First Unitarian Church of San José

Building a New Way: Creating Space for Radical Inclusion

A Capital Campaign for the 21^st Century

Building with a Mission

We have completed a successful Capital Campaign titled Building a New Way: Creating Space for Radical Inclusion to keep our historic building operational long into the 21^st Century.

Funding

We raised $1,515,000 during the original campaign in 2022; when escalating building costs were much higher than anticipated, we raised an additional $382,000 in a blitz second appeal in 2023. The Board has also approved the use of some of our long-term reserve funds toward building construction. We will not touch the various “buffer” funds that provide protection against unexpected deficits; all of these buffer funds are topped off to the desired maximum amounts. We will not touch funds devoted to other special purposes. We also raised over $135,000 by investing funds in Treasury bills until the money was needed to pay the construction costs.

Projects

Here are a few of the campaign’s projects:

• Outside: Replacing the roof, replacing rotten wood on eaves and windows, repairing the front doors, and repainting the exterior signal the vitality of this congregation. All are invited to enter, find hope and renewal, and discover ways to contribute to our work in the world.
• Inside: Inclusiveness increases with a 21^st-century audio/visual system and flexible seating. Replacing the carpet and keeping the labyrinth at its heart ensure everyone’s comfort and safety as well as the gifts of beauty and peace. Refurbishment of the all-gender bathroom, youth room, and worn flooring support the needs of different groups, make the building more comfortable and attractive, and increase rental potential for weddings and other events.

Project Status

6 March 2025

We had already completed the following projects: replacement of the worn-out sanctuary dome lights in 2022, allowing congregants to read in the sanctuary once more; complete renovation of the 2^nd floor youth room, which is also used for preparation by wedding parties; repair of the front doors so that we can once again welcome attendees through our main entrance; and replacement of the broken gas stove in the basement kitchen with a new, environmentally friendly electric stove.

Work on the exterior repairs began in July 2024. As of March 2025, we have completed the exterior renovation of the church, including replacing the roof, replacing all the flashing, flashing window sills exposed to weather, replacing the gutters, replacing damaged woodwork, replacing the worn-out boiler that is located on the roof, resetting the stained-glass windows, repairing the front doors, adding security fencing around the entire building, repainting the entire exterior of the building with new brighter colors, and installing an awning over the main side door to provide cover during downpours.

We are waiting for the contractor to schedule work on the interior improvements.  We expect to complete the following projects by summer 2025: Replacing the carpeting and hard flooring in the sanctuary, balcony, all stairways, narthex, library, back hall, fireplace room, elevator, and kitchen; resealing the hardwood floor in Hattie Porter Hall; replacing the chairs in the lower sanctuary with larger, movable chairs that accommodate all body sizes better; replacing the unpadded chairs in the balcony with chairs removed from the lower sanctuary; renovating the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms for improved functionality and appearance, including baby-changing tables in each of the rooms; and refinishing and redecorating the furniture in the narthex and back entrance hall to make a much better impression on new visitors. We also plan to improve our Audio-Visual system in the sanctuary with permanent LED screens and an additional camera for greater flexibility. We have the money to complete these projects, with a reserve for unexpected outcomes or additional projects.

We are pleased that we will be able to complete the major projects that we outlined in the original capital campaign plan from 2021 (except air conditioning, which is far too expensive).

Thanks to YOU!

The support and generosity of our congregation has allowed us to move forward in this new era. FUCSJ’s can-do spirit is part of our identity, from the launch of this congregation in 1865, to the construction of our building in 1891, to our recovery from the fire in 1995. Now we’ve demonstrated that can-do spirit again in the face of the pandemic and rising construction costs. Thank you to all the members and friends who gave generously to this important campaign.

Here is a summary of Capital Campaign building projects.