This past Sunday, we held our second Congregational Meeting of the year. We took time to celebrate all that has come to fruition this year and to discuss the resources necessary for our work in 2025.
And what a year 2024 has been!
In our first full year in our new space, we’ve already seen the incredible ways it is expanding our capacity to live into our mission of spreading courageous love. Just this year, we have:
Hosted large-scale events, including two critical ISAAC gatherings and a regional UU conference.
Welcomed record-breaking attendance at Sunday services, with many newcomers each week.
Over 700 people participated in small groups, with our building in use every night of the week.
Exceeded 2024 budgeted revenues by 10%—a sign of your extraordinary generosity and commitment.
We’ve been celebrating this growth, while also navigating unanticipated challenges:
$200,000 of attrition in capital pledges (pledges made in 2019 to be paid by 2024) will not come in due to members moving, dying, or experiencing financial hardship.
A $47,000+ plumbing repair to fix a critical sewer line.
Uncertainty surrounding the solar panel rebate $60,000 due to changing federal administration priorities.
Why This Matters
These challenges add up to $300,000 less in our cash reserves than anticipated. Cash reserves are an important part of managing our annual expenses. (Learn more about this in our Meeting Packet) Without raising these funds, we will not have the resources to meet our financial responsibilities past the first quarter of 2025.
The good news is that we’ve already secured $150,000 thanks to the quick and generous response of a handful of members. Now, we need to raise the remaining $150,000 through a matching challenge by February 1st to stabilize our cash flow and avoid painful cuts to staff and programming. If necessary, these cuts would undermine the growth and momentum we’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Immediate Action Steps
At the meeting, we shared a few clear ways you can help right now:
Make an End of Year Gift: Can you give from your investments before the year ends? This may provide you with a capital gains tax benefit.
Accelerate or Increase Your Pledge: If you are able to give more of your pledge upfront, it will significantly help with cash flow. Or set up regular ACH payments, so your pledge comes in steadily out the year, as we have expenses.
Share the Opportunity: Do you know someone with significant giving capacity who shares our progressive values and commitment to courageous love? If so, let us know.
Why Your Gift Matters
Foothills has proven this year that we are a vital community in Northern Colorado and beyond. We show up—in solidarity, in ministry, in community. Moments like last Sunday, when we stepped up to host over 140 immigrant families at a Know Your Rights training with ISAAC, or events like A Drag Christmas Spectacular, which joyfully centers LGBTQIA+ stories and belonging, remind us why this work matters so much.
Foothills is an important and emergent leader in unprecedented times. We are responding to challenges with resilience, courage, and a deep commitment to our mission. Together, we are showing what is possible when a community boldly lives its values and answers the call of courageous love.
This is a moment of opportunity and challenge. With your support, we can meet this moment together and ensure that Foothills continues to thrive, grow, and serve.
If you’re ready to make a gift, please give here or reach out to our team to discuss the best way to give.
Together, we can raise this $150,000 and enter 2025 strong.
With gratitude and hope,
Mary Klecan
President, Board of Trustees
While we typically offer a recording of the meeting, our last minute change to make the Sanctuary available for ISAAC to use for their “Know Your Rights” training meant we did not have access to the tech we normally use to make this possible. In lieu of the recording, we’re sharing amended slides that include commentary from the notes that were used to present. If you are interested in more or have any questions, please reach out to Katie Watkins, Director of Finance and Operations at katie@foothillsuu.org.
Katie believes the best things in life are the result of collaboration and diverse perspectives coming together to produce something greater than any individual could. She is passionate about systems, efficiency and collaboration for better community outcomes. She loves dreaming up the big picture and drafting the roadmap to make it happen. She has a background in operations, fundraising, communications and program development, as well as over a decade of nonprofit management experience in Northern Colorado.
Her greatest joy in life comes from her family. Her husband, Steven, a principal at Wellington Middle School, and daughters Emmaline and Esmae are the lights of her life. Together they love mountains, music and all kinds of food. She is passionate about women supporting other women in all stages of life and especially through the critical moments that make or break us. She believes that one of the most important things in life is to be kind.
Being outdoors makes her soul come alive. It always roots her in gratitude and is one of the reasons she loves living in Fort Collins.
