PLEASE BE AWARE: YOUR DONATIONS MAY BE ABUSED

[FCTP]

During this time of year, we are all inundated with requests for end of year donations from organizations that rely on your precious gifts.  There are many wonderful organizations that are passionate about their cause and should be supported.

 

Your local tea party is one such organization that needs support and donations.  As we head towards the 2012 Election, we will be publishing materials about Getting Your Neighbors Out to Vote, How to Work in the Polls, Research Materials on candidates and other materials about legislative issues.  We will hold smaller educational seminars and large rallies where we will bring in candidates so you can decide for yourself whom to vote for.  We will maintain an office so our presence remains throughout the 2012 election cycle.  We have a part-time office manager and we have all the bells and whistles that go along with operating an office such as telephones, cable, internet, utilities, rent and insurance. 

 

Our expenses total approximately $4,000 a month and for 2012 we need a total of $50,000 to keep our doors open.

 

You have been generous and we know that our expenses will be covered by the generosity of those who believe in the tea party cause.

 

Please be aware – there are many “national” organizations that have secured big investors and are using those dollars for large salaries for a handful of “staff.”  These large national organizations are also using a fundraising service that takes 50-75% of your donations for their fee and the remainder goes to the organization.   They send large mailings (6 – 10 pages long in large envelopes) to your home or fill your inbox with pleas for more money. 

 

Many of you have told us you donate to these large organizations and wondered how we got our “share” of those donations.  The sad story is this – we do not receive ANY monies from these national organizations and we have sent them letters telling them they are confusing our donors.  They have not replied or seem to care that we are struggling in our local communities while they receive large salaries, spend money on lavish trips and file lawsuits to keep others out of the movement. 

 

There are many of these organizations that call themselves national tea party organizations but please be aware – there is no such thing.  There is no national organization that represents the tea party movement and if you receive a large fundraising letter asking for donations to help this movement, your dollars are wasted.

 

Instead, we encourage you to donate to your local tea party and drop by our office to ensure we are real and not a fake organization.  We are working hard on your behalf and it is unfortunate that some in this movement have used it for their own personal bank accounts.  It happens anytime a good thing happens so we should have expected this.  We are disappointed in them.

 

Again, take note of where you are sending your hard earned dollars.  For any organization that asks for your money, do your digging and make sure the dollars are being used wisely and will benefit the cause and not personal pocketbooks.

 

The First Coast Tea Party hopes you will consider us as your write your end of the year donations.  Again, we have a goal of raising $50,000 as our total budget for 2012.  If you can make a donation to help us, you can do so online at www.firstcoastteaparty.org or you can send a check to:  First Coast Tea Party, 11437 Central Parkway, Suite 107, Jacksonville, FL 32224.

 

Thank you for all you have done these past 2.5 years to keep the tea party message front and center.  We have done great work and will continue to be a presence in 2012. 

 

May you be blessed as you have blessed us.

 

 

[Barbara Samuells]

Local tea paty and 912 groups are sorely in need of financial support.  The further we send our money away from our communities the more we enable misuse of our funds. Our founding fathers had it right in keeping things close to home where those who spend the money can be readily accountable to those who earn it.

From the state of our national finances we have learned critical and punishing lessons in the importance of accountability and financial stewardship

[Barry Lee Phillips]

I have already been approached by two so-called national Tea Party organizations for donations and I turned them down.  They use the same type of solicitation format used by "professional" fundraisers and I recognized that.

The only Tea Party organization that will "occupy" my wallet is the FCTP!

Good advice by Robert.  I have researched many charitable organizations using guidestar and they are a good resource for checking out who gets most of the money -- and it does not always go to those who need it the most.

I agree with Patricia.  The Salvation Army is one of the best charitable organizations in the country.  They do very good work.  I also recommend the City Rescue Mission in Jacksonville.

[Robert Rehberg]

Before making donations to "charities", please visit guidestar.org, register for free, "search" for the charity, and look at the IRS Form 990s.  It may take several tries to get to the org to "pop up" since it is listed by "official name" which may be different from "Common name".  Anyway, I always look at the financial info to see where the money goes.  As a former auditor,  I can tell you that sometimes it "ain't pretty".                                                                          

I certainly don't live in the Jax area but always follow what First Coast does.  It is one of the few TP organizations that stays "engaged" and deserves continued support.  Retired, I have made small donations twice before and will do again now.  I don't have any concern whatsoever that the money will not be used as intended.  Thanks for you for your continued efforts!

 

[Joan Secrest]

Well, that was easy!

Click the DONATE button at the top. 

I have been neglectful in putting my money where my mouth is, sorry.  Supporting the Tea Party is supporting the future of my children and my grand-children.  We know God comes first, but is there anything else that is more important than our families.  If each of us donated even $10 dollars, there wouldn't be an issue.  However, knowing there are others like me who have not done their part, I say give as much as you can.  I'm donating $10 for each of my children and my grand-children.  Not a one-time donation, I plan on donating much more often.  I know times are tough, but most of us can give up something to help.  I really, really, really want a conservative President.

[Chuck Morrison]

FCTP has grown to 7000+ members, so do the math.  If it were not for the Internet, a few "Angels" and hard-working volunteers you would be paying "dues" or FCTP would not even exist at $50,000/year.  My check is in the mail today.

[Cyndi Webster]

I live in Tallahassee.  We do not have a First Coast nor a Billie J. Tucker.  We see how much is  happening in the Jacksonville area that is directly related to their efforts and know that their work is worth much more than the amount they say they will need in 2012.  Talk about getting the most for your dollars, First Coast is exceeding even a "grinch's" expectations.  Y'all are so fortunate; my husband and I talk frequently about moving just so that we could be more active at First Coast.  It is good to count your blessings and it is necessary to honor Billie J. and the organization through volunteer support and financial help.  Sadly we can only do the latter.

[Patricia M. McBride]

Agree and thanks for sharing Billie. 

As for some of the other organizations that collect money, at this time of year, about the only one that actually does not pay huge salaries and actually puts most of the money you donate to use making things better for those they help is the Salvation Army (but don't take my word........check it out)!