Mila Hart helps with questions from WIGS members
Membership
A membership is $500 and each member has one vote in deciding how funds are allocated. Two individuals may choose to share one membership, deciding together how to cast their vote.
Sustaining members contribute $1,000 and are identified with Founders on any WIGS materials. Although larger contributions are encouraged and recognized, no member has more than one vote.
Although members need make only the annual contribution, every member is encouraged to become more involved and bring in new members.
Organization Status and meetings
Initially, Founding Members will serve on an Oversight Committee for the WIGS that will also act as an Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors of People Helping People and will work on developing membership. However, Sustaining Members who are interested in being more actively engaged may also join the Oversight Committee. That committee is also responsible for organizing an annual members’ luncheon meeting in March or April. The timing of the lunch is to allow PHP to integrate the WIGS program recommendations and contribution into their budget planning for the fiscal year that starts July 1. At the lunch, members receive a report on programs funded by the WIGS in the previous year and the Executive Director of PHP presents programs for their consideration for the next year’s funding. There is an opportunity to review program materials and ask questions before members vote on the programs they wish to support.
The Oversight Committee compiles the votes as a basis for their funding recommendations to the PHP Board. Although the expectation is that these recommendations will be followed, as required by law, it is the Board of PHP that makes the final allocation.
The Oversight Committee meets on an as needed basis. One founding member from among them is the representative to the PHP Board. The PHP Board President and Vice-President serve as advisors to the Oversight Committee. Other PHP Board members may be among the Founders, on the Oversight Committee or a member of WIGS.
In principle, there is an annual Oversight Committee meeting in January of each year at which contributions made by year-end are tallied. While it is anticipated that many members will choose to make their gifts by year end, contributions may be made any time in the 12 months prior to the annual spring luncheon meeting at which members vote on the programs they wish to support.
Accounting for Funds
- The PHP Board has established a separate checking account and restricted program account for the WIGS contributions
- WIGS membership fees are fully tax deductible. Checks should be made out to PHP, designating the Valley WIGS account as the recipient.
- Funds are accumulated in the account for the 12 month period preceding the annual membership luncheon (after which funds apply to the following year).
- Checks drawn against the WIGS account must be signed by the Executive Director of PHP and a PHP Board member designated by the Oversight Committee.
- PHP provides a January and July expenditure report to the Oversight Committee showing how funds were used. The report also includes a WIGS account Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Statement. In any event, the Oversight Committee may request the WIGS account financial information from PHP at any time to assure that funds are being used in a manner consistent with the intention of the Members and the direction of the PHP Board.
- As approved by the Founding members, only direct costs of administering the WIGS fund are charged by PHP – not to exceed 1% of donated funds.
- The WIGS account is part of PHP’s annual audit conducted by an outside auditor selected by the PHP Board.
Other considerations
In the case of existing contributors to PHP, it is hoped that Valley WIGS membership is “in addition to” and not “instead of” other contributions to PHP.