hn0796 at handsnet.org
03-01-1995, 12:28 PM
Mr. William Myers -
One of my Boardmembers saw your comments on Community Development Financial
lending. Texas Alliance for Human Needs, an important 13-year old
organization linking the far-flung community of persons and organizations
working against poverty across the vastness of Texas is in a short-term
financial crunch. Could you or your organization be of help to us?
TAHN's Financial Dilemma:
We have operated on a budget of about $100,000 per year in the past. The
board and staff undertook to develop a new program last year, believing
that it is not only an excellent and needed service to low and moderate
income individuals and organizations around Texas, but that ultimately it
would be a good source to fund itself. A consultant was hired to help
raise funds and to start the program. Unfortunately, while it does look to
be a good program in the long-run, in the short-run it (and the consultant)
not only did not raise money, but as a result of a strategic error on our
part (i.e., we went to our traditional sources of support for it rather
than for our operating money and they turned us down!), it cost us.
We have few strict commitments of money at this time, but a highly probable
income of $90,000 later in the year from 3 foundations. They have helped
us in the past and their program officers have said they will go to their
boards for us again when the next cycle comes around. In the meantime, we
are short about $15,000 to make payroll in April and May.
I do not understand the last paragraph of your summary (targeted credit?).
Most of the other areas do not look useful to us because we have no other
debt and have very limited indirect expenses such as purchased services.
Our budget is largely the small staff (who earn salaries in the range of
$20,000 per year or less), a little overhead and the program budget which
is largely non-profit postage, printing, and phone/fax. So grants or loans
are really what we do need. Some years ago, I saw several organizations
which did just this kind of thing, but I do not know of any at this time.
Is yours one or do you know of others?
The one other thing we really could use is some special computer/phone
equipment. The new program we initiated is a statewide InterNet system,
but we cannot get out-of-Austin groups on it with the current configuration
we have. We need about $4,000 in equipment and $5,000 per year for a
half-time system assistant to make a go of it.
Any leads you would have for us would be highly appreciated. Thank you.
Yours very truly,
Jude Filler
Executive Director
e-mail: HN0796@handsnet.org
Jude (Judith) Filler, Executive Director
Texas Alliance for Human Needs
2520 Longview, #311
Austin TX 78705
tel: 512-474-5019
fax: 512-476-0130
PS The Program Director for our internet system is Chris Cortez. The
system is call InfoWorks. His e-mail is ccortez@essential.org.
Sent: March 1, 1995 10:06 am PST Item: R004hca
This post transferred from the cdb-l mailing list
One of my Boardmembers saw your comments on Community Development Financial
lending. Texas Alliance for Human Needs, an important 13-year old
organization linking the far-flung community of persons and organizations
working against poverty across the vastness of Texas is in a short-term
financial crunch. Could you or your organization be of help to us?
TAHN's Financial Dilemma:
We have operated on a budget of about $100,000 per year in the past. The
board and staff undertook to develop a new program last year, believing
that it is not only an excellent and needed service to low and moderate
income individuals and organizations around Texas, but that ultimately it
would be a good source to fund itself. A consultant was hired to help
raise funds and to start the program. Unfortunately, while it does look to
be a good program in the long-run, in the short-run it (and the consultant)
not only did not raise money, but as a result of a strategic error on our
part (i.e., we went to our traditional sources of support for it rather
than for our operating money and they turned us down!), it cost us.
We have few strict commitments of money at this time, but a highly probable
income of $90,000 later in the year from 3 foundations. They have helped
us in the past and their program officers have said they will go to their
boards for us again when the next cycle comes around. In the meantime, we
are short about $15,000 to make payroll in April and May.
I do not understand the last paragraph of your summary (targeted credit?).
Most of the other areas do not look useful to us because we have no other
debt and have very limited indirect expenses such as purchased services.
Our budget is largely the small staff (who earn salaries in the range of
$20,000 per year or less), a little overhead and the program budget which
is largely non-profit postage, printing, and phone/fax. So grants or loans
are really what we do need. Some years ago, I saw several organizations
which did just this kind of thing, but I do not know of any at this time.
Is yours one or do you know of others?
The one other thing we really could use is some special computer/phone
equipment. The new program we initiated is a statewide InterNet system,
but we cannot get out-of-Austin groups on it with the current configuration
we have. We need about $4,000 in equipment and $5,000 per year for a
half-time system assistant to make a go of it.
Any leads you would have for us would be highly appreciated. Thank you.
Yours very truly,
Jude Filler
Executive Director
e-mail: HN0796@handsnet.org
Jude (Judith) Filler, Executive Director
Texas Alliance for Human Needs
2520 Longview, #311
Austin TX 78705
tel: 512-474-5019
fax: 512-476-0130
PS The Program Director for our internet system is Chris Cortez. The
system is call InfoWorks. His e-mail is ccortez@essential.org.
Sent: March 1, 1995 10:06 am PST Item: R004hca
This post transferred from the cdb-l mailing list