Each year, many Brevard County residents fail to claim their federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), pay tax prep fees, or worse yet, fall victim to expensive Refund Anticipation Loans.
Don’t spend hundreds of dollars to file your taxes when you can e-file free and receive 100% of your refund quickly – usually in just 10 days or less!
United Way’s free tax sites are now open to assist our community’s low- to moderate-income families, individuals and seniors (earning below $50,000). At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, EITC dollars can be used to reduce debt, improve job skills, build savings or take other steps to improve financial stability.
Are you eligible? You must have:
• $50,000 or less of Earned income
• A valid Social Security number
• No more than $3,150 in investment income
• Joint tax-filing status, if married
• U.S. citizenship or resident alien status for past year (in most cases)
Be sure to bring these things with you:
• Last year’s tax return (if you have it)
• Social Security cards for all family members
• All W-2’s and 1099 MISC for 2011
• Name, address and SSN/EIN of child care provider
• A photo ID (both you and your spouse if filing jointly)
• Joint returns require both filers to be present to sign
• All 1099-R forms for 2011(pensions, IRAs, retirement accounts, etc.)
Locations and times:
Mondays
(Except Feb. 6, Mar. 5, April 2)
Goodwill, Melbourne Job Center
795 South Babcock Street; Melbourne, 32901
9:00AM to 1:00PM
Tuesdays
Brevard Workforce, Titusville • 3880 S. Washington Ave., Titusville 32780
1:00PM to 7:00PM
Wednesdays
Brevard Workforce, Rockledge • 297 Barnes Blvd., Rockledge, 32955
1:00PM to 7:00PM
Thursdays
Brevard Workforce, Palm Bay • 5275 Babcock St., NE, Palm Bay 32905
1:00PM to 7:00PM
Saturdays
(Except Jan. 28)
Salvation Army, South • 1080 S. Hickory St., Melbourne 32901
9:00AM to 1:00PM
United Way of Brevard one of only two United Ways in Florida to receive Charity Navigator’s top 4-Star rating; 17 straight years of campaign increases in the workplace; 2011’s goal: $7 million
Article by Ken Datzman reprinted with permission from November 7, 2011 Brevard Business News
BBN photo – Adrienne B. Roth -- Independent evaluator Charity Navigator gave United Way of Brevard its highest rating. CN analyzes the financial health of more than 5,000 of the nation’s best-known charities. Alecia Blatter is resource development manager for United Way of Brevard in Cocoa. Rob Rains is in his 17th year leading the organization.
COCOA – Seventeen year ago, Rob Rains took charge of United Way of Brevard and began the process of building the community organization into what is viewed today as a UW model in Florida, in operations, fund-raising, fiscal effectiveness and across other critical areas of the nonprofit entity.
Even during the economic hurricane of the last three years, United Way of Brevard has delivered on its annual campaign goal, posting increases in each of those years. Rains said he is particularly proud of that achievement.
“We’re still researching the data, but we think there are very few of the 160 largest United Ways that saw increases during those three years,” he said.
“We’re very pleased. It has a lot to do with the volunteer leadership – great campaign chairs and great campaign cabinets. And this year is no exception. Our campaign chair is Howard Tipton, Brevard County manager. He has put together an outstanding group and we are going after our campaign goal of $7 million,” Rains added.
When Rains, a former banker, was named United Way of Brevard president in 1994, the campaign raised $2.2 million. During his 17 years at the helm, the organization has never lost campaign ground. Though it hasn’t always hit its campaign goal, United Way of Brevard has shown increases every one of those 17 years.
“We’re not only proud of our fund-raising efforts but also our success in running an effective and efficient operation,” Rains said.
According to a review of Internal Revenue Service 990 tax forms filed by United Ways in Florida, going back to 2009, the local United Way comes out on top in overhead comparisons.
Among the 30 or so United Ways in the state, Brevard has the lowest overhead at 9 percent, followed by Jacksonville at 10 percent and Fort Myers at 10.6 percent. Some United Ways in the state have more double the overhead of the top three organizations.
United Way of Brevard also has been singled out for its thriftiness by Charity Navigator, which bills itself as “America’s largest independent charity evaluator.” It analyzes the financial health of more than 5,000 of the nation’s best-known charities, rating them on a star scale of “0 to 4,” with the latter number being its highest award.
United Way of Brevard received a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator in late 2010. “We were one of only two United Ways in Florida to receive a 4-Star rating, of those that went through the process,” said Rains, a University of Florida graduate. The other 4-Star in the state went to Orlando.
He added, “Only about 20 percent of United Ways (across the nation) have earned a 4-Star rating. So we’re proud of that rating. It’s an independent verification of our performance.” There are roughly 1,200 United Ways in the U.S.
Charity Navigator examines two areas of a charity’s financial health – how responsibly it functions day-to-day and how well-positioned it is to sustain its programs over time.
The New Jersey-based organization recently added another dimension to its rating system, an assessment of each charity’s commitment to “accountability and transparency.” United Way of Brevard shines in both areas, according to Charity Navigator.
Fund-raising and administration are only two pieces of United Way’s operating structure. Programming and delivery of services in the community are as central to its success as the first two components, said Rains. “We are exceedingly proud of the work that we do directly in the community.”
“When I started with United Way of Brevard in 1994, the organization’s model was traditional. We raised the money in the community and gave it to the respective agencies in the county. We didn’t have much in the way of grants.”
That changed. Over the years, United Way of Brevard has been awarded multiple grants to provide a range of direct services in the county.
An example is United Way’s “Healthy Families” program. United Way receives more than $500,000 in grant money from the state to administer the program, which helps play a role in curbing child abuse and neglect in the county.
“The program participants learn about parenting skills,” said Rains, “and it gives them the tools to be successful.”
United Way of Brevard has forged partnerships with “many groups” in the county, he said.
Financial education is another area the organization is making an impact in the community. It is doing this through a program called “Money Smart,” a series of financial-management courses designed by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
“Last year, we taught more than 1,000 people through the `Smart Money’ program and we’re on track to exceed that number in 2011,” said Rains.
In addition, United Way of Brevard’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, conducted in partnership with the IRS, helped prepare more than 500 tax returns last year free of charge for area residents.
The program serves a range of people, including low-income earners, the elderly and the disabled. Many of these individuals and families qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit under IRS rules.
Working closely with the Second Harvest Food Bank, United Way of Brevard connects people with food stamps and helps them reap other benefits they qualify for, said Rains. The program is called “Benefits Connection.”
“It’s been hugely successful in making a difference in their lives. With the high unemployment, more and more people qualify for these benefits. This is a very important program.”
Rains said United Way of Brevard also has a Gifts-in-Kind program as part of its strategic plan. The last three years United Way has received donated supplies and materials from area corporations, including books, toys and clothing, totaling more than $1 million in value.
“As an organization, we are having an impact in Brevard beyond our annual campaign. With all of our programs and grants and leveraging, the total community impact is more than $18 million,” Rains said.
