Thank you for being part of our community!
26-27 Membership Renewal
Dear Member:
Oh, what a year this has been at Ner Shalom! As a result of the continued and increased support from our dedicated members like you, we were able to provide market-rate salaries to our Rabbi and Education Director; we made essential upgrades to our historic building; and for the first time in Ner Shalom’s history, we have an Executive Director!
Now, as we prepare for the new fiscal year, (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026), we invite our members to renew their membership. We deeply value the diversity within our community — including the wide range of financial capacities among our members. Annual contributions range from $18 to $12,000, and we are equally grateful for every gift. You know your financial situation best, and we encourage you to choose a level of support that feels both meaningful and manageable for you. Though we encourage members who can to increase this year’s commitment, we encourage you to contribute whatever you can.
The renewal period runs through the end of July 31, 2026. Receiving your renewal commitment aids us in planning for our year. If we do not receive a membership renewal from you during this period, we will presume that your pledge amount will remain the same as last year’s.
This upcoming year’s average cost per member household is $3,200 (“Sustaining Membership” amount, calculated by taking the operating costs of the synagogue divided by the number of households) to support everything that makes Ner Shalom thrive:
Market-rate salaries for our rabbi, executive director, educators, and staff;
Nitzanim, our trailblazing school that engages the whole family;
Lifelong learning and community-building programs;
Shabbat and holiday rituals;
Life-cycle rituals and celebrations;
The basic costs of maintaining and operating our historic building.
Determining Your Dues Contributions:
The Board reviews the budget annually to determine the “Sustaining Membership” amount, which if paid by every household, would sustain the synagogue for one year.
For Fiscal Year 2026-27 (July 1 - June 30), Ner Shalom’s Sustaining Membership amount is $3,200 ($267/month), assuming current membership of 218 member households.
To help you determine your membership dues commitment, we ask that you keep in mind the needs of sustaining our synagogue while taking into account your personal financial situation. To aid in this assessment, we’ve provided the Ner Shalom Self-Assessment Tool, as well as the components of our coming fiscal year’s revenue.
Inclusion is a core value of Ner Shalom. We are enriched by everyone’s presence in our community regardless of their means. This is why we ask those who can to stretch.
The following is a list of our suggested dues tiers. Again, we encourage you to use the Ner Shalom Self-Assessment Tool to help you determine your tier level, and we thank everyone for giving what they can. We have flexible options for financial dues—pay all at once, or in monthly or quarterly installments.
Tier 1: $8,000 – $12,000 per year ($667–$1,000 per month)
Tier 2: $4,000 – $8,000 per year ($334–$667 per month)
Tier 3: $2,000 – $4,000 per year ($167–$334 per month)
Tier 4: $720 – $2,000 per year ($60–$167 per month)
Tier 5: $18 - $720 per year (up to $60 per month)
We invite you to increase your commitment this year if your resources permit. Remember that you can set up recurring monthly payments to make it more comfortable to be generous.
Your contribution makes it possible for this community to exist for all of us when we need it most.
Thank you for everything you have already contributed to Ner Shalom. Please be as generous as you can, as Ner Shalom continues to grow in both membership and impact.
For questions regarding your Ner Shalom Membership, please email our Membership Chair: membership@nershalom.orgor contact the office at 707-664-8622 or email info@nershalom.org.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL pLEDGE fORM 26-27
mAKING yOUR dUES PAYMENT(S):
Once you submit your membership information above, if you wish to pay by credit/debit card, please enter your payment information below. If you currently have a recurring payment plan and would like to change your dues amount, or payment frequency, please contact the office instead of using the form below. (We don’t want you to have duplicate charges!)
If paying by check/e-check, please mail your dues to Congregation Ner Shalom, 85 La Plaza, Cotati, CA 94931
If you would like to donate stock, please contact the office at info@nershalom.org.
Your membership dues donation is tax deductible. Our legal name is Sonoma County Synagogue Center, and our tax ID number is 94-2832498.
For questions regarding dues payments, please contact the office at 707-664-8622 or info@nershalom.org.