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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrant Request - Sisters Comm Action TeamEconomic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program Organization: Community Action Team of Sisters (CATS) Organization Description: CATS was established in 1999 to serve as a catalyst for community involvement. CATS developed and implemented the Greater Sisters Community Vision project and has contributed to the development of the Hispanic English Learners Program, Think Again, Parents!, Tamarack Affordable Housing complex, created the Sisters Economic Development Strategic Action Plan and created a Business Relocation Guide. Additionally, CATS has help raise funds for several area programs and non-profit organizations. Project Name: CATS 2008 Community Leadership Summit Project Description: This project will identify one or two priority interagency community collaboration projects to benefit the Greater Sisters Community, develop implementation plans to complete the projects, and perform initial implementation steps to project completion. This project will be achieved through an interagency Leadership Summit on April 19th, implementation team meetings and a public meeting. This project is a direct outcome of the 2007 Greater Sisters Community Visioning Project. Project Period: April — October 2008 Amount of Request: $3,000 Previous Grants: None carrie@sistersrecreat 1`vC lgG 1� ❑ { Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Direct Application to: Commissioner Tammy Baney Commissioner Dennis R. Luke Date: 4-2-08 Project Name: Project Beginning Date: Amount of Request: Applicant/Organization: Address: Commissioner Michael M. Daly All Three Commissioners X CATS 2008 Community Leadership Summit April 1, 2008 $3,000 Project End Date: Date Funds Needed: Community Action Team of Sisters PO Box 2215 Contact Name(s): Fax: Carrie Ward 549-0997 Alternate Phone: Tax ID #: City & Zip: Telephone: Email: October 31, 2008 April 1, 2008 93-1267377 Sisters 97759 549-2091 On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. Amount Approved: By: Date: Declined: By: Date: ion.com Community Action Team of Sisters Application to Deschutes County Economic Development Fund 2008 CATS Community Leadership Summit Project April 2, 2008 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. The Community Action Team of Sisters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving the Greater Sisters Community. It was formed in 1999 "to help shape Sisters' future by being a catalyst for community involvement" (CATS mission statement). The CATS Board includes executive representatives from the community's key public agencies — including the US Forest Service - Sisters Ranger District, Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation, Roundhouse Foundation, City of Sisters, Sisters Trails Committee, Senior Council of Sisters, Latino Community Association, Deschutes County, Sisters School District, Sisters -Camp Sherman Fire District, and Congressman Walden's Office. CATS is an all -volunteer organization that occasionally utilizes contracts with local consultants for program delivery. The Board is governed by a Board Chair and Secretary/Treasurer. CATS has no paid staff. Since 1999, the CATS has contributed to the development of the Hispanic English Learners Program; Think Again, Parents!; Tamarack Affordable Housing complex; created the Sisters Economic Development Strategic Action Plan; created a Business Relocation Guide; and helped fundraise for Arts & Culture, Cabinet Making Program; the SOAR community facilities project; the Family Access Network, HeadStart, and Power of Healthy Living classes. Perhaps most notably, CATS developed and implemented the Greater Sisters Community Vision project and continues to shepherd this process. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. This project will identify 1-2 priority inter -agency community collaboration projects to benefit the Greater Sisters Community, develop implementation plans to complete the projects, and perform initial implementation steps to project completion. The project will achieve this outcome through an interagency Leadership Summit (April 19), 4-5 implementation team meetings, and 1 public meeting. The proposed project is a direct outcome of the 2007 Greater Sisters Community Visioning Project, which spawned a strategic plan and eight citizen -led Action Teams, 24 community organization projects, and six "community collaboration" project ideas. The community collaboration project ideas include a Community Facilities Master Plan and developing a transit system. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. April 1-18 2008: April 19 2008: June 2008: July 2008: Aug, Sept. 2008: Oct. 2008: Project committee meetings Leadership Summit Implementation Plans created Community meeting Implementation Team meetings — perform initial steps Final Implementation Plan created, capturing progress to date, ongoing participation and funding commitments. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. Sisters has a reputation as an affluent community. This may be true for some, but much of the community suffers from a lack of employment opportunities and access to public services. In fact, Sisters, along with only LaPine, is characterized by OECDD as Deschutes County's only "severely distressed" communities (Deschutes River Woods is characterized as "distressed"). One of the critical elements to helping lift community members out of poverty is the efficient provision of public and non-profit human services as stepping stones to individual self-reliance. As Oregon faces yet another economic downturn, it will be increasingly difficult for agencies to provide adequate services in the face of budget cuts. The Sisters community is also experiencing rapid population growth and, along with it, a growing need to expand existing service provision infrastructure. If the agencies choose, as is anticipated, to develop an inter -agency Master Community Facilities Plan, all of the affected agencies will be able to conserve financial resources through efficient co -location projects and streamlined, optimized siting processes, enabling them to divert funds to programming rather than capital construction. Another outcome of the project will be the engagement and empowerment of various "citizen leaders" in the community collaboration projects through the Action Teams. Generally speaking, the development of inter -agency collaborative planning and implementation as standard practice will help this community by allowing agencies to more effectively and efficiently deliver public services (e.g. healthcare, education, senior services, etc.) through integrated planning and development of programs and facilities. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. Anyone who accesses services from the various agencies in the Greater Sisters community will benefit from integrated inter -agency planning and implementation. A 2007 estimate found that approximately 9-10,000 persons live in the area identified as the "Greater Sisters Area." The agencies themselves (e.g. the County, City, School District, Fire District, Habitat for Humanity, SOAR, Senior Council, etc.) will benefit from efficiencies resulting from integrated planning. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Line Item Costs Deschutes Co. CATS Ford Family Found. Totals Consultant Fees $8,000 $3,000 $3,000 $2,000 $8,000 Summit Food $700 $700 $700 Speaker Fees $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 Facilitator Fees $200 $200 $200 Materials 5100 $100 $100 Totals $11,500 $3,000 $3,000 $5,500 $11,500.00 The CATS Board consists of executive leadership of the key community agencies within the Greater Sisters Community (e.g. the City, the County, recreation district, fire district, etc.). These leaders have agreed to sustain the identified community collaboration projects, through pooled financial and in-kind staff resources, after the implementation plan process is completed. Mar, 31. 2008'= 9: 14AMD SOAR No, 0782 IP. 1 INTERNAL REVENUE SERV/CF DISTRICT DIRECTOR P. 0. BOX 2508 CINCINNATI, OH 45201 Date: AUG 1 9 1999 COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM OF SISTERS PO BOX 39 SISTERS, OR 97759 Dear Applicant: DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Employer Identification Number: 93-121:17377 DLN: 17053161007019 Contact Person: TIMOTHY EMILY Contact Telephone Number: (877) 829-5500 Accounting Period Ending: June Foundation Status 'Classification: 509(a)(1) Advance Ruling Period Begins: April 8, 1899 Advance Ruling Period Ends: June 30, 2003 Addendum Applies: No ID# 95198 Based on information you supplied, and assuming your operations will be as stated in your application for recognition of exemption, we have determined you are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described .in section 501(c)(3). Because you are a newly created organization, we are not now making a final determination of your foundation status under section 509(a) of the Code. However, we have determined that you can reasonably expect to be a publicly supported organization described in sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi). Accordingly, during an advance ruling period you will be treated as a Publicly supported organization, and not es a private foundation. This advance ruling period begins and ends on the dates shown above, Within 90 days after the end of your advance ruling period, you must send us the informatioe needed to determine whether you have met the require- ment$ of the applicable support test during the advance ruling period. If you establish that you have been a publicly supported organization, we will classi- fy yciu as a section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) organization as long as you continue to meet the requirements of the applicable support test. If you do not meet the public support requirements during the advance ruling period, we will classify you as a private foundation for future periods. Also, if we classify you as a private foundation, we will treat you es a private foundation from your beginning data for purposes of section 507(d) and 4940. Grantors and contributors may rely on our determination that you are not a private foundation until 90 days after the end of your advance ruling period. if you send us the required information within the'90 days, grantors and contributors may continue to rely on the advance determination until we make e final determination of your foundation status. If we publish a notice in the Internal Revenue Bulletin stating that we Letter 1045 (D0/CG) Vla r. 31. 2008'; 9 :14AV10 SOAR -2- COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM OF SISTERS No. 0782 P. 2 will no longer treat you as a publicly supported organization, grantors and contributors may not rely on this determination after the date we publish the notice. In addition, if you lose your status as a publicly supported organi- zation, and a grantor or contributor was responsible for, or was aware of, the act or failure to act, that resulted in your loss of such status, that person may not rely on this determination from the date of the act or failure to act. Also, if a grantor or contributor learned that we had given notice that you would be removed frem classification as a publicly supported organization, then that person may not rely on this determination as of the data he or she acquired such knowledge. If you change your sources of support, your purposes, character, or method of operation, please let us know so we can consider the effect of the change on your exempt status and foundation status. If you amend your organizational document or bylaws, please send us a copy of the amended document or bylaws. Also, let us know all changes in your name or address, As of January 1, 1984, you are liable for social security taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act on amounts of $100 or more you pay to each of your employees during a calendar year. You are not liable for the tax imposed under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA). Organizations that are not private foundations are not subject to the pri- vate foundation excise taxes under Chapter 42 of the Internal Revenue Code. However, you are not automatically exempt from ether fedara7 excise taxes. If you have any questions about excise, employment, or other federal taxes, please let us know. Donors may deduct contributions to you as provided in section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts to you or for your use are deductible for Federal estate and gift tax purposes if they meet the applicable provisions of sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Code. Donors may deduct contributions to you only to the extent that their contributions are gifts, with no consideration received. Ticket purchases and similar payments in conjunction with fundraising events may not necessarily qualify as deductible contributions, depending on the circumstances, Revenue Ruling 67-246, published in Cumulative Bulletin 1967-2, on page 104, gives guidelines regarding when taxpayers may deduct payments for admission to, or other participation in, fundraising activities for charity. Contributions to you are deductible by donors beginning April 8, 1999. You are not required to file Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, if your gross receipts each year are normally $25,000 or less. If you receive a Form 990 package in the mail, simply attach the label provided, check the box in the heading to indicate that your annual gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less, and sign the return. Because you will be treated as a public charity for return filing purposes during your entire advance ruling period, you should file Form 990 for each year in your advance ruling period Letter 1045 (DO/C0) Mar. 31. 2008'= 9: 4AIV` SOAR No. 0782 T. 3 -3- COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM OF SISTERS that you exceed the $25,000 filing threshold even if your sources of support do not satisfy the public support test specified in the heading of this letter. If a return is required, it must be filed by the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of your annual accounting period. A penalty of $20 a day is charged when a return is filed late, unless there is reasonable cause for the delay, However, the maximum penalty charged cannot exceed $10,000 or 5 percent of your gross receipts for the year, whichever is less. For organizations with gross receipts exceeding $1,000,000 in any year, the penalty is $100 per day per return, unless there is reasonable Cause for the delay. The maximum penalty for an organization with gross receipts exceeding $1,000,000 shall not exceed $50,000. This penalty may also be charged if a return is not complete, So, please be sure your return is complete before you file i t . You are not required to file federal income tax returns unless you are Subject to the tax on unrelated business income under section 511 of the Code. If you are subject to this tax, you must file an income tax return on Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return, In this letter we are not determining whether any of your present or proposed activities aro unre- lated trade or business as defined in section 513 of the Code. The law requires you to make your annual return available for public inspection without Charge for three years after the due date of the return. You are also required to make available for public inspection a copy of your exemption application, any supporting documents and this exemption letter to any individual who requests such documents in person or in writing, You can charge only a reasonable fee for reproduction and actual postage costs for the• copied materials. The law does not require you to provide Copies of public inspection documents that are mode widely available, such as by Posting them on the Internet (world Wide Web), You may be liable for a penalty of $20 a day for each day you do not make these documents available for public inspection (up to a maximum of $10,00(1 in the case of an annual return). You need an employer identification number even if you have no employees./ If an employer identification number was not entered on your application, we will assign a number to you and advise you of it. Please use that number on all returns you file and in all correspondence with the Internal Revenue Servi ce This determination is based on evidence that your funds are dedicated to the purposes listed in section 501(0)(3) of the Code. To assure your continues exemption, you should keep records to shop, that funds are spent only for those purposes. If you distribute funds to other organizations, your records Should show whether they are exempt under section $01(0)(3). In cases where the recipient organization is not exempt Under section 501(0)(3), you must have evidence that the funds will remain dedicated to the required purposes and that the recipient will use the funds for those purposes. If you distribute funds to Individuals, you should keep case histories Letter 1045 (AO/CG) Mar. 31. 2008- 9.14AM. SOAR -4- COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM OF SISTERS No. 5782 'P. 4 showing the recipients' names, addresses, purposes of awards, manner of selec- tion, and relationship (if any) to members, officers,trustees or• donors of funds to you, so that you con substantiate upon request by the Internal Revenue Service any and all distributions you made to individuals. (Revenue Ruling 56-904, C.B. 1956-2, page 306.) If we said in the heading of this letter that an addendum applies, the addendum enclosed is an integral part of this letter. Because this letter could help us resolve any questions about your exempt status and foundation status, you should keep it in your permanent records. If you have any questions, please contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown in the heading of this letter. Sincerely yours, District Director Letter 1045 (DO/CG)