By Melody Ayers, 2018-19 Volunteer TCUW Board President
The Tillamook County United Way Board has been on a journey of discovery over the past two years to identify a sustainable way forward to meet our mission of raising funds for human service agencies in Tillamook County.
By Melody Ayers, 1018-19 Volunteer President Tillamook County United Way
We have met and brainstormed with our member agencies; with community groups including Kiwanis and Rotary; with the four key employers who sponsor internal campaigns—Adventist Health Tillamook, The Creamery, Tillamook School District 9, and Tillamook County. We hosted a community meeting January 15, 2019. The message we received was clear: our community sees values in what Tillamook County United Way does, but no individuals were immediately willing to step up to the leadership plate to continue its work in the current format.
After consulting with national and regional United Way organizations, the Tillamook County United Way Board has decided to call for letters of interest from community organizations or groups of community volunteers who support a cause aligned with the United Way mission of providing services to the community’s most vulnerable members in the areas of education, income and health. A copy of that call along with the FAQs as we know them right now is attached to this email.
What this means TCUW member agencies for 2019: Tillamook County United Way will continue to operate as a separately incorporated nonprofit with 501-c-3 status affiliated with United Way Worldwide through 12/31/2019. All pledges and donations received in response to solicitations by the current TCUW framework will be processed and expended in a transparent way that honors donor intent. The TCUW Board is committed to funding the work of our member agencies at the greatest amount possible through fiscal year 2019. A small reserve of funds that were donated to the general fund with no donor designations is being held over to assist with the expected transition to a new governance framework.
As we turn the page to a new chapter of serving Tillamook County, the TCUW Board is hopeful that new approaches and new energy and new volunteers will make it possible to revitalize this community fundraising effort to achieve greater impact for our community.
Call for Letters of Interest
As Tillamook County United Way turns the page to a new chapter of serving Tillamook County, the board invites interested community organizations or groups of community volunteers who support a cause aligned with the United Way mission of providing services to the community’s most vulnerable members in the areas of education, income and health to submit a letter of interest outlining their interest in and plan for taking leadership of the governing and fundraising framework of Tillamook County United Way.
Letters are due by April 15 and should, within 3 pages: identify the interested group and its leadership along with a key contact; identify the current nonprofit status of the group; and briefly outline the proposed governance and financial structure and how that will support long-term success and sustainability. Address letters to the Tillamook County United Way Board, PO Box 476, Tillamook OR 97141.
For further questions about this call for letters of interest, please contact Melody Ayers by email at ayersma@ah.org or by phone at 503-815-2302.
The FAQs below provide brief answers to questions the community may have about this call for letters of interest.
FAQs
1. What are the board and financial framework requirements that must be in place to continue the United Way Worldwide (UWW) affiliation?
a. Maintain non-profit incorporation as separate entity, its own board, and maintain separate financial accounting so as not to co-mingle assets
b. Submit 2 comprehensive annual reports to UWW
i. Membership report that includes proof of meeting various policy standards, including professional financial audit/review (copy available on request)
ii. Fundraising report that details results of annual campaign (copy available on request)
c. Pay annual UWW membership dues, currently at $1,500
d. Maintain state registration as charitable nonprofit corporation and comply with state regulations such as quarterly meetings of the board, etc.
e. Maintain, update organization charter/bylaws
f. File annual IRS 990 report (>$25K in revenue, so more than postcard form)
2. What benefits does the United Way brand bring to community groups?
a. Respected UW brand immediately recognized by individual donors, workplace campaigns, and grant-makers
b. Access to payroll deduction giving through employer-sponsored workplace campaigns
c. Established fundraising framework
d. Established relationship for combined state and federal campaigns with payroll deduction for state and federal employees
e. Incorporated nonprofit organization in good standing with established 501-c-3 status
3. What is the proposed timeline for transition to a new board and financial framework?
a. Letters of Interest to transition to a new board and financial framework are being solicited from the community now through April 15
b. By May 15, the TCUW Board will review letters and identify top proposals and community candidates for further discussion and negotiation
c. By June 15, 2019, the TCUW Board expects to announce a decision about the future of TCUW in Tillamook County
d. As of December 31, 2019, TCUW will have either successfully transitioned to a new governance and funding framework or will close its active operations.
4. What will happen to funds solicited through the current TCUW framework that have been donated through the Fall 2018 Campaign and during fiscal year 2019?
a. All donations received in response to solicitations by the current TCUW framework will be processed and expended in a transparent way that honors donor intent
b. The TCUW Board’s commitment to funding the work of our member agencies at the greatest amount possible will continue through fiscal year 2019
c. A small reserve of funds that were donated to the general fund with no donor designations is being held over to assist with the transition to a new governance framework
