FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Question

  1. Why do you run a yearly fund drive?
  2. Who runs the fund drive?
  3. Is my contribution deductible?
  4. How did you used to raise money?
  5. Why doesn’t the Town forgive the balance of the lease obligation?
  6. Why so many letters from you for the fund drive?
  7. Why should I support you?

Answer

Why do you run a yearly fund drive?

The BVFC is funded almost completely through donations. We pay for all of our equipment and the lease on the building.

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Who runs the fund drive?

We do! None of the money raised goes to an outside fundraiser. We pay for printing, postage, and a mailing service to stuff the envelopes, and process the mailing for the lowest postal bulk mail rates. Our volunteers do the rest. Your donation is shared with no one else. Our administration costs are minimal.

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Is my contribution deductible?

Definitely. We have been recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization, exempt from income taxes, with donations deductible to the donor for income tax purposes. We are eligible for employer matching funds. Our taxpayer number is 06-6050692. We are listed on the IRS eligible list. A CPA does our annual financial report, and we file a form 990-tax document with IRS.

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How did you used to raise money?

Mainly from running carnivals. This provided entertainment for some Townspeople, but the carnival operator got most of the money. Doing fundraising by mail means that 100 percent of what we raise stays in Town.

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Why doesn’t the Town forgive the balance of the lease obligation?

Because the Town sold real bonds to real bondholders, who expect to be paid back. The balance of our obligation is $540.000. That would raise taxes unacceptably, because the bondholders would have to be paid off from the Town budget. This lease arrangement is obviously beneficial to the Town, and to us as well: We could not have financed such a complete and expandable building in any other way.

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Why so many letters from you for the fund drive?

We hope that no one is offended. Sometimes a donation is not recorded in our computer before a follow up letter goes out. And we expect that busy people might forget us.

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Why should I support you?

We hope that you will, but you are a volunteer in that regard, as well. We do what we do, for our Town, because we want to. It can be dangerous work. It is less dangerous if our training and equipment is up to date. That is where our neighbors come in, with support for our efforts. We all live here and support each other. We are the first responders, with the police, to any emergency. Most of the time, we are the ones who have to do something about the emergency. We want to be always available and prepared. We are counting on you because you are counting on us.

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