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We recognize that there are questions on many topics. We've tried to group them accordingly so that finding the answer to a specific topic is easier.
Earth Share of New Jersey was formed by its members to coordinate workplace campaigns on their behalf. It is extremely rare that a single agency is allowed to participate in the planning and coordination of workplace campaigns, due to the burden this would create for the employer. Additionally, because Earth Share of New Jersey centrally processes all of the checks and pledges from workplace campaigns across the country and distributes the funds and donor information monthly, it eases the administrative burden to individual members thus lowering their expenses.
They must be primarily dedicated to protecting the environment, and meet extensive standards set by the Board of Directors as well as Congress for the CFC. One of these requirements is that administrative overheads must be less than 25% of total support and revenue. Additionally, they must demonstrate that they are fiscally responsible and maintain an environmental mission.
The Board of Directors is composed of representatives from each of the Affiliate members. There are currently 16 Affiliate members on the board and one At Large representative. The staff of Earth Share of New Jersey is directly responsible to its members (local and national organizations), and the Directors establish the policies under which Earth Share of New Jersey operates.
Earth Share of New Jersey has no policy regarding how member groups can use their donations except that they are used responsibly and in the best interests of the member group and the environment. Funds are frequently used for program development, research, education, public relations, administration, equipment, or any other way the group chooses. All Earth Share member organizations are tax-exempt because they engage in charitable, scientific or educational activities, and, as such, only engage in very limited amounts of political lobbying or advocacy work.
Earth Share of New Jersey local members pay a one-time application fee to be considered for membership. This payment is cashed only if the organization is accepted into membership. The purpose of this fee is to accommodate the inclusion of the member in marketing and promotional material and the processing of their membership application. There are no annual fees paid.
Earth Share of New Jersey members realize the benefit of representation in workplace campaigns across the state. Their organization is listed as a charitable contribution option on campaign literature, Earth Share of New Jersey promotional brochures, newsletters and website. Members are physically represented and referenced during speaking engagements, agency fairs, tabling events and corporate meetings with employers. They realize reduced administrative expenses as workplace contribution checks are issued in a lump sum quarterly, eliminating the need to process multiple checks monthly. They are given the opportunity to coordinate corporate volunteer events and participate in corporate activities that are reserved for charities with which they have a relationship. Earth Share of New Jersey organizations are in front of more than 500,000 New Jersey citizens annually as a result of their membership.
Campaign contributions are distributed to members quarterly. Designations to a particular organization are given to that organization. Undesignated money is distributed to Affiliate members in proportion to their involvement in the organization. This is determined by the Membership committee and is based on each organizations efforts on behalf of Earth Share of New Jersey in the year that a campaign takes place.
Policy is made and enforced by the Earth Share of New Jersey Board of Directors.
There are many ways in which a donor can support Earth Share of New Jesrey. They can do so through payroll contribution, individual donation or gift of time, talent or treasure.
There are 15 Earth Share organizations across the country. In addition to the National office in Washington, DC, there are Earth Shares in California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New England, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Earth Shares also work very closely with the Environmental Funds for every state in the country.
A payroll contribution campaign is an opportunity for non-profit federations like Earth Share to go into workplaces and, as part of an internally-organized campaign, ask employees to make a donation. This can be a direct cash or check donation, but most employees authorize a deduction to be made from their paychecks on a regular basis. These donations might be withheld weekly, biweekly, or monthly, depending on the payroll system of the employer. On a monthly or quarterly basis the employer sends Earth Share a check representing all the pledges made to Earth Share and/or its member organizations during the previous campaign year. Earth Share then distributes this money to its member organizations.
This is a powerful form of fundraising. It allows the federation to solicit large numbers of people in an organized, efficient, and cost-effective manner. Commonly, people who might write a one-time check for $25.00 may as easily consider a $2.00 donation per pay period. If there are twenty-six annual pay periods that would result in a $52.00 annual gift. Similarly, an individual may have a membership with your organization, but through payroll contribution his/her annual gift will significantly exceed the actual membership cost.
Internally, most campaigns are headed by an appointed Campaign Chair, who then calls upon all departments to appoint Department Coordinators. In turn, Department Coordinators choose assistants known as Donor Representatives or Key Workers. These "front line" workers directly solicit their fellow employees, encouraging them to donate during the campaign.
Earth Share of New Jersey, along with other participating federations, coordinates the logistics of the campaign with the Chair and Department Coordinators. In larger campaigns, like the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) or State Employee Campaigns, a lead federation is selected through a contract bidding process in each campaign location around the country to professionally administer the campaign.
A campaign will usually run from two to six weeks, depending on the number and location of employees, and usually occurs sometime between early September and late November. However, the planning process begins long before that. Not only does Earth Share of New Jersey have to design its own materials, such as a video presentation, brochure, poster, and pledge form, we also help develop joint campaign materials for large combined campaigns. In addition, Earth Share of New Jersey assists in training the Coordinators and Donor Representatives on how to run the campaign in their departments, and how to use the campaign materials. When the campaign begins, Earth Share of New Jersey, its members and affiliates are often asked to participate in publicity events in the workplace.
At the end of the campaign, pledges and donations are picked-up, tallied, and entered into the payroll records. Donor and coordinator thank-you letters and campaign evaluations close out the campaign season in January and February.
Earth Share of New Jersey can help a multi-state company operate a campaign in any state in the country. This is already done for corporate campaigns such as American Express, Hewlitt Packard, Walmart and Home Depot.
Earth Share of New Jersey can easily be added to any company’s existing program. All that is needed is the addition of the new charity to their list or payroll service. All payroll service providers are able to do this. Corporations that process their own payroll are also able to support Earth Share campaigns. Earth Share of New Jersey will work with any company to help get their program updated. Our philosophy is that more choice leads to more participation. This has also been realized in corporate campaigns across the country.
Earth Share of New Jersey will work with any company to implement and, if necessary, customize their workplace contribution program. Providing employees with the benefit of seamless, payroll contribution is something that enhances an employer’s ability to meet the need of employees and the community.
There is not currently an individual membership program. However, individual donors are always welcome to help support our efforts.
Any environmental non-profit can contact the Earth Share of New Jersey office for membership information. Candidates are identified in February. Membership applications are distributed in March and returned in April. Qualified candidates are presented to the board for voting in May, and they are welcomed into membership in June. New applicants begin participating in campaigns the following year. This is due to many campaigns requiring applications one year prior to when they occur.
Yes, if you itemize your deductions.
Only if the donor requests an acknowledgment for their donation. Many public employee campaigns like the CFC restrict charities from releasing donor names and selling or trading donor lists. Charities in violation of this restriction are subject to disqualification from the campaign, or, in the worst case scenario, the entire federation may be disqualified from participating in the campaign. Earth Share encourages its members to accord membership privileges to workplace donors, but not to solicit them for additional gifts by phone or mail.
Yes, a gift can be changed or canceled at your request.
Pledges usually take affect on January 1, but there are some campaigns organized in the spring, with eductions taken for a 12 month period starting at the beginning or end of another month.
Sixty percent of the gifts designated to Earth Share of New Jersey stay in New Jersey and are distributed amongst the local affiliate members. Forty percent of the gifts are distributed amongst the National members. Earth Share of New Jersey does not keep your gift or ask our members to submit funding requests. Your gift is for the environmental agencies we represent and that is where it goes.
Earth Share of New Jersey's overhead costs are currently 6.5%.
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