Engaged Fundraising for Constellation activities
The Constellation will soon obtain the prolongation of its tax-exemption status for donations. This opens the door for Belgian Tax payers to deduct their donations to the Constellation from their annual tax declaration. Also, we will invite members from other countries to contribute if they wish to do it.
After a control visit at our office in Grez-Doiceau in April 2011, the Belgian Ministry of Finance assessed the administrative costs of the Constellation t in 2010 at 7.55% of its turn-over. The norm for tax exemption is 20% or less. "Quite a unique selling point and certainly lower than most NGOs or businesses", says Gaston Schmitz of the Constellation Support Team. “It means that the team with seven paid staff members is operating very cost-effective. It is reassuring for sponsors to know that their money will directly benefit the cause and not so much the office rent, salaries or other overhead costs that are not directly related to the operations of our organisation.
Gaétane Gilliot, member of Belcompetence and the Constellation Support Team, is coordinating the fundraising in Belgium. "We are putting an emphasis on engaged fundraising”, says Gaétane. “We want people to contribute because they truly believe and see that the Constellation can make a difference – not only in the communities it is working with but also for themselves. In return we will offer to our sponsors the inspiring results from communities: via presentations, invitations to SALT visits and why not the facilitation of the Community Life Competence Process in their own context”.
The extra attention for fundraising is part of the measures that the Constellation is taking to address financial challenges. Marlou de Rouw of CST comments: “What is beautiful in the Constellation is that the organization belongs to its members. Members share a vision. We are practicing what we preach and we mobilize our own resources to reach our dream. We all do what we can: through being who we are, with our actions, by facilitating SALT in our own context and by contributing our time, skills and experiences to the ‘stimulating and connecting local responses’. Now there is also an option for people who want to contribute financially”.
The income from donations will be used directly to resource the connecting activities in the Constellation between members, teams and communities, both face to face and virtually.
The status of ‘tax exemption’ is good news for our Belgium friends who want to donate. Every donation of 40€ or more can be deducted from your taxes. Our next step is to achieve the same status in other countries, starting in Europe”.
If you also would like to contribute financially or have ideas to fundraise in your own environment please contact Gaétane Gilliot (Gaétane@communitylifecompetence.org). Donations are welcome electronically, via our web page
Or by transfer:
Constellation, BNP Paribas Fortis
Grez-Doiceau, Belgium.
001-5790497-61
IBAN: BE62 0015 7904 9761
BIC: GEBABEBB