Stewardship Team members felt and appreciated the gratitude of members for our volunteer service. 

WES continues to be a meaningful part of members’ lives, and their sense of relationship to the community has proven resilient and important throughout the pandemic. Members care deeply about the state of the organization, and about ensuring that it has the resources (financial, human, operational, etc.) to support it into the future.  

WES members care deeply about WES’s amazing staff – they responded to the importance of ensuring that the organization has the staff it needs as it moves into the future, agreed that equitable pay is a priority, and recognized the importance of this year in particular, as laying a foundation (in both financial and human terms) for the upcoming leader search.  

We heard from you that the messages of the campaign and the direction that WES is going resonated deeply with members. Those who were able to raise their pledge were very generous. A whopping 69 households increased their pledge. Of those who increased, we had a total 18% increase and the median was a 10% increase. 

We also learned that many members are experiencing financial difficulties. We had an increase in the number of members who requested a pledge waiver, and other members whose job losses, economic uncertainty, or increased caregiving responsibilities meant they had to reduce their pledge. Those who were able pledged generously, those who could sustain their pledge at the current level did so, and those who are financially struggling are beloved at WES and welcome to participate in a level that’s right for them. 

That being said, we will need to get creative in the use of the resources we have available among us. We did not meet our financial goals for this campaign, given the struggles so many of our members are facing. The staff, assisted by the new Finance Team, will work on a revised budget based on the pledges received. 

We can be proud that the members who are able to increase their pledge are making it possible for everyone to participate at a level that is consistent with their wellbeing. WES will be here for its members, regardless of individual economic circumstances, thanks to the generosity of those who have enough to share. 

Thanks again for all of your support and participation. We look forward to seeing a budget in advance of the June 6 membership meeting. 

Yours in Cultivating a Brighter Future,

The Stewardship Team