National Fund Update
26 May 2021
11 ‘Aẓamat 178 B.E.
Contents:
– National Fund Update
– ISGP University Graduate Seminar
GC-35694
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To all Bahá’ís in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
The future civilization envisaged by Bahá’u’lláh is a prosperous one, in which the vast resources of the world will be directed towards humanity’s elevation and regeneration, not its debasement and destruction. The act of contributing to the Fund, then, is imbued with profound meaning: it is a practical way of hastening the advent of that civilization, and a necessary one, for as Bahá’u’lláh Himself has explained, “He Who is the Eternal Truth—exalted be His glory—hath made the fulfilment of every undertaking on earth dependent on material means.”
Universal House of Justice, 29 December 2015, To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors
During the current One Year Plan, clusters throughout the United Kingdom are seeking to consolidate the achievements made in the previous Plan, cultivate the conditions to welcome larger and larger numbers into the community and win the goals outstanding from the previous Five Year Plan. As activities intensify and face-to-face meetings hopefully begin to return, there will undoubtedly be a rise in the demands being placed on the funds of the Faith.
The National Spiritual Assembly is encouraging Local Spiritual Assemblies to organise local gatherings that raise our consciousness of the financial needs of the Faith. Here, consciousness can be raised in every community and within every Bahá’í home about the needs of the Local, Regional and National Funds, and the friends may consider anew the sacrificial contributions they can make to support the work of the Faith. Here is one such experience of a local gathering:
A Local Spiritual Assembly in England had the opportunity of deepening together on the habit of regularly giving to the Funds. They first reflected upon the contributions made in the previous year.
The Treasurer shared that although contributions from the community had increased year-on-year, the Local Fund contributed a fixed percent of the funds directly to the National Fund (60%), with other contributions only made “as and when” the institutions called for additional resources.
Drawing on a letter from the National Spiritual Assembly about the different uses for the funds, the Local Assembly decided to set a plan and budget for the coming year which was shared with the community. The plan encouraged an increase in contributions by 10% through deepening and fund raising events and to allocate 40% of contributions to the National Fund and 35% to the Regional Branch of the National Fund, retaining 10% for the local needs. The remaining 15% would be allocated to the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Fund.
The Local Assembly agreed that the needs of the Fund would be regularly mentioned at each Feast to raise consciousness amongst the friends and they will keep track of contributions – encouraging universal participation from the community.
This wonderful example gives a glimpse of the systematic learning that is being fostered in the importance of fund education, facilitated by the Local Assemblies. As more examples emerge, these will be shared with the community.
Alongside financial contributions, opportunities also exist for the friends to make contributions “in-kind” which can be facilitated locally. These can include supporting local activities through providing meals, sharing materials, offering services, etc.
In the past, friends have been encouraged to contribute postage stamps, jewellery and other items directly via the National Office. These have been challenging to sell in the past year. It is now no longer possible to accept stamps, but should the friends wish to make other non-cash contributions, they are asked to seek confirmation from the Office of the Treasurer before sending them.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Darren Smith,
Treasurer
ISGP University Graduate Seminar
The Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) is pleased to share the upcoming offering of its seminar for university graduates and young professionals in Europe, scheduled to be held at the Tambach Seminar Centre in Tambach-Dietharz, Germany from 19 to 30 December 2021, circumstances allowing.
This seminar aims to assist university graduates and young professionals to develop the capacity to examine and analyze society and the forces acting upon it, and to contribute to the evolution of thought and practice within their academic and professional fields as well as in other spaces in which issues relevant to social progress are being addressed.
Read more about the seminar here >
Download application form >
Applications can be sent to isgp@bwc.org and must be received by 31 May 2021.