Using funds raised for a specific cause for something else??
Discussion
Hi All,
A friend has raised a significant amount of money (through events / cake sales / personal donations) to be used to fight the application of a wind farm in her local vicinity. This money is in a bank account set up specifically for the purpose and is in the name of the Action Group. The donations have been primarily from the local community, through supporting events, but about 20% has come from further afield. The action group comprises of my friend, the chief driver of the action group and an independent person who is treasurer. She has now been approached by a member of the local parish council to make a donation from this fund towards a defibrillator for the village. The threat of the wind farm has been reducing, but is still a possibility.
What is the legally correct thing to do?
a) Refuse to fund the defibrillator as, the moneys raised have always been specifically for the wind farm fight and anything else would be fraudulent ?
b) Pay a portion (say 50%) of the cost of the defibrillator, which would be the first of many deserving local causes that would want funding.
There are several funding options for the defibrillator, this is just one.
Thank you in advance.
A friend has raised a significant amount of money (through events / cake sales / personal donations) to be used to fight the application of a wind farm in her local vicinity. This money is in a bank account set up specifically for the purpose and is in the name of the Action Group. The donations have been primarily from the local community, through supporting events, but about 20% has come from further afield. The action group comprises of my friend, the chief driver of the action group and an independent person who is treasurer. She has now been approached by a member of the local parish council to make a donation from this fund towards a defibrillator for the village. The threat of the wind farm has been reducing, but is still a possibility.
What is the legally correct thing to do?
a) Refuse to fund the defibrillator as, the moneys raised have always been specifically for the wind farm fight and anything else would be fraudulent ?
b) Pay a portion (say 50%) of the cost of the defibrillator, which would be the first of many deserving local causes that would want funding.
There are several funding options for the defibrillator, this is just one.
Thank you in advance.
Was this set up as a charity or just a local "action group"? How are the funds held - individual account, etc?
Guides on the structures here:
http://www.communityactionmk.org/support-and-infor...
If it is a significant sum of money, then I would suggest calling a meeting at the community hall, etc, publicise it well and talk through the revised plans and opportunities. Create a small committee to vet and approve investments, including a member of the parish council. Set up a Facebook page, etc to garner feedback, etc.
Basically be transparent and you are unlikely to get objections.
Guides on the structures here:
http://www.communityactionmk.org/support-and-infor...
If it is a significant sum of money, then I would suggest calling a meeting at the community hall, etc, publicise it well and talk through the revised plans and opportunities. Create a small committee to vet and approve investments, including a member of the parish council. Set up a Facebook page, etc to garner feedback, etc.
Basically be transparent and you are unlikely to get objections.
Edited by Vaud on Tuesday 7th April 09:52
The funds have been raised for that cause, and that cause only.
Unless they can be sure the funds will NEVER be required for that cause, they shouldn't be used elsewhere.
If I gave money for a defibrillator, and it was used to fight renewable energy, I'd be bloody furious.
Equally, I'd be furious if a cause I'd donated to then gave that money away and either later came back to ask for more or lost because of lack of funds.
Unless they can be sure the funds will NEVER be required for that cause, they shouldn't be used elsewhere.
If I gave money for a defibrillator, and it was used to fight renewable energy, I'd be bloody furious.
Equally, I'd be furious if a cause I'd donated to then gave that money away and either later came back to ask for more or lost because of lack of funds.
Inkyfingers said:
You should contact those who donated and give them the option of ... or B: receiving their money back.
Easy for those who filled in GiftAid etc forms, but if somebody says they bunged a tenner cash in, how do you prove it really was a tenner, or that it even existed?gf15 said:
What is the legally correct thing to do?
a) Refuse to fund the defibrillator as, the moneys raised have always been specifically for the wind farm fight and anything else would be fraudulent ?
b) Pay a portion (say 50%) of the cost of the defibrillator, which would be the first of many deserving local causes that would want funding.
If the application for the wind farm gets heavy next year, and you need to employ a planning consultant, but the money is not there to pay him as it's been spent on a different cause then that would cause a bit of a scandal. Even worse if the wind farm goes ahead...a) Refuse to fund the defibrillator as, the moneys raised have always been specifically for the wind farm fight and anything else would be fraudulent ?
b) Pay a portion (say 50%) of the cost of the defibrillator, which would be the first of many deserving local causes that would want funding.
The parish council will have written to all and sundry.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a trained responder for the defib in our village and it's a great idea. However, if the parties who gave funds for the wind farm also wish to put their monies to the defib, I am sure they will get chance to do so.
IMHO the right thing to do with the wind farm monies is to keep it in the bank account until the threat is all but zero.
I say spend the money on the defibrillator as wind farms are a neccessity in the current "power hungry" world we live in. I'm sure you're friend and the rest of his/her "not in my back yard" gang are happy to have the electricity, but don't want it being produced where it can be seen.
Stoofa said:
I say spend the money on the defibrillator as wind farms are a neccessity in the current "power hungry" world we live in. I'm sure you're friend and the rest of his/her "not in my back yard" gang are happy to have the electricity, but don't want it being produced where it can be seen.
Whether they are NIMBYs or not is completely irrelevant.The money was given for a particular cause so it isn't up to someone else to arbitrarily decide the money would be better spent elsewhere.
I would say the money should be left where it is for now and if the donors can't all be contacted then at least ones who can give their opinion should be asked whether they would like the money back or for it to be donated to a separate defibrillator fund.
austinsmirk said:
surely you need the wind farm to generate the electricity for the heating.........................
I'll need my coat.
Edited that for you. I'll need my coat.
To the OP: Don't think the Wind Farm has gone away. They'll be back. (And a good thing too...free energy, if only we could sort out the reliability and life issues of the complex turbines)
Totally off topic (although already broached). Quick one for the OP: if the wind farm was being built 100 miles from where you happen to live, would you be objecting?
I'm not yanking your chain, it's just I've never had the chance to speak to a NIMBY about their way of thinking and I'm genuinely intrigued. There is, of course, the option for you simply to object to wind farms in general, which would be an equally interesting chat (to some).
I'm not yanking your chain, it's just I've never had the chance to speak to a NIMBY about their way of thinking and I'm genuinely intrigued. There is, of course, the option for you simply to object to wind farms in general, which would be an equally interesting chat (to some).
Hi All,
Fantastic responses and much appreciated.
Responses to queries:
1) It is a local action group.
2) My friend has joined a support network for all Wind farms (not a NIMBY)and is an all round good sort and very caring about all.
3) Bank Account is in the name of the Action Group.
FerrariF50lover: One to discuss on another thread I think.
Fantastic responses and much appreciated.
Responses to queries:
1) It is a local action group.
2) My friend has joined a support network for all Wind farms (not a NIMBY)and is an all round good sort and very caring about all.
3) Bank Account is in the name of the Action Group.
FerrariF50lover: One to discuss on another thread I think.
Edited by gf15 on Tuesday 7th April 20:56
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