Fiscal Sponsorship Overview

 During the pandemic, HVIG grew from nine meetings to 23. Donations increased also. And HVIG was not a non-profit. In July 2022, HVIG group conscience voted to move forward with fiscal sponsorship to address our tax status. We now have non-profit status under the umbrella of United Charitable, a public 501(c)3 that's licensed in all 50 states and holds a 5-star rating with Charity Navigator. 

 Unfortunately, the Overeaters Anonymous, Inc., tax ID number is specifically for the corporation (which includes the Board of Trustees, the World Service Office, and the World Service Business Conference). If another entity were to use that ID number, it would jeopardize both OA and the other entity (the meeting group) -- from OA.org 

 This practice has been done on the website since the first site was created in 2009. The consistency of having donate buttons easy to find has helped to increase the number of donations received to honor the 7th Tradition.  The buttons are CTAs (Calls to Action) and they are optional on the meeting sections.

 Sure, no problem!   A meeting can request that the donate button be removed from their meeting section on the website.  Simply submit a request on the form on the contact us page.  Please allow 7-10 days for the request to be completed by our volunteers.   

 Since the HVIG is an approved fiscally sponsored program with United Charitable, and is under the umbrella of their 501(c)3 status, they require that the only donation links listed go directly into our account at United Charitable. Meetings can still collect donations autonomously, and then choose where they want those donations to go (HVIG, OA World Service, Virtual Region).  Individual meetings can still collect donations however they want to. 

Yes.  All meetings are autonomous and can collect donations through their own individual PayPal accounts or other means. However, donations collected for individual meetings are not tax deductible because the individual meetings are not 501(c)3 organizations.  Donations to individual meetings can be collected directly offline.  Meeting group donations can still be donated to the HVIG, OA and the Virtual Region online or by check (see Donations page).

Yes, individual meetings can request support for expenses from the HVIG.  There is a section on each meeting page called, "Got Meeting Expenses?  We Can Help!" Simply fill in the form and our treasurer will submit the request for reimbursement.  Some people choose to pay for meeting expenses, like Zoom or SignUp Genius and consider that to be their 7th tradition donation.

All donations are received into the HVIG account, the same as before (when we had Wells Fargo).  The current HVIG group conscience is to keep a prudent reserve of $1500 and after expenses, donate 60% to OA World Service and 40% to the Virtual Region (quarterly).  This disbursement can be raised through HVIG group conscience at any time by simply placing it on an upcoming agenda.  

 Group numbers are created by OA World Service Office for listing purposes.  When groups donate, or people donate to OA on behalf of a group, this information may be noted, but nothing is done with the information.  Similarly with HVIG, donations by meeting # have been noted in the past and often included on monthly treasury reports. However, the tracking has become busy work for the Treasurer. 

Fellows who would like to establish a system to track individual meeting donations via number are welcome to contact our current Treasurer, and place the item on an upcoming agenda.  Please note that we are all volunteers and new volunteers would need to come forward to establish this monthly practice.  Past treasury reports are located on the website / HVIG page under Monthly Reports section. 

No.  All donations sent to OA World Service and/or the Virtual region are designated to support these organizations and their missions. As per the 7th Tradition, the HVIG is fully self-supporting with donations from our fellowship and the 23 meetings that belong to our InterGroup

As with all things HVIG, a group conscience discussion and voting would need to take place. Simply add the issue to an upcoming agenda and present the item when it gets put on the agenda.  The HVIG is not under any long-term contract with United Charitable or any other fiscally sponsored program.  Accounts can be closed (through group conscience) at any time. Any funds would simply be donated to OA and the Virtual Region and the account will be closed.