forward alliance committee dedicated to improving the understanding of and access to financial...
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Forward Alliance
Committee dedicated to improving the understanding of and access to financial resources for people with disabilities and their families.
Ginny Powell & Ed LeahyOmaha EITC Coalition
• Mission: The Omaha EITC Coalition promotes the claiming of tax credits through quality volunteer tax return preparation with a goal of providing educational tools and community resources for family asset development.
• Vision: The Coalition promotes financial stability through empowered customers who use tax credits and tax refunds to own and maintain assets.
• Values: Inclusiveness, Non-partisanship, Customer Empowerment, and Quality Service
Omaha EITC CoalitionBuilding Assets One Taxpayer at a Time!
Success in the Field-How do we do it?•Find a champion …to help…
•Educate staff …so they…
•Ask clients …where are you now, and…
•Educate clients …where you can be, then…
•Use the answers …to…
•Become a trusted resource …and…•Make a difference!
Not this field
Goodwill IndustriesGoodwill’s Mission: Goodwill Changes Lives and Strengthens Communities through Education, Training, and Work.
▫Goodwill Industries is an agency partner in the Omaha EITC Coalition
▫Goodwill staff serve as an Advisory Board member, subcommittee chair, volunteer trainer and tax preparer
▫Give and receive complimentary, not competing services
▫Provide meeting space for Coalition meetings, subcommittees, and special events
Educate your staff
•All volunteers receive disability awareness training
•Training on tax implications and credits relating to disability issues
•Refreshers right before the tax season
Ask your clients
•Survey that gathers socioeconomic information
•Money Menu•Tax Preparation discussion
PWD Troublesome BillsPast due utility bills
16%
Credit cards7% Back child support
1%
Medical bills8%
Car loan2%
Student loans2%
Mortgage or back rent7%
Not having trouble w/bills58%
Tax Year 2010 PWD Refund Use
Pay d
own
cred
it ca
r or a
loan
Pay h
ouse
/rent
Pay u
tiliti
es (e
lect
ric, g
as, p
hone
)
Catch
up
on h
ouse
pay
men
ts/a
void
fore
clos
ure
Put in
exis
ting
acco
unt
Put in
C.D
Open
new s
avin
gs a
ccou
nt
Put in
oth
er in
vest
men
ts
Buy a
car o
r a m
ajor
app
lianc
e
Recre
atio
nal u
se o
r vac
atio
n
Spent
it
Spent
som
e, sa
ved
som
e, a
nd/ o
r inv
este
d so
me
Will
not
get
a re
fund
Owes
IRS
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Educate Clients
•Understanding taxes•Public Benefits screening•Credit reports•Prescription Assistance programs•Referrals to other supports in the community
Intersection of Tax Preparation and Taxpayer Education
Educational Interview &
Personal Financial Goals
Significant Taxpayer Involvement at Every
Step
Promotion of Services, Referrals,
and Broader Financial Education
Split
Ref
und
Bonds
Benefi
ts
Debit
Drugs
Bank
Acct
Credi
t
Amer
ica
Save
sID
A
Fin. E
d.
Coach
ing
Volun
teer
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Money Menu Services
Bank on the Heartland
•Coalition was a founding partner •VITA provides the most meaning outreach
of the effort to connect people to banks and credit unions
Using the Answers
You have a ton of research; what are you doing with it?
•Check your effectiveness•Design new offerings•Build new partnerships•Educate the community•Influence Policy
Two-Year Comparison of Banked PWD
2010
2009
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
BankUn-Banked
PWD Refund Use
Paid
Bills
Saved
it
Bough
t a ca
r or a
maj
or a
pplia
nce
Recre
atio
nal u
se o
r vac
atio
n
Spent
it
Spent
som
e, sa
ved
som
e, a
nd/ o
r inv
este
d so
me
Did n
ot g
et a
refu
nd
Owes
IRS
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
20092010
Forward Alliance-Action Steps• Improved Volunteer Training on Disability
Issues
• Incorporated outreach activities year-round
• Increase VITA sites in disability agencies
• Formalized Forward Alliance Committee, developing a more intentional relationship with NDI, and expanding membership in Forward Alliance
Forward Alliance Campaign• Raise Awareness of the Needs of Persons with Disabilities
▫ Sensitivity Training for our Members▫ Public Outreach at VITA Sites
• Persons with Disabilities are a year-round focus▫ Over 5 years, 10% of our customers are Persons with
Disabilities▫ Research shows 83% of Persons with Disabilities never
filed for a tax credit• Connect Taxpayers with Resources
▫ Free tax preparation▫ Screening for Public Benefits Eligibility▫ Awareness of Drug Assistance Programs▫ Housing Programs & Education
Become a Trusted Resource
Turning a Transaction into a Relationship
20050
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Tax Prep GrowthN
um
ber
of
Retu
rns
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Came Last YR
Media Family/Friend
Referred
Walked By
Other0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
Site Recognition
201020092008
Make a Difference!
•VITA Impact in the Metro Area
VITA’s 2011 Value to Omaha
Service Process Value
Savings on Tax Prep Fees
5072 returns x $220 (average tax prep fee)
$1,115,840
EITC Refund Impact $2,467,084 x $1.50 (estimated economic impact per EIC dollar)
$3,700,626
Total Refunds Most often spent to reduce debt, pay bills, or buy a major appliance.
$8,261,321
Volunteer Hours 6159 hours x $21.36 (value of volunteer time)
$131,556
Credit Report Counseling
196 x $100 (cost to pull score, counsel client)
$19,600
Bank Accounts $100 x 85 accounts $8,500
ITIN Applications $75 x 126 accounts $9,450
Total $13,246,893
At Your Service
Ed LeahyDirectorOmaha EITC Coalition3605 Q StOmaha, NE 68107C: (402) 250-9781O: (402) 546-1013, ext. 6210F: (402) [email protected]
www.fhasinc.orgwww.facebook.com/OmahaEITC
Ginny PowellCustomer Connect ManagerGoodwill Industries4805 N 72nd StreetOmaha, NE 68134O: [email protected]