Matching Grants Program The Change Addressed by the Resolution Starting during 2009-2010 fiscal year, the Board accepted recommendations to change the Community Service Matching Grants Program to a traditional Granting program. In addition to removing the match requirements, the Board agreed to refocus the program on its original purpose – the shared national mission on hearing health (formerly called speech and hearing). Key points for why the change
• The program had lost focus and impact, and in recent years the number and types of grants did not support advancement of the Sertoma shared mission – and our efforts to build a strong brand for Sertoma
• The program was viewed as a “quid pro quo” for annual fund giving, as many clubs gave only during years they applied for grants. It limited the ability to grow both the annual fund and the grant program.
• The program was being manipulated to provide a reimbursement to clubs, and not provide a gift to another organization as intended
• As structured, we had limited means to document the outcome or in some cases even the actual use of the funds provided
Advantages and Benefits due to the change
• Moves our hearing health mission forward
• The program positions Sertoma as a national grant program increasing our brand in our mission focus
• It allows us to expand our fundraising beyond just our members to support our shared mission
• Many National Affiliates have professional staff to write and process grants, assuring us better information on the use and outcome of each grant
• Fewer and larger grants will increase profile of our granting role, and allow us to claim greater impact in our shared mission – a benefit to all members. The Resolution
(notes – you will see these comments to address factual issues as expressed in the resolution – these were not part of the resolution as presented) Whereas, the Community Service Matching Grant Program was created by Sertoma
International for the purpose of supporting Sertoma club projects; and Whereas, the eligibility of recipients of the grant was limited to 501(c)(3) entities and
Projects were limited by eligible activities; and (Note– the grants were created by the Sertoma Foundation as a means to advance the speech and hearing mission and for many were limited to agencies and projects related to that mission) Whereas, Sertoma Inc. has changed the eligibility of matching grants to make only
Sertoma, Inc. Affiliates, and only communicative disorders projects eligible; and Whereas, many Sertoma club were built under the Service 400 program, with a local
Community sponsorship need, which was not necessarily a communicative disorder
Project or an Affiliate; and (Note– The grant program was never created or intended as a member or club benefit, but has always been a means to advance the shared and mutual mission interests of Sertoma – it is not appropriate to infer a special relationship or privilege exists to clubs built under the Service 400 model) Whereas, Sertoma, Inc. now assesses an involuntary membership dues payment lieu
of the previously voluntary membership in the Sertoma Foundation and additionally requires a $200 Affiliate Fee for the opportunity to APPLY for a grant; and (Note– The change in membership due to the merger is unrelated to the grant program. However, under the old program to apply, a club had to be a 100 % member of the Foundation, and provide a 2 for 1 match – a significant cost. In addition, the Affiliate Fee is not an application fee. That fee, as it has for years, provides for other substantial benefits, including access to the Professional Education Grants and a discount purchasing CoOp.) Whereas, the eligible expenditures have been changed from bricks and mortar, sustainable projects to operational subsides of program salaries and consumables; and (Note– The new program does not eliminate sustainable program costs or investments, and though it allows for some operational costs – those are limited to start up efforts during the first year of a new program.) Whereas, this change in eligible recipients and activities is a subsidy, exclusionary, and
a penalty to those clubs built in good faith to sponsor local projects; and Whereas, the change was made with poor communication (the application on the
website is still the old application as of April 11, 2009) but the new application is effective January 31, 2010, with minimal time to attempt to discuss or rescind the Board
action as provided for in the Sertoma Bylaws Article VII – Governance, Paragraph A. Board
of Directors, Number 2.b as the action follows at least one Regional convention and is to
be presented at several others; Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved That We, the Atlantic Coast Region, do strongly object
to the sudden, unfair, and drastic changes in policy which we believe will result in club
and no access to Community Service Matching Grants. Be It Further Resolved that we strongly request that Sertoma suspend the effective
date of the decision and return to the 2008-2009 Guidelines for Community Service
Matching Grants. Be It Further Resolved that this Resolution be forwarded to Sertoma, Inc. for adoption.
Report of the Resolutions Committee
This resolution was originally presented at the Atlantic Coast Region at the 2009 Region meeting, with a similar resolution presented in the Allegheny/Canada Region. In summary: It is intent of this resolution to address the change eliminating the Community Service Matching Grants program and replacing it with a new Hearing Health Grant program for the Sertoma Affiliates. To Quote: “Be it further resolved that we strongly request that Sertoma suspend the effective date of the decision and return to the 2008-2009 Guidelines for Community Service Matching Grants. This presented a more difficult challenge to the Committee. First, the resolution presented an unfortunate number of factual errors. The Committee feels that those errors are based on the members understanding of the old program and the changes. However, that does not change the fact that upon review, assumptions on which the resolution was made are inaccurate. That being said, the Committee, in the end, did not make its decision on those items, and as such do not feel it critical to address those in this report. Second, the resolutions should have asked to return to the old program starting in 2010, as the request to make the change in 2009, conflicts with the right of the organization to implement a program change. This technical issue is noted, but it did not affect the ruling of the Committee. In the end the Committee made its decision on the requirements and limitations set out in our Governing Documents. Based on those documents, the resolution is advisory as: • The Bylaws provide that Sertoma, Inc. has the power to “manage, administer and regulate the affairs, property and funds of Sertoma – a grants program created by Sertoma are covered by this power and
• As these grants do not limit or change any right or privilege of Sertoma membership, as defined in the Governing documents, and
• As the rights of the members to compel the Board to take an action are limited to “construction or interpretation of the Bylaws (and/or the Policies and Procedures) by the Board of Directors,” The resolution is advisory
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