Potential Funding Sources for CASA

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
Some recommendations
Combined Federal Campaign
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)
Interest On Lawyer's Trust Accounts (IOLTA)
Other Possible Funding Sources

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)

When the National CASA Association successfully secured recognition of CASA in federal legislation in the Fall of 1988, the door also opened for local CASA programs to tap into federal funding.

The potential source of revenue is formula block grant money from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), a division of the U.S. Department of Justice. OJJDP has been a long-time supporter of CASA, and provides a high percentage of the National CASA Association's funding. The agency also provides money to states. These funds are administered as formula block grants. They are awarded each year for a variety of delinquency prevention and juvenile justice system improvement programs in local communities.

OJJDP formula grant money is awarded to each participating state and territory. Each state and territory receives a minimum allotment. The remaining formula grant funds are divided among the states and territories based on their relative population of persons under age 18. Four states currently are not participating in the program: Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Each participating state must submit a state plan to OJJDP outlining how funds will be used. Once the plan is approved by OJJDP, each state determines how funds are to be distributed within the state to carry out the plan. Funds can be used for virtually any program to reduce or prevent delinquency or improve the juvenile justice system. This includes programs that deal with areas as diverse as restitution, drug abuse prevention, school crime, and serious juvenile offenders.

The funds are funneled through a state agency designated by the Governor. State Advisory Groups (SAG's) help administer the formula grant program in each state. SAG's are comprised of volunteers appointed by the governor of each state who have training or experience in either the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency or the administration of justice. Members include elected officials, representatives of local government agencies, and representatives of private organizations within their state.

SAG's have varied responsibilities within their states, including: advising the Governor and the legislature on pertinent youth issues; supervising the preparation and administration of the comprehensive state juvenile justice plan; reviewing and overseeing the award of grants, and reviewing the progress and accomplishments of programs under their plans.

State plans are generally devised in the beginning of the fiscal year, which begins October 1. However, according to OJJDP, it is not uncommon for states to be late in submitting their plans, or for the plans to change in midyear.

In order for your CASA program to obtain OJJDP formula grant money, you need to build a relationship with your SAG or state agency to make them aware of why you deserve the funding.

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• Begin by writing or calling the National CASA Association. We will provide CASA programs with the name of the SAG or state agency director in your state.
• Pool your efforts. CASA programs in each state should work jointly through the state CASA office to pursue the funding rather than competing with one another by going after the grants separately.
• Check with your state political connections to find out as much as possible about the members of the group, and who they have funded in the past. Try to determine if the group is the actual decision-maker, or if it serves as a rubber stamp for someone else's decisions.
• Get a copy of your state's "plan" for OJJDP moneys. This should be available through your Governor's office.
• If you have determined that the "funding power" actually lies within the SAG or state agency, make an appointment to do a 15 minute presentation on CASA at the group's next meeting. Remember that OJJDP funds focus on delinquency prevention, so stress the proven connections between abuse and delinquency, and CASA's effectiveness in improving conditions for youth. If a politically influential judge or community leader is affiliated with your program, ask them to go with you.
• Inquire about the possibility of future funding through the OJJDP formula grants. Tell the group how much money you need, and how it will be used.
• Take along a copy of the recent federal legislation calling for the support of CASA programs (available from National CASA).
• Cover all your bases. Remember that the funds are originally passed through the Governor's office, so be sure to include the Governor and his/her staff in your public education efforts.

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Combined Federal Campaign

If you are a non-profit CASA program located in an area that has a significant number of federal employees (i.e. near a military base, V.A. hospital, or regional government offices), you will want to consider the Combined Federal Campaign as a potential source of revenue.

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the sole authorized fundraising drive conducted in the federal workplace. Similar to, and often coordinated and administered by the United Way, the campaign raises money for those local organizations that meet eligibility requirements.

Organizations that qualify to be included are listed in a local brochure with a paragraph description of the program. Contributions are either earmarked for a specific recipient, or put into a pot that is divided among all the participating organizations. The amount raised in each area depends on the number of federal employees.

A CASA program, as a voluntary health and human services organization, can apply to be included in the campaign if it meets these requirements:

• Has 501-C-3 tax exempt status
• Is directed by a volunteer board of directors
• Has a paid or volunteer staffed office (can be a portion of a residence) that is open a minimum of 15 hours per week
• Fundraising and administrative expenses are less than 25% of total support and revenues
• Is audited by an independent CPA unless the annual budget is less than $50,000, in which case an IRS 990 is required in lieu of an audit

The best source of information regarding your local CFC is through the United Way office in your area. Chances are good that they are contracted to run the campaign, and will be able to tell you who to contact for application information. The campaign is run in the fall, and applications are generally taken in the spring.

Specific rules and regulations governing the CFC are published in the Federal Register of May 26, 1988.

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Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), enacted in 1984 and amended by the Children’s Justice and Assistance Act of 1986 (CJAA) and the omnibus drug bill of 1988 (H.R. 5210, Title VII, Subtitle D) establishes a Crime Victims Fund in the Treasury. The Fund can receive up $125 million through FY 1991 and $150 million through FY 1994 from four sources: criminal fines collected from convicted federal defendants; penalty assessments imposed on convicted federal defendants; forfeited appearance bonds, bail bonds and collateral security posted by criminal defendants; and literary profits due certain convicted federal defendants (Son of Sam provision).

VOCA authorizes the Attorney General to make annual grants from the Fund according to the following formula. Of the first $110 million deposited in the Fund:

• 49.5% is allocated for grants to state crime victim compensation programs. Funds permitting, compensation programs will be reimbursed for 40% of the prior year's victims compensation awards;
• 45% is allocated for grants to states for the purpose of assisting local units of government and private non-profit organizations to provide direct services to victims of crime. VOCA gives primary responsibility for the selection of programs to be funded to the states, with only minimal federal requirements. The state is required to give funding priority to programs providing assistance to victims of sexual assault, spousal abuse, or child sexual abuse;
• 1% is allocated to the Justice Department's Office of Justice Program (OJP) for the purpose of providing training and technical assistance to state and local programs and for services to victims of federal crimes. At least half the money must be spent on services to victims; and
• 4.5% is transferred from the Fund to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for making grants to states to improve the treatment, prevention, and prosecution of child abuse and to protect the victims of child abuse. Of these funds, 15% must be used to assist victims of child abuse on Indian reservations.
• If the Fund exceeds $100 million, the next $5.5 million (between $100 million and $105.5 million) deposited in the Fund goes to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for child abuse prevention grants. All deposits in the Fund in between $105.5 million and $110 million should be available for the purpose of aiding crime victim assistance programs. If the Fund exceeds $110 million, the money shall be distributed as follows:

• 49.5% for crime victim assistance programs;
• 49.5% for crime victim compensation; and
• 5% for assistance to victims of federal crimes

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Interest On Lawyer's Trust Accounts (IOLTA)

The Interest On Lawyer's Trust Accounts program (IOLTA), allows attorneys to place nominal or short-term client trust funds in an interest-earning account. The interest earned on these funds is assigned to an administrative body, which in most states is the Bar Foundation. The collected income is disbursed to various law related programs as determined by each state. IOLTA has been approved in all states with the exception of Indiana and West Virginia.

There are three models of IOLTA programs. Eighteen are "Voluntary" programs, which allow the lawyer the choice of enrolling in IOLTA. Thirteen are "Opt-Out" plans, in which lawyers are enrolled automatically unless they give formal notification that they elect to not participate. The remaining 18 states conduct "Comprehensive" (mandatory) programs in which all private practitioners must participate. The ABA is encouraging all programs to convert to a comprehensive plan. These programs have considerably more income, and are in the position to fund a greater number of projects.

IOLTA funds are distributed in the form of grants. Each state defines the purposes for which its IOLTA moneys may be used. Most programs focus on legal services for poor, law related education and programs to "improve the administration of justice". Several CASA programs and State Associations have already received IOLTA grants. These programs were able to show that they fit within the purposes of the IOLTA program.

There are two key players in each IOLTA program. The State IOLTA Director is in charge of the administration and operation of the program, and has the most current information on the status of their grants and funding cycles. The IOLTA Program Chair, or President, runs the Board of Directors for the body that administers the funds, and makes the grant decisions. This may be an IOLTA Board, or the Board of the State Bar Association, or Legal Foundation.

To pursue IOLTA funds, call your State IOLTA Director. He/she will have received a letter from National CASA which includes the ABA resolution endorsing CASA and a copy of a special Attorney's brochure. Introduce your program and find out which organization administers the program in your state. Request an opportunity to meet and/or send more information about your program. Ask how you may formally apply for support. Now use your connections! You need to favorably impress the IOLTA Chairperson and members of the decision making board. Identify any attorneys or judges on your board, doing pro bono work for your program, or are otherwise friendly to your program that know either the IOLTA Director, Chairperson, or other members of the IOLTA board. Ask for their help in presenting your request, including setting up a meeting to discuss your program, writing letters of support on their firm's stationery, and speaking in support of your proposal to the Board.

Let everybody know about the ABA resolution supporting CASA. In cases where IOLTA program purposes are restrictive and/or are being interpreted so as to exclude CASA from consideration, find out if sympathetic contacts can sponsor action to expand or change those purposes.

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• Kappa Alpha Theta
• Junior League
• United Way
• Local Foundations / Businesses
• Service Clubs:

• Kiwanis
• Women's Club
• Order of Foresters
• Telephone Pioneers
• American Legion
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
• Exchange Clubs
• Rotary

• Churches

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