[Advocacy-outreach] [Resources] Special Zoom Meeting tomorrow, Aug 6, 6pm. Zoom link

Tue Aug 6 12:38:42 CDT 2024

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the questions so far.

I want to provide some answers and background before the meeting tonight
and we can continue the discussion then also. .

*BACKGROUND*
When AUA first approached us, it was to be a full nonprofit partner in the
EPA grant application.   We told AUA that in reading the EPA guidelines we
did not think that CCGA would qualify as a partner because we are not our
own 501c3 rather we had Neighborspace as our 501c3 fiscal sponsor.  So AUA
is aware that we are currently fiscally sponsored by NS.

AUA still wanted to partner with us to gather input and proposed this
partnership agreement instead.  AUA is using funds from another grant to
partner with us since they feel that community gardens and CCGA should be
part of crafting the Urban Ag plan and ordinance.

I want to add that in the past, I was very critical of AUA because they
came to us at the very end and not in the beginning of advocacy positions
and said that they represented community gardeners.  In this case, they are
coming to us in the very beginning which is a significant change.

.
*ABILITY TO SIGN AGREEMENTS*
Fiscally sponsored organizations can sign agreements in my experience and
AUA is of the same opinion.  Both Asaia of AUA and I have been part of
other fiscally sponsored orgs and we have signed agreements in the past.
It's similar to grant applications. .Likewise, CCGA has historically been
entering into agreements for years when we sign rental agreements for venue
space for the conferences or workshops.

My recommendation if there are any concerns on this issue is for CCGA to
file with the State of IL as a not -for-profit corporation.  The cost is
$50 and takes about 10 days or sooner.    We can also open our own bank
account.  And we can continue to use Neighborspace as our fiscal sponsor.

*TAXES*
These funds should have no impact on CCGA's tax liability.  501c3 and
fiscally sponsored orgs per IRS guidelines/rules can sell services and
goods that are in the same category line and furthers their nonprofit
mission.  The $10 that resources charge for the distributions falls into
this category.

The work as scoped out in the partnership agreement is the exact work that
we have been doing all along but we haven't been paid to do or even have
our expenses covered.  In contrast we had to fundraise in order to gather
input.  The funds we get from this partnership with AUA will pay for the
expenses of these meetings and workshops without dipping into any other
existing CCGA funds or for us to do special fundraising.   I anticipate
that the extra funds can go into the CCGA general fund for everyone to pull
from as needed to further the mission of CCGA.

*DELIVERABLES*
I agree that we should have defined deliverables so that we can tailor our
meetings and workshops to gather the necessary information needed to help
craft a plan and ordinance that will pass City Council and impact and
hopefully help all community gardeners and the environment.

Thanks everyone for reading the agreement.

May

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On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 8:04 PM Mary Fran Riley via Resources <
resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org> wrote:

> My 2 cents: I believe if CCGA were to do this it needs to go thru
> NeighborSpace as the 501c3 and they are the fiscal sponsor and can accept
> the money. If I were AUA I would request a work plan for the deliverables.
>
> Mary Fran Riley
> Director Community Relations
> Allies for Community Business
> mfriley at a4cb.org
> 312-924-2150
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Resources <resources-bounces at chicagocommunitygardens.org> on
> behalf of barbara dennis via Resources <
> resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org>
> *Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 7:51 PM
> *To:* Ellen Newcomer <ecnewcomer334 at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* Lorraine Kells <lxkells at gmail.com>; € CCGA / Resources committee
> email <resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org>; € CCGA / Education
> committee email <Education at chicagocommunitygardens.org>;
> advocacy-outreach at chicagocommunitygardens.org <
> advocacy-outreach at chicagocommunitygardens.org>; € CCGA / Finance
> committee email <finance at chicagocommunitygardens.org>; JW Glass via
> Communications <communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Resources] Special Zoom Meeting tomorrow, Aug 6, 6pm.
> Zoom link
>
> Question; what tax ramifications would CCGA have in submitting invoices
> for payments. What would that do to our non for profit status? Barb
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 6:52 PM Ellen Newcomer via Resources <
> resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> Hold on a second--CCGA is not a legal entity and thus cannot sign
>> agreements...
>> Ellen
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024, 4:53 PM Lorraine Kells via Resources <
>> resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> The Partnership Agreement proposed between AUA and CCGA is a document
>>> that may seem complex at first reading. It was sent iday Aug. 2 which we
>>> realize gave you little time to process.  Please, please do review the
>>> document before our special meeting.  We've made a few changes in wording.
>>> I will give some background on the partnership and May will take the lead
>>> in explaining the what and why's the process, and our use of the funds
>>> before we answer your many questions and address your concerns.
>>>
>>> Many of us still have an ache in our hearts about losing Julie Samuels.
>>> If there is time at the conclusion of our presentation, we welcome your
>>> conversation about a remembrance tribute. Perhaps for our Sept 17
>>> coordinating committee meeting we can agree to dispense with the usual
>>> committee reports and move directly to a motion on the Partnership
>>> Agreement that will allow us ample time to discuss how we can best honor
>>> Julie's lifelong commitment to building community and our many CCGA gardens
>>> which are her most enduring and powerful legacy.
>>>
>>>
>>> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82680460687?pwd=YlJjbFdDUjVwMWp4Sm5FbytrUjhiUT09
>>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__us02web.zoom.us_j_82680460687-3Fpwd-3DYlJjbFdDUjVwMWp4Sm5FbytrUjhiUT09&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=qhIXu8M_xNoGQqMkVUS2tqmkRMQqr6e6K5b14RKSDvY&m=ASXujAHUnNuloHN4VB6CmPg38XPPKSDZz_qkLe83CcHNCRxMEehbtxFw1EUHg4EM&s=uwKjwzOayxZci89ijUdRHZFLoI6OyTicd6MtEetRavI&e=>
>>>
>>> Meeting ID: 826 8046 0687
>>> Passcode: CCGA
>>>
>>> Dial in number: 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
>>> Meeting ID: 826 8046 0687
>>>
>>> Passcode: 412128
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
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>>>
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