Guidelines for Matching Funds Requests

Effective 01/01/2008

Please review these guidelines carefully as you plan your Chapter/Federation public relations/recruiting program.

First, EVERY Matching Funds request received at NARFE Headquarters MUST include the name and address of the Chapter/Federation officer designated to receive the Matching Funds check. No request will be accepted or processed at Headquarters without this information.

Second, every Chapter and Federation that receives Matching Funds is REQUIRED to provide an "After Action Report" on how the money was spent, including receipts, as well as what was accomplished. This report MUST reach National Headquarters as soon as possible following completion of the project. A copy of the After Action Report, with copies of the receipts, must also be sent to the Federation President. Failure to provide such a report will affect the Chapter or Federation's future Matching Funds requests. Similar to request for Matching Funds, this report can be mailed or e-mailed to the address below.

It must be remembered that the "Matching Funds" program was conceived to be a financial assistance to Chapter or Federations for Public Relations and/or Membership Recruitment advertising. Proposals that include advertising will receive priority consideration.

As in the past, no Matching Funds will be approved for large-scale "free memberships". Also, proposals for money to be spent on current members will not be approved. If a Chapter or Federation seeks to publicize an event or special meeting to the general public, such a request will be considered. No request for an amount less than $100. will be considered, and requests for Matching Funds to purchase NARFE logo banners will no longer be accepted.

The procedure to request matching funds is:  First, determine the nature of your PR/Membership Recruiting proposal. This must be as detailed as possible. For instance, if you are planning to run advertisements in the local paper announcing a chapter meeting, maybe with a guest speaker that would be of interest to the general public, you'll need to include the cost of the ads, the size of the ads, the potential general audience and the potential number of prospective members who might see and respond to the ad. [NOTE: All newspaper ads must be at least 1/4 page in size and be run for a minimum of three times.]

Second, once this is determined, submit all of the information to your Federation President. The Federation President will then examine the proposal and send it to National Headquarters. [The Federation President's recommendation will play a role in evaluating the request, but is not the final dispensation.] Also, if it is feasible, the Federation might offer to add some state funds to the local funds, increasing the money national will match. For example, a chapter develops a proposal that will cost $600. An amount of $300. will come from the chapter and the request would be for $300. from National. If the Federation agrees to add $100., National would then match $400., allowing the chapter to increase its budget to $800., which would further enhance the outreach program. Proposals from Federation should be transmitted directly to National by the Federation President.

All Matching Funds requests, as well as all After Actions Reports, can be mailed to NARFE Public Relations, 606 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314 or via e-mail to pubrel@narfe.org.

The National PR Office is available to discuss proposals and offer assistance in designing them, if requested. If you have a question on the eligibility of a Matching Funds proposal, call PR at (703) 838-7760, ext. 369 or via e-mail to pubrel@narfe.org.