本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛I copied following posts from OCEF discussion grouop, it explained very clearly where donation go.
Surely donors are interested in this topic as we all care where our donations go!
Actually, this topic is related closely to OCEF's fiscal year and here is what has been implemented:
Each calendar year, OCEF fundraises for coming SCHOOL Year financial aid.
Use year 2003 as an example, the general donations coming in from 01/01/2003 to 12/31/2003 are used to support students in regular program for school year of 2004.9 - 2005.7. It allows OCEF to estimate total number of students it can support at end of year 2003 when the year closes. And the timetable for OCEF operations is:
1)by end of February, 2004 - accepting and approving new sites applications;
2)by end of May,2004 - accepting financial aid applications from students in supporting sites, existed or newly approved;
3)by end of July/August, 2004 - reviewing and approving students' application WHIHIN OCEF's supporting capacity, which means the general fund raised from 01/01/2003 to 12/31/2003 set a cap of total number of supporting students in this school year;
4)mid September, 2004 - 1st term fund delivery;
5)mid March, 2005 - 2nd term fund delivery and at this point, no more fund raised from 01/01/2003 to 12/31/2003 left.
And looking at the operation cost, OCEF has to pay for donor service, fund raising events, web domain and other expense in 2003 to get more fund available for coming year support.
In detail, OCEF used to send receipts to donors in hard copies, ie. by postal mail, which resulting in huge cost of postages. For 1000 donations (some donors donated more than once in a year), the postages cost $0.37*1000 = $370. OCEF also sent out hard-copy newsletters in about 5 pages once. For volume printing, the cost per sheet at OfficeDepot is about $0.03. So, sending 1 newsletter to 1 donor, the cost is $0.37+0.03*5 = $0.52 and for about 700 OCEF donors, 1 newsletter mailing cost is $0.52*700 = $364 and for 2 or more newsletters, OCEF has to pay times of $364 in that year.
In year 2004, OCEF is encouraging donors to accept e-receipts so to cut cost and it is working. But we are spending more during our photo exhibitions as cost comes from those 20 display boards, ~400 sheet protectors, flyer printing, etc. Fundraisers are generally donating the equivalent amount to cover the cost but for OCEF, we have to record the donations and the cost as business practice.
Therefore, there is some expense associating with incoming fund and later when fund is delivered. I am here more to explain what OCEF fundraising group has incorporate with the facts of OCEF financial activities rather than offering an idea of how to calculate the operation cost. That is more of an accounting method the experts use and most of all, I feel it is just essential for us ALL to keep track of those donations, each and every penny. We have this discussion with almost every newly joint volunteer in Fundraising group.
The above 700 or 1000 are not ACTUAL OCEF data but some assumptions I have to make to give the examples for past experience.
OCEF has committed to use all donations to students and those postages, printing fees, etc., are not treated as DIRECT fund to the students. They are the needy fund to make OCEF's operations on track and to make more fund coming in for more support to the students.
We may have different formulas for operation cost calculation which I am leaving that for our CPAs or accounting experts. But above all, no money is used in NON-OCEF mission related area set the basic tone here and I feel our donors and volunteers should know more behind that 5.5% or 7% or even 10%. It is your rights and your responsibilities as OCEF donor to make OCEF an organization ONLY to serve those needy kids and nothing else, year after year.
Sally Sun
OCEF Fundraising group
I copied following posts from OCEF discussion grouop, it explained very clearly where donation go.
http://www.ocef.org/cgi/lb5000/topic.cgi?forum=2&topic=2798
other related topic:
http://www.ocef.org/cgi/lb5000/topic.cgi?forum=2&topic=1422更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net