Forward Alliance

Committee dedicated to improving the understanding of and access to financial resources for people with disabilities and their families.

Ginny Powell & Ed LeahyOmaha EITC Coalition

• Mission: The Omaha EITC Coalition promotes the claiming of tax credits through quality volunteer tax return preparation with a goal of providing educational tools and community resources for family asset development.

• Vision: The Coalition promotes financial stability through empowered customers who use tax credits and tax refunds to own and maintain assets.

• Values: Inclusiveness, Non-partisanship, Customer Empowerment, and Quality Service

Omaha EITC CoalitionBuilding Assets One Taxpayer at a Time!

Success in the Field-How do we do it?•Find a champion …to help…

•Educate staff …so they…

•Ask clients …where are you now, and…

•Educate clients …where you can be, then…

•Use the answers …to…

•Become a trusted resource …and…•Make a difference!

Not this field

Goodwill IndustriesGoodwill’s Mission: Goodwill Changes Lives and Strengthens Communities through Education, Training, and Work.

▫Goodwill Industries is an agency partner in the Omaha EITC Coalition

▫Goodwill staff serve as an Advisory Board member, subcommittee chair, volunteer trainer and tax preparer

▫Give and receive complimentary, not competing services

▫Provide meeting space for Coalition meetings, subcommittees, and special events

Educate your staff

•All volunteers receive disability awareness training

•Training on tax implications and credits relating to disability issues

•Refreshers right before the tax season

Ask your clients

•Survey that gathers socioeconomic information

•Money Menu•Tax Preparation discussion

PWD Troublesome BillsPast due utility bills

16%

Credit cards7% Back child support

1%

Medical bills8%

Car loan2%

Student loans2%

Mortgage or back rent7%

Not having trouble w/bills58%

Tax Year 2010 PWD Refund Use

Pay d

own

cred

it ca

r or a

loan

Pay h

ouse

/rent

Pay u

tiliti

es (e

lect

ric, g

as, p

hone

)

Catch

up

on h

ouse

pay

men

ts/a

void

fore

clos

ure

Put in

exis

ting

acco

unt

Put in

C.D

Open

new s

avin

gs a

ccou

nt

Put in

oth

er in

vest

men

ts

Buy a

car o

r a m

ajor

app

lianc

e

Recre

atio

nal u

se o

r vac

atio

n

Spent

it

Spent

som

e, sa

ved

som

e, a

nd/ o

r inv

este

d so

me

Will

not

get

a re

fund

Owes

IRS

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Educate Clients

•Understanding taxes•Public Benefits screening•Credit reports•Prescription Assistance programs•Referrals to other supports in the community

Intersection of Tax Preparation and Taxpayer Education

Educational Interview &

Personal Financial Goals

Significant Taxpayer Involvement at Every

Step

Promotion of Services, Referrals,

and Broader Financial Education

Split

Ref

und

Bonds

Benefi

ts

Debit

Drugs

Bank

Acct

Credi

t

Amer

ica

Save

sID

A

Fin. E

d.

Coach

ing

Volun

teer

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Money Menu Services

Bank on the Heartland

•Coalition was a founding partner •VITA provides the most meaning outreach

of the effort to connect people to banks and credit unions

Using the Answers

You have a ton of research; what are you doing with it?

•Check your effectiveness•Design new offerings•Build new partnerships•Educate the community•Influence Policy

Two-Year Comparison of Banked PWD

2010

2009

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

BankUn-Banked

PWD Refund Use

Paid

Bills

Saved

it

Bough

t a ca

r or a

maj

or a

pplia

nce

Recre

atio

nal u

se o

r vac

atio

n

Spent

it

Spent

som

e, sa

ved

som

e, a

nd/ o

r inv

este

d so

me

Did n

ot g

et a

refu

nd

Owes

IRS

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

20092010

Forward Alliance-Action Steps• Improved Volunteer Training on Disability

Issues

• Incorporated outreach activities year-round

• Increase VITA sites in disability agencies

• Formalized Forward Alliance Committee, developing a more intentional relationship with NDI, and expanding membership in Forward Alliance

Forward Alliance Campaign• Raise Awareness of the Needs of Persons with Disabilities

▫ Sensitivity Training for our Members▫ Public Outreach at VITA Sites

• Persons with Disabilities are a year-round focus▫ Over 5 years, 10% of our customers are Persons with

Disabilities▫ Research shows 83% of Persons with Disabilities never

filed for a tax credit• Connect Taxpayers with Resources

▫ Free tax preparation▫ Screening for Public Benefits Eligibility▫ Awareness of Drug Assistance Programs▫ Housing Programs & Education

Become a Trusted Resource

Turning a Transaction into a Relationship

20050

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Tax Prep GrowthN

um

ber

of

Retu

rns

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Came Last YR

Media Family/Friend

Referred

Walked By

Other0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Site Recognition

201020092008

Make a Difference!

•VITA Impact in the Metro Area

VITA’s 2011 Value to Omaha

Service Process Value

Savings on Tax Prep Fees

5072 returns x $220 (average tax prep fee)

$1,115,840

EITC Refund Impact $2,467,084 x $1.50 (estimated economic impact per EIC dollar)

$3,700,626

Total Refunds Most often spent to reduce debt, pay bills, or buy a major appliance.

$8,261,321

Volunteer Hours 6159 hours x $21.36 (value of volunteer time)

$131,556

Credit Report Counseling

196 x $100 (cost to pull score, counsel client)

$19,600

Bank Accounts $100 x 85 accounts $8,500

ITIN Applications $75 x 126 accounts $9,450

Total $13,246,893

At Your Service

Ed LeahyDirectorOmaha EITC Coalition3605 Q StOmaha, NE 68107C: (402) 250-9781O: (402) 546-1013, ext. 6210F: (402) 734-8887omahaeitc@cox.net

www.fhasinc.orgwww.facebook.com/OmahaEITC

Ginny PowellCustomer Connect ManagerGoodwill Industries4805 N 72nd StreetOmaha, NE 68134O: 402-231-1939vpowell@goodwillomaha.orgwww.goodwillomaha.org