Open Letter…Follow-up 01/24/2020

Several weeks have passed since I posted (my response to the Board of Directors approved 2020 Budget that was presented to the membership via an email from the salaried Executive Director. I emphasize salaried since it is misleading to anyone that visits the qovf.org website. If one reviews the posted Policies and Procedure’s you will find the following content:

“The Foundation’s leadership consists of its Board of Directors, its Executive Staff, and its State Coordinators, who are all unpaid volunteers. The Foundation expects its leadership staff, member group leaders, and members to adhere to the standards and policies described in this manual.”

There are several positions on Executive Staff that are salaried. In 2016 the reported figure was a shade under $1500. By the end of 2017 that had climbed to over $15,000 and at the end of 2018 to over $109,000. The Executive Director’s position has been budgeted for 2020 a 33% increase in salary. One can assume the final figures for salaries, other compensation, and employee benefits will rise above the $109,000 numbers for 2019 and most certainly for the year 2020. To convince me that the increase to the membership is to only cover Group operational costs would take a team of CPA’s from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC. 

But that is not the good news. There has been some reevaluation of the proposed budget. The Board has approved the new Group Business Fees be allowed to be withdrawn as an approved expense from a Groups Trust. Previously the Groups Fees were out of one’s personal pocket. The increase for one that chooses to be a National Member associated with a group has been reduced from $15 to $10. A reasonable increase as the Foundations Operational costs for a group could have easily increased along with just about everything else in existence since 2014. How much is yet to be determined.  Considering the many Chapters of Project Linus pay $100 a year for operational costs…QOVF is still a bargain. 

The very good news. Through the efforts of a very dedicated and committed group of volunteers who spend countless hours helping with our fundraising functions annually, Not Forgotten QOV has sufficient assets and will be able to utilize the offering from National to pay our Group Business Fee from our Group’s Trust. We are reminded daily who really makes the Foundation a success, understands and thrives to accomplish the Mission, and without pause continue providing the symbol known to our service members and veteran recipients as a Quilt of Valor, the Volunteers. Without them the Mission would be a failure, Catherine’s vision but a passing thought and Not Forgotten QOV but a title. 

We thank you for your support and kind words and responses as we trekked through these muddy waters. 

later…Les…

I’m Confused

No really, the latest from QOVF Leadership indicates that the Group Fees will increase from $30 to $75 (150%) and that a Group Members Annual Fee will increase from $5 to $15. Which translates to a 2 Member Group Fee increasing 162.5%. Meaning, an individual Group Member will sustain a 200% increase in their dues. As explained; to cover the increase in operation of the Foundation. 

With the Cost of Living Adjustment for 2020 being 2.8%, the Social Security Bump being only 1.6%, or 1.2% below the rise in the Cost of Living and for those still paying SS tax, an increase of 3.6%, an increase for many of nearly $300 more per year in SS Taxes. It’s hard for me to believe the operating costs of the Quilts of Valor Foundation can justify an increase of 10% not to mention at least 150%. 

In 2017, to keep it simple:

QOVF Total Assets at the beginning of the year totaled $361,618. 

End of Year, $533,916.

Total 2017 Liabilities at the End of Year were $10,573.

Total Revenue was $830,492

Total Expenses were $659,321 or

Revenue less expenses of $171,165. 

End of Year Assets were reported as $524,057.

Am I off base in assuming QOVF is solvent?

2018, to keep it even simpler:

Total Assets End of Year $693,465

Total Liabilities $11,483

Reporting End of Year Assets at $681,982

It was interesting to see the Salaries, other compensation and employee benefits increase from 2017, $15,041 to $109,444 in 2018. 

More interesting though is that Revenue from dues between 2017 and 2018 increased by 1.53%. Contributions, gifts and grants increased by 7.65% and Total Revenue from 2017 to 2018 increased by 5.5%.

So in an effort for me to understand the need for an increase of 150% per Group, 162.5% for a 2 person Group to continue to function and a 200% increase for a Group Member to maintain their Volunteer Member Status would someone from leadership please indicate the percentage of increase for each of the following categories stipulated by the current Executive Director in her e-mail that has created the need to seek even more from those that contribute the most. The Volunteer Members, now over 11,000. 

“*There are costs to conduct business, even non-profit business. We support groups and do not bill each group for their portion of the cost for the following:” Tammany McDaniel, Executive Director

Please note…the stipulation was made that the following categories as listed by The Executive Director is what justified the need to develop a membership base to offset these costs and make it possible for Groups to maintain the total of their funds raised to purchase authorized goods and supplies to craft QOV’s. What exactly did the $81,121 from dues cover last year? Have those expenses increased by at least 150% since 2014? Personally I don’t think so. 

-The permission to raise funds in our name

-General liability for meetings and events

-Trademark/Registered Marks use

-Banking and accounting is paid for at the national level with no flow-down of group itemized costs

-Marketing materials

-Wholesale products for your fundraising

-Fundraising organization and (increasing) support

-IRS and state audits

-Annual federal and state non-profit filings

-Where required, a 501(c)(3) in each state

-Where required a license to solicit funds in each state

-Software and system databases

-Leadership Training and Support (increasing).

At the same time can someone answer.

Who is seeking out celebrity endorsements?

Who is writing Grant Proposals?

Has someone in leadership even sought out someone to write proposals?

Who is actively seeking Corporate Sponsorship? (Not to be confused with Partnerships.)

Who is actively seeking volunteer and membership relations with industry to pass on material and supply discounts and benefits of quilting products?

Is it time for the Quills of Valor Foundation to adopt a democratic system with membership voting rights?

Les Page #9029

Volunteer Member since 2014

Volunteer Since 2009

Volunteer Member Longarmer since 2012

Former State Coordinator and Executive Staff Member

…and one very confused and frustrated individual concerned about those that have yet to receive a Quilt of Valor and how this type, of yet to be justified increase, will affect the future of our Mission and the future of the Quilts of Valor Foundation and it’s membership base.