Membership Dues
We ask everyone to give an amount that will help sustain Kolot, and be sustainable for you.
What are dues?
Unlike many of the institutions that may be important to you, Kolot is funded only by its members. Together, we decide whether Kolot can sustain, will grow, or must shrink. We do that in three ways:
Dues: Each member commits to a regular payment to help build the community we love and want to keep shaping and sharing.
High Holiday Giving: Members and non-members alike contribute to offsetting the costs of maintaining our open door policy.
Additional Donations: Throughout the year, those who are able donate to Kolot to mark special moments, support fundraising campaigns, and ensure Kolot can continue to grow.
Dues are particularly important because once paid or pledged, they form Kolot's most consistent source of funding, allowing us to pay our expenses and plan ahead.
Dues are more than a membership fee; they are a commitment to create and sustain a vibrant community. Because Kolot’s existence is important to all of us, we hope that Kolot will be a primary place you consider in your giving commitments.
How much should I give?
Some congregations similar to Kolot have moved to a “sustaining share” approach to meeting their budget by dividing their total expenses by their total members. To cover Kolot’s expenses, the community on average needs to contribute about $2,500 annually or $216 monthly per adult member.
Kolot is a community full of individuals who show up generously with their time, heart, and dues. While many of us can’t afford that amount, all of us want Kolot to welcome and celebrate everyone who wishes to join, regardless of financial circumstances.
We’ve always asked members to pay according to their circumstances using a sliding scale. We’ve created recommended dues amounts for different scenarios. We know, however, every person’s situation is unique. How much you give is always your choice.
What are the different scenarios?
*Basic needs are different for each person, but likely include food, housing, transportation, and healthcare.
**Discretionary income is what is available for dining out, traveling, shopping, hobbies, or entertainment.
Each person’s financial capacity is different, and your capacity changes as your circumstances change.
We ask you to consider: What’s in your bag at this moment?
These dues categories are intended for each adult member. Households think of their finances and memberships in a variety of ways, so please feel free to adapt these categories as it makes sense for your situation. Dues auto renew unless you inform Kolot you want to make a change, or change your own pledge in ShulCloud.
If your bag overflows, please consider adding more to your annual dues to help us keep our doors open and maintain our economically diverse community.
