RURITAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION
District Foundation
Promotion Chair Guide
National Headquarters
P O Box 487
Dublin, Virginia 24084
2016
G12
1
RURITAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION
Promotion Chair Guide---2016
Foundation History (reprint from Ruritan Saga Book) page 1-4
Organization of Foundation page 5
District Training Schools Talk Sheet page 6
Foundation Growth page 7-9
Educational Grant Program page 9-10
Fund Raising Programs page 10-15
· Build Your Dollars Program page 10
· Effective changes BY$ program for fiscal year 10/1/09-9/30/10 page 10
· Birthday Funds page 11
· Effective changes for year ending 9/30/2010 (certificates/plaques) page 11
· Tom Downing page 11
· Establishing a Permanent Fund ($1000) page12
· Establishing a Memorial Fund page 12-13
· 21ST Century Legacy Fund page 13
· Cornerstone Fund page 13
· Friends of the Foundation Fund page 13-14
· Special Permanent Funds ($20,000) page 13
· Virginia Tech Memorial Scholarship Fund page 14-15
· Gifts page 15
· Estate Planning Page 15
Special Projects page 15-17
· Operation We Care (OWC). page 15-16
· Operation We Care Umbrella Fund page 16
· Changes effective for year ending 9/30/2010 (certificates/plaques) Page 16
· Fellowship Weekend Annually page 16
· Garland Gray Awards page 16
· College Partnerships page 16
· D-Day Memorial page 16
· $$$Million Dollar Club$$$ program page 16-17
Guidelines for “Build Your Dollars” Grant page 18
Areas of Concerns in Reviewing Student Applications page 19
Information to Receive Student Applications page 20
Instructions for Submitting Student Applications page 21
Regular Student Application page 22-27
Operation We Care Information page 28
Operation We Care Situation Report page 29
HISTORY OF RURITAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION
(Reprint from Ruritan Saga Book)
At a meeting of the Executive Committee of Ruritan National on December 28, 1949, attended by National President Garland Gray, Executive Secretary Marvin Gray, Past National Presidents L. T. Hall and Charlie E. Myers (National Secretary Tom Downing was absent), a check for $1,000.00 was presented to Executive Secretary Marvin Gray by President Garland Gray for deposit to the Ruritan National account in a Special Education Fund. This contribution by President Garland equaled the amount of reimbursement he had received from Ruritan National for his expenses during the year a president.
The purpose of this special fund was to provide financial assistance through scholarship loans to deserving young people who planned to continue their formal education after graduation from high school.
The following year Ruritan National President Curtis Old, at a meeting of the Board of Directors in May, appointed three members to make recommendations regarding use of the educational fund. Members of this Committee were: Garland Gray, L. T. Hall, and C. E. Myers.
The fund remained dormant, retaining its $1,000.00 balance, plus accrued interest, until the year 1957. At that time one student, name unknown, was loaned $250.00 for educational use.
The next year, a second loan in the amount of $500.00 was made to Charlotte Sims.
By the end of 1960, both loans had been repaid. The fund balance at that time, including principal and interest, amounted to $1,164.00
In September, 1964, Marvin L. Gray, Ruritan National Executive Secretary, died. It was requested by his family that flowers be omitted and instead that contributions be made to the Educational Fund. A total of $755.00 was contributed.
On August 30, 1965, H. I. Davis, a member of the National Board of Directors, also died. A gift of $3,000.00 was received by Ruritan National from his brothers and sister to provide a recognition program in his memory. Acceptance of the gift by the Board was subject to mutual agreement concerning the kind of recognition to be made.
The family initially proposed a loving cup to be awarded to the district with the highest percent attendance at the national convention.
When advised of the problems involved in administering such a program, the family suggested an annual award to be given to “The Outstanding Ruritan of the Year”. The Board felt that this program would also be difficult to administer.
The Board suggested to the family that a permanent fund be established in a foundation. Any gifts to such a fund would be tax deductible to the donor. The family agreed to put this money in escrow pending acceptance of its use.
Because of continued delays in establishing a tax exempt foundation, the family requested the funds be returned. This request was complied with by the Ruritan National Board, with regrets expressed to the family.
During this time, the Board’s attention was called to the problems related to gifts that were subject to restriction imposed by the donor. As a result, a policy was later formulated and approved.
In December 1968, Ruritan National Vice President Wendell Simmons died. The affection and esteem of his fellow Ruritans was expressed through the establishment of the Wendell Simmons Memorial Fund. At the end of one year from the time the first contribution was received, more than $3,000.00 had been added to the fund.
A third fund was established prior to 1970 by W. S. Jansen, a Ruritan member from Ohio, who contributed $1,000.00 in memory of his wife. This fund was named the Mary E. Jansen Memorial Fund.
The net worth of these three special funds at the end of the sixties, including the amount of loans made to students, amounted to more than $5,000.00.
The responsibility for administering these funds was assigned to the Ruritan National Education Committee from 1964 to 1970. Past National President Garland Gray was appointed in 1964 to serve as the first Chairman of this Committee by National President Russell Burgess. He continued to serve as a member of the Committee until 1969. R. E. Thompson, Ruritan National Treasurer, served as Chairman of the Committee from 1966 to 1970.
By action of the National Board of Directors in August, 1965, the name of the Educational Fund was changed to “The Garland Gray and Marvin Gray Educational Loan Fund”.
It was at this meeting that 1963 Ruritan National President Harold Singleton recommended that the Planning and Survey Committee be instructed to investigate the possibility of establishing a Ruritan National Foundation that would be eligible to receive gifts that could be counted as a tax deduction by donors. It was Harold’s feeling at this time that funds from such a Foundation could also be used to help fellow Ruritans in need as a result of a catastrophe.
Policy for administering the Education Loan Fund was approved by the Board at the January, 1966 meeting to wit:
Any qualified high school graduate who had need of financial assistance to continue his or her formal education would be eligible to make application for a loan not to exceed $500.00. All loans to be interest free until one year after graduation or withdrawal from school. At this time, a charge of four percent interest would be due on any unpaid principal amount. Each application would have to be submitted with letters of reference from two Ruritan members.
At this meeting of the Board, Executive Secretary Russell Burgess was appointed to serve as Ex Officio member of the Education Committee.
At a meeting in March, 1967, the Board, upon recommendation of Past National President Edwin H. Ragsdale, who was serving as the Chairman of the Planning and Survey Committee, approved the establishment of a Ruritan National Foundation.
The Board, at its August 1967 meeting, approved an amendment to the Ruritan National Constitution, which was to be voted on by the delegates attending the 40th Annual Convention held at Virginia Beach, in January, 1968.
The amendment, as approved, provided for the establishment of a Foundation to manage and maintain a Trust for the encouragement, promotion, and financing of the charitable, educational, and benevolent principles and activities of Ruritan clubs and Ruritan National.
Further, the approval provided that an agreement be entered into between Ruritan National and the Ruritan National Foundation for the proper administration of the Foundation by a five-member Board of Trustees to be initially appointed by the National President. Thereafter, Trustees were to be elected at the national convention for five year terms. This agreement also provided that the Ruritan National Foundation, both to its purpose and its operation, meet all the requirements necessary for a tax exempt Foundation under the Internal Revenue Code of the United States.
The first Trustees of the Foundation were appointed by National President Charles Allen, immediately after the 1968 National Convention. They were: Robert F. Smith, Past National President, Chairman; Harold B. Singleton, Past National President; Frank Kellam, Past National President; Charles Barrett and Keith Snyder, both Past National Directors.
General policy regarding the successful establishment and administration of the Foundation was approved by these men and those who were elected to succeed them in office until present time.
Policy approved that:
The Foundation Funds were to be used only for educational purposes.
A permanent fund, to be identified by name must equal or exceed $1,000.00.
A Ruritan National Foundation emblem was adopted.
No more than one half of principal funds could be used for loans at any one time.
Interest received would be used for awarding of grants.
A Foundation brochure be printed.
A donor may be allowed to make certain stipulations regarding a gift, provided the total amount is not less than $10,000.00 and so long as the stipulations are not in conflict with the purposes of the Foundation.
The Trustees continued to publicize and promote the Foundation program through distribution of the brochure sent to all clubs, by monthly reports in the Ruritan magazine, personal contact, and correspondence.
As a result of all these efforts, the Foundation grew from a total of $7,400.00 (the amount received from the Education Committee in 1970, including notes receivable from students) to a total of $72,000.00 in 1978.
Because of his personal interest in the Foundation program, Ruritan National President Robert Wrenn proposed, at the beginning of the 50th Anniversary Year, that each Ruritan member contribute $1 to the Foundation in commemoration of the anniversary.
Twenty-nine permanent funds were established during this period since the first fund in 1949 and approximately 20 additional funds have been started in the same time, through 1978.
The continued support of Ruritan members and clubs has made it possible for more deserving young people to receive financial assistance to continue their formal education. There is no way to measure the value of a grant until someone devises a way to measure the values of a life itself and how life’s values are enhanced by a broader educational experience. However, ask any one of the deserving students who have been helped through this program and you can be assured of a thankful response.
Such is the Ruritan principle continuing to minister to the needs of deserving people.
RURITAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC
Ruritan National Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 Not for Profit Association that is administered by five National Trustees who are Ruritan members.
These Trustees meet at least twice a year to conduct the business of the National Foundation. Delegates at the 1968 Ruritan National Convention in Virginia Beach, Virginia, amended the Ruritan National Constitution to establish the Ruritan National Foundation and provide for the election of its five trustees. Trustees are elected at National Conventions and serve a five-year term.
Mission Statement
THE RURITAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS FOR EDUCATIONAL, CHARITABLE, AND BENEVOLENT ACTIVITIES”.
Purpose
The purpose of the Ruritan National Foundation is to manage and maintain a trust for the encouragement, promotion and financing of the charitable, educational and benevolent principles and activities of Ruritan clubs and of Ruritan National. Significant elements of the Ruritan National Foundation are its educational grant programs. These programs assist students in furthering their formal education past high school.
Grant Program
Ruritan National Foundation issues regular grants, which are awarded to students on the basis of financial need, character, scholarship and the applicant’s desire for higher education. The “Build Your Dollars” are awarded to students selected by a Ruritan club (see page 9). Regular grants, unlike the “Build Your Dollars” program, are awarded to students selected by the National Foundation Trustees.
Completed applications must be submitted for grants by April 1st of each year. Grant applications are available on line at http://Ruritan.org under Foundation information. Applications are also available by contacting:
Ruritan National Foundation
P O Box 487
Dublin VA 24084
Email: foundation @ruritan.org
(540) 674-5431 extension 302
Toll-Free (877) 787-8727
Source of Funds
Primary funding for the Ruritan National Foundation comes from cash donations. Foundation donations are applied to any fund or funds designated by the donor, but only the donor are credited for the donation. In other words, a check from a club or district may not be counted as a donation from an individual nor can a check from an individual be counted as a donation from a club or district. All donations to Ruritan National Foundation are tax deductible. Gifts to the National Foundation in honor or memory of an individual are welcome. Outright gifts to assist students are gratefully received. Gifts of any size may be given to the National Foundation in memory of a deceased individual, in lieu of flowers. In this case, the family of the deceased will be notified of the gift. Appropriate gifts may include cash or appreciated property such as stocks or bonds. The Foundation may also be listed as the beneficiary of an insurance policy. Ruritan and friends are encouraged to remember the Foundation in their wills and trusts.
Use of Funds
The financial assets of the Ruritan National Foundation are invested by the National Trustees. Earned income from these investments is given as scholarships to further students’ education or training beyond high school. All applicants for grants must submit an application to the Trustees. The National Foundation must receive all completed applications for grants by April 1st of each year.
1. District Training Schools Talk Sheet
Responsibilities
a. National Trustees:
Manage and maintain a trust for the encouragement, promotion and financing of the charitable, educational and benevolent principles and activities of Ruritan clubs and of Ruritan National.