VLPNO Announces the new Vista Las Palmas Neighbors Foundation
Introducing the Vista Las Palmas Neighbors Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Corporation
The Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the formation of the Vista Las Palmas Neighbors Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation that continues our neighborhood mission to preserve, protect and promote the quality of life for our neighborhood, our city, and our state through communication, improvement projects, as well as social and charitable endeavors.
Why are we establishing the Vista Las Palmas Neighbors Foundation?
As a 501(c)(3) organization, we can now offer our members tax-deductible status for their contributions to the maximum extent allowed by law, effective March 1, 2023. While a donation is not required to join the neighborhood foundation, members who choose to renew their membership or make a contribution to the VLPNF can receive tax benefits for their donations.
As a 501(c)(4), your previous contributions were not tax-deductible. In addition, the VLPNO was bound by Palm Springs city regulations and guidelines, including a $50,000 revenue ceiling on neighborhood organizations. We felt this limitation was no longer appropriate for us as we were able to grow our Modernism ticket sales and sponsorships beyond that level for the first time in 2022. Having the ability to increase our annual revenue beyond $50,000 would allow us to provide more and higher quality neighborhood socials and educational events, as well as provide excess funds that could be donated to local charities that are meaningful to our neighbors and neighborhood. The Vista Las Palmas Foundation 501(c)(3) will not be limited by this $50,000 revenue cap. We have informed the City and ONE-PS of our plans.
The VLPNF will take on all the responsibilities and activities of the VLPNO with no noticeable change to members, except our increased ability to generate revenue will result in an increase in the number and quality of activities and services we can provide to the neighborhood and community.
How much does our neighborhood organization spend on neighborhood events?
In 2022, we spent approximately $13,000 on Neighborhood Socials (Sunday Supper at Sol Y Sombra, Holiday Pet Parade), Education (PSPD event at V Wine Lounge), Organizing/Training (MW Docent Training) and Parties (Modernism Week Homeowner/Volunteer Party). Given the quality of these social and educational events and the number we do each year, the cost of putting them on each year amounts to over $150 per contributing member household. This did not include the cost of hosting specific Charity Events (e.g., the fundraiser event held last year for the AIDS Memorial Sculpture which was underwritten by a neighborhood host committee).
How much does our neighborhood donate to local charities and how are they chosen?
In the past, we have donated to recipients such as the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Springs, PS ModCom, the Palm Springs Police Department Toy Drive, the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Food Samaritans and The Center Community Food Bank. In 2022 the VLPNO board implemented an official donation application and review process. We solicited the neighborhood for recommendations and received 4 requests. Each was put through a due diligence process by the board, and the board awarded $5,000 to the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, $10,000 to the AIDS Memorial Sculpture, and $5,000 to The Community Food Bank (Fiscal Agent is The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert).
We believe a key part of our new mission is to bring our neighborhood together at Social events as we did March 2nd, but also to leverage the combined power of our neighborhood at those events for greater social benefit. For example, we were able to amplify our past $5,000 donation to The Center Community Food Bank with another $750 in direct neighbor contributions from the Spring Social along with 300 lbs of donated food, or previously in our street-by-street challenge, we encouraged streets in our neighborhood to match or better the donations of food and money in an organized effort. Likewise, at the VLP Annual Holiday Pet Parade, we raised more than $2,500 in neighbor donations, sponsorships and gifts, helped 2 dogs get adopted, and this last weekend we had many VLP neighbors volunteer to help for a shift at the PSAS. The charitable efforts, and the time, talent and treasure of our neighbors is one of the things of which we are most proud.
Did we give the AIDS Memorial Sculpture $62,000 of our funds?
No, when we say we raised $62,000 for the AIDS Memorial Sculpture, we mean that the VLPNO donated $10,000 from our organization, and we were able to leverage that specific fundraising event to raise another $52,000 through personal donations from community members who attended the fundraiser held at a neighbors’ home. The additional funds raised from donors went directly to DAP Health, who is holding all donations in escrow until the Memorial reaches certain fundraising thresholds. This is a model that worked very well, and is one that we’d like to continue for other charities.
Where does the rest of the money go?
In 2022, in addition to spending $13,000 towards social events and $20,000 for charitable contributions, we spent approximately $10,000 net for Modernism Week expenses (not including the $18,000 received from private and corporate sponsorships) and another $8,000 for business expenses including insurance, IT, accounting fees, marketing, etc. for a total of approximately $51,000. You can see a break-down of our income and expenses below.
What is the Giving Committee?
We are confident that our new 501(c)(3) can create more than $50,000 in revenue through Modernism Week and other revenue-generating activities. This revenue will significantly augment the amount available for neighborhood Socials and other activities for our neighbors, and we know there will be excess funds left to give to charity. We felt it was important to create a process that empowers the neighborhood to evaluate possible future charitable requests. At the Spring Social, we announced the concept of a Giving Committee with the ability for anyone contributing at the $100 donation level or above to participate in this committee. However, after listening to community feedback received at and since the Social, we have made participation in the Giving Committee open to neighbors at all donation levels. There is no limit to the number of neighbors who can volunteer for this committee, however, our attorney has said that the board is ultimately responsible for the fiscal oversight of the organization, and given the size of the donations, the Board will likely have to approve all recommendations of the Giving Committee. We are still working out the details to make this the best possible process for our neighborhood as a whole and improve on the previous bylaws of the VLPNO, which vested that process entirely at the board. We are now looking for volunteers to join the Giving Committee, if you would like to sign up please email us at vistalaspalmasfoundation@gmail.com.
What happens to the VLPNO?
Most of the existing operations of the VLPNO will carry over to VLPNF except the name and logo. We were advised by legal counsel to create a different name for the VLPNF to not cause issues with government corporate compliance as VLPNO is a 501(c)(4) and VLPNF is a 501(c)(3).
There are also two modifications that have been made to the updated VLPNF bylaws. The first is to remove references to Palm Springs Municipal law. This was a carryover from the set of bylaws that the City of Palm Springs provided to us when we were first organized. The second set of changes is to place the responsibility for modifications to the bylaws at the board level, rather than the membership level. We’ll be posting the new bylaws to our website as soon as they have been finalized by our legal counsel. If you’d like to read a draft before then, please let us know.
Now that the VLPNF is up and running, it is our plan to dissolve the VLPNO as an operating corporation as the intention is for the VLPNF to continue the stated mission and responsibilities of the VLPNO. Managing each corporation concurrently would require two separate boards with different board members and could confuse and dilute our ability to raise money and support neighborhood events as a unified organization. When the transition is complete from the VLPNO to the VLPNF, the existing ONE-PS representatives and board members will continue to represent our neighborhood on the board of the VLPNF.
We will be following up with the membership soon to propose a dissolution plan and next steps for VLPNO as none exists in the current bylaws.
What is the Butterfly Level of Membership?
At the Spring Social, we unveiled a new membership level that will allow us to aim higher in our annual fundraising targets to have even more funds available for neighborhood activities and the charities we care about as a community. We have launched the Butterfly Level at a contribution of $1,000 per household and welcome any members who have not yet paid annual dues for 2023 to contribute at this level, or any member who has already paid for 2023 to do a one-time top-up of an additional amount to get to the $1,000 level. You can send us a check or pay for your membership online. Any donations received after March 1, 2023 will qualify for a tax deduction.
As we are not operating a Modernism Week Tour in 2023, the goal is to amplify our fundraising efforts this year through this enhanced membership level as well as other special events. Initially, we announced that only members who contribute at this level would be eligible to attend an upcoming private event, but after receiving feedback from neighbors, we agree that all donors at all levels should receive the same benefits and have removed this limitation from the membership levels.
At the Spring Social, we also announced details of an upcoming special event on March 16 including a private tour and cocktail party at an architecturally significant home. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had to cancel this event. We are planning other fundraising opportunities in the coming months and welcome your participation and suggestions.
If you have any questions or comments about any of the above, we encourage you to reach out to us at vistalaspalmasfoundation@gmail.com. You can read the minutes of all board meetings and AGM meeting minutes as well as important information from our ONE-PS involvement and we encourage you to stay connected through email and by following our socials at Facebook and Instagram.
On behalf of the board for the new Vista Las Palmas Neighbors Foundation, thank you for your continued support!
Vista Las Palmas Gives Back!
Kermit Ferrer, Chair
Patsy Marino, Vice-Chair
Joe Vassallo, Secretary
Christy McMillian, Treasurer
Kevin Comer, Vince Tavani - Members at Large