General Kindervelt Finance Questions

WHY DO KINDERVELT MEMBERS SEND $10 DUES TO THE CITY TREASURER?

Dues cover operating expenses for the newsletter. None of Kindervelt’s operating expenses are paid with project money sent in by the groups.

WHEN ARE THE $10 DUES PAYABLE?

Group treasurers should collect the dues from their members and send a group check to the citywide treasurer by October 15 of each fiscal year. If a new member joins a group after October 15, the $10 dues will be collected and sent to the citywide treasurer immediately. For further clarification of the payments of dues, see the General Information sheet in the President’s Survival Kit.

WHAT ARE WAYS IN WHICH GROUPS CAN OBTAIN FUNDS TO COVER OPERATING EXPENSES?

Groups can do this by charging more than the $10 citywide dues, with the additional amount remaining in their own treasury. This is categorized as a “Sunshine Fund” from which groups pay for operating expenses not related to a project. Examples are: cards, flowers, sponsor a family during the holidays and postage. None of the group’s operating expenses are paid with project money raised to be sent to the citywide treasurer for our annual gift to Cincinnati Children’s. Project expenses come out of project proceeds.

IS IT ETHICAL TO USE FUNDS RAISED IN THE NAME OF “KINDERVELT” FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN THE DONATION TO CINCINNATI CHILDREN’S AND THE FUNDING OF PROJECTS AND EVENTS?

NO! The money has been raised for Cincinnati Children’s. Any monies needed for operating expenses of the group can be raised by using the following suggestions: charge each member an additional amount along with the annual dues, bake sale within the group, white elephant sale within the group or any other group approved means to raise the needed money for the group.

WHY SHOULD PROJECT MONEY BE SENT TO THE CITYWIDE TREASURER IMMEDIATELY UPON COMPLETION OF A PROJECT?

The Citywide Treasury earns interest on all of the money in the account. The group checking account does not earn interest. By sending the completed project money to the citywide treasurer it can be deposited and earn interest, which in turn allows Kindervelt to give a larger gift to Cincinnati Children’s.

CAN KINDERVELT GROUPS REQUEST THAT SOME OF THEIR MONEY BE RETURNED ONCE IT HAS BEEN SENT TO THE CITYWIDE TREASURER?

Yes. If a group has the need for start up money for a new project the Citywide Treasurer can be contacted. She can make arrangements to give money back to the group within the fiscal year sent or a loan may be requested by the group if it is past the fiscal year the money was sent (Review procedures in Survival Kit).

CAN KINDERVELT GROUPS SIGN CONTRACTS?

Yes. Before signing, it is extremely important to check the “Rules of Procedure for Kindervelt Groups” in the Survival Kit. There are specific guidelines to follow. Example: Any contract for $500 or more must be approved by the board of trustees before it is entered into by the group. Also, all contracts need to be reviewed by the legal department at Cincinnati Children’s before they are entered into by the group.

WHAT IS A SURVIVAL KIT?

The Survival Kit contains useful information about Kindervelt that is given to each group president at the President’s Council meeting in June. The main purpose of the Survival Kit is to provide information for the president that will make carrying out her duties easier. It also contains information pertinent to the other officers of a group so everyone is well informed of duties.

WHAT IS THE ANNUAL REPORT?

It is a compilation of the groups’ activities and financial statement to the city treasury, as well as the auditor’s report and the historian’s report. It is distributed to each Kindervelt president, board of trustee members and to selected associates of Cincinnati Children’s at the Annual Meeting.