July 1, 2014
(updated 3/21/16)
History of KC HOPE
March 2011 – The idea was generated to establish a charitable foundation for King County employees by King County employees similar to programs at the City of Seattle and WSDOT. Name had been identified as HOPE – Helping Our People in Emergencies.
September 2011 – King County Human Resources Director, Nancy Buonanno Grennan contacted and asked for assistance to establish task force to establish KC HOPE.
September 2011-October 2011 – Recruiting volunteers to participate in task force
November 1, 2011 – Inaugural meeting of task force to determine steps to setting up program.
January 2012 – Initial by-laws developed, Officers elected, work tasks assigned.
Research into requirements for setting up non-profit researched and order in which they needed to happen.
Over the course of 2012, bylaws were finalized, program guidelines established and everything was completed so that we could incorporate with the State of Washington and then file with IRS for 501 (c) 3 status.
The board was reduced to 5 active members, as the original group was unwieldy for doing the work required to get established and interest was hard to maintain because the process was so long and challenging. Pro-bono legal assistance was obtained to review our documents prior to filing. Tax ID number obtained, bank account established, logo developed.
The founding 5 members each donated $100 to get the process started.
January 2013 the Articles of Incorporation were filed with Washington State.
July 2013 the 501 (c) 3 application was filed. We also sent notices to the King County Exceutive, Council and Unions affiliated with King County that we were starting this program and were raising funds.
August 2013, we received notice from the IRS that we would receive information in 90 days as to the status of our application.
October 2013, we contacted the IRS to obtain status of our application. We were told 90 days was unrealistic, we could expect it would take 60 months.
January 2014, we contacted the IRS to obtain status of our application. We were told they were working on applications from May 2012, and to not expect anything any time soon.
June 2014, we received our 501 (c) 3 designation.
We are now in the process of raising funds and awareness so that we can open the program to applications for assistance.
March 2015 501 (c) 3 status changed to public charity from private foundation
May 2015 First grant awarded to applicant needing assistance
December 2015 Total grants of $3,475.00 made to 3 recipients in 2015. All 3 recipients were either near homelessness or homeless and awards greatly assisted in preventing or fixing the situation.
2016 Update – as of 4/1/16 we have helped 2 more individuals. One needing assistance with food due to extended hospital stay and one needing rental assistance due to spousal abandonment.