Shul pledges, aliyos, building funds, membership dues — conditional
Voluntary synagogue pledges may generally be paid from maaser if you intended that when pledging; binding membership dues are treated like personal obligations. Specifics are disputed — ask your rav. (Flagged for a dedicated research pass.)
Positions by community
Ashkenazi
The Rema (YD 249:1, citing Maharil) rules maaser should not fund general mitzvah purposes (e.g., shul candles) but should go to the poor; later poskim permit counting voluntary pledges toward maaser if that intent existed at pledge time. Already-obligatory dues are a pre-existing debt and are problematic.
Sephardi
Similar framework; greater latitude under the minhag classification where the underlying obligation is disputed.
Chabad
Similar framework.
Sources
- https://www.sefaria.org/Shulchan_Arukh,_Yoreh_De'ah.249.1 — Yoreh De'ah 249:1 (gloss, citing Maharil)
Track this for yourself
Tag transactions against rules like this one and see your running maaser balance.
MyMaaser presents sourced halachic positions and is not a substitute for your rav. Consult your rav (CYLOR).