Difference between revisions of "GPCA Budget FY2011-2012 Expense Narrative"

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(revise CCWG expense narrative)
(revise IT)
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'''9. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP (T-I $1,500, T-II $2,000)'''
 
'''9. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP (T-I $1,500, T-II $2,000)'''
  
The IT FY2011-2012 budget contains standard annual Tier I expenses of $660 for Server Hosting ($55/month) and $240 for Server Backup Service ($20/month).  
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The IT FY2011-2012 budget contains standard annual Tier I expenses of $660 for Server Hosting ($55/month) and $240 for Server Backup Service ($20/month). Approval of the associated resolution would authorize that the GPCA continue to use Godmoma Forge, LLC for serving hosting and the Green Internet Society for Server Backup Services. One of the associated resolutions recommended for approval in conjunction with the FY2011-2012 budget is that the party adopt a standard prioritization of the party's core operating expenses and legal obligations. Paying for the server hosting and backup among those prioritizations.
  
Approval of the associated resolution would authorize that the GPCA continue to use Godmoma Forge, LLC for serving hosting and the Green Internet Society for Server Backup Services.  
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The IT FY2011-2012 budget also contains Tier II expenses of $5,000 for web redesign/content management system installation/miscellaneous projects. However there was no work plan submitted for these expenses. The Budget Committee recommends that the question of next steps for GPCA's web site needs should be considered by the General Assembly as part of the budget discussion.  
  
One of the associated resolutions recommended for approval in conjunction with the FY2011-2012 budget is that the party adopt a standard prioritization of the party's core operating expenses and legal obligations. Paying for the server hosting and backup among those highest prioritizations.
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While there was no work plan submitted for the $5,000 by the IT Group, there was one submitted as part of Green 2012 and it recommends that it be done as part of Tier I because of the need for an improved site to go along with increased fundraising efforts. That plan is as follows:
  
'''''Green 2012: Redesigning our GPCA website and migrating to an open source team-focused content management system'''''
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- Redesigning GPCA website and migrating to an open source team-focused content management system
  
It will require 120 total hours of staff/consultant time and five phases of implementation.
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120 total hours of staff/consultant time and five phases of implementation as follows:
  
 
Phase 1: Needs and Audience Analysis (10 hrs)
 
Phase 1: Needs and Audience Analysis (10 hrs)

Revision as of 02:40, 21 April 2011

0. INTRODUCTION

The GPCA's FY2011-2012 Budget occurs amidst during a deep national and international economic crisis that became manifest in October of 2008. That crisis has made it challenging for non-profit organizations and other not-for-profit entities like the GPCA that survive primarily or exclusively on grassroots donations and fundraising. The economic crisis also came on the heels of the politically difficult period for the Green Party when it suffered the blowback of being blamed for the 2000 Bush presidency. Combined its own internal self-inflicted wounds over 2004 presidential strategy and other internal divisions, the cumulative effect of those trends led to a significant downturn in GPCA fundraising compared to the growth period the party experienced at the beginning of the last decade.

In FY2011-2012, prospects are looking up for the GPCA. The political climate is favorable in light of a disappointing Obama administration combined with a far right fringe Tea Party movement on the federal level, combined with the lack of real answers by either Democrats or Republicans to the structural problems of our state. At the same time internally within the Green Party, there has been a growth in new activists interested in becoming involved, along with a return by many long time party activists.

With this potential, the GPCA FY2011-2012 Budget seeks to establish a baseline of core expenses to ensure the maintenance of the party's basic, ongoing operations, based upon the same minimal level of fundraising experienced in the last few years, along with a plan to invest in growth opportunities that would bring in more money to fund more organizing. This Budget also seeks to establish a manner in which increased revenue will be dedicated to additional organizing in a predictable, transparent manner that will minimize the need for mid-year discretionary choices by either the General Assembly or the Coordinating Committee, yet correspond realistically to expected cash flow and political deadlines, along with provide enough flexibility to adapt to unpredictable circumstances.

On the income side, the FY2011-20122 Budget contains a plan to raise up to $163,750 -- with $60,500 projected between May and September 2011 and $103,250 between October 2011 and April 2012. The plan would expand the GPCA's fundraising capability by hiring a fundraiser to manage a fundraising campaign, along with creating a new GPCA contact relationship management (CRM) database to ensure high quality management functions such as donation tracking and GPCA supporter communications.


1. BYLAWS COMMITTEE (T-1 $0, T-2 $100, T-3 $200)

There was no FY2011-12 budget request submitted by the Bylaws Committee and there are no active members on the Bylaws Committee. In FY2010-11 $100 was budgeted and not spent for the Bylaws Committee. The FY2011-12 budget sets aside $100 for Tier II and $200 for Tier III in the event that the Coordinating Committee makes appointments to the Bylaws Committee and the Bylaws Committee submits a work plan to cover the use of the funds.


2. CAMPAIGNS & CANDIDATES WORKING GROUP (Tier I - $8,080, Tier II - $17,580, Tier III - $30,080)

The Campaigns and Candidates Working Group FY2011-12 budget contains standard annual expenses like the Campaign Support Fund, recently added expenses associated with the voter database project (that was authorized in FY2010-2011) and new Green 2012-inspired for FY2011-2012.

The Campaign Support Fund is budgeted at $5,000 in Tier I, $10,000 in Tier II and $20,000 in Tier III. The Voter Registration File data base software is budgeted at $1,080 in Tier I ($90/month) in a contract with CAVoterConnect authorized in the Budget Approval Resolutions. In conjunction with the data base software, there is a two month continuation in Tier I of the independent consultant arrangement the CCWG established in January 2010 to perform Voter Registration File data base work ($1,000) and Volunteer recruitment and coordination ($1,000). This would maintain these efforts while providing time for the party to conduct a formal hiring process for an independent contractor to perform these services on an ongoing basis. The Coordinating Committee is directed to conduct this process in the Budget Approval Resolutions and $2,600 is budgeted in Tier II for the remaining ten months for both the Voter Registration File data base work and Volunteer recruitment and coordination. Finally $1,200 is budgeted in Tier II and $3,600 in Tier III for campaign trainings, where are also proposed to be carried out by the independent contractor.


3. CLEARINGHOUSE COMMITTEE (T-1 $1,860, T-2 $2,200, T-3 $1,200)

No FY2011-12 budget request was submitted by the Clearinghouse Committee. There are no active members on the Clearinghouse Committee. In FY2010-11 $2,510 was budgeted and $1,110 was spent on clearinghouse related expenses. In lieu of a committee request, the FY2011-12 budget contains $1,000 for Tier I, $2,000 for Tier II and an additional $1,000 for Tier III for merchandise expenses for t-shirts, buttons, stickers, bilingual materials and shopping bags. An equivalent income projection for these amounts is provided in the income narrative. In addition there is $550 in Tier I for the phone and $110 in Tier I for the post office box, and $200 for each tier for shipping, that presumably would correspond to the increase in each Tier in merchandise.

One of the associated resolutions that recommended for approval in conjunction with the FY2011-2012 budget is that the party adopt a standard prioritization of the party's core operating expenses and legal obligations. Paying for the phone and post office box are among those highest prioritizations.


4. COORDINATING COMMITTEE (T-1 $1,950, T-2 $1,075)

The Coordinating Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains standard annual costs associated with party insurance, GPCA general assemblies and the operation of the Coordinating Committee. Tier I includes $1,150 for insurance and $750 for note taking at the general assemblies. It also budgets $4,500 to cover the expenses of hosting the general assemblies and projects an equivalent income of $4,500 from registration fees to pay for them. Tier II includes $700 for Plenary Administration (THIS NEEDS CLARIFICATION BY THE CC AS TO WHAT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR) and $300 for a Coordinating Committee retreat. Such retreats have been held in many but not all past years.


5. ELECTORAL REFORM WORKING GROUP (T-2 $100)

No FY2011-12 budget request was submitted by the Electoral Reform Working Group. In FY2010-11 $200 was budgeted and not spent for the Electoral Reform Working Group. The FY2011-12 budget sets aside $200 for Tier II in the event that the Electoral Reform Working Group submits a work plan to the Coordinating Committee to cover the use of the funds.


6. FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Finance Committee work plan is the GPCA FY2011-2012 budget income narrative.

We will hire a fundraising consultant to continue the fundraising campaign in May-June until an Executive Director is hired. The consultant will conduct fundraising work through personal solicitations by phone and in person, online and through prospect and resolicitation mail. The consultant will lead the installation and implementation the contact relationship management database.

The consultant will also research and interview telemarketing firms. GPVA will only hire a company that agrees to a that we will be able to sever the contract at any time if we are losing money.

In Tier 2 and Tier 3 budgets, the expenses related to major donor solicitations are staff time. The telemarketing expense can be terminated at any time. All GPCA fundraising event costs will be in-kind contributions from event hosts. We will not spend money on travel, printing or postage. The expenses related to online fundraising are staff time. The expenses for prospect and resolicitation direct mail are printing and postage. Design and writing expenses are staff time.

There are expenses related to the GPCA Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer’s roles because we are significantly increasing the scope of fundraising. If possible, we should allocate a monthly stipend to the GPCA Treasurer, allocate funds for data entry and other support staff work to the Treasurer. No FY2011-2012 budget was submitted by the Treasurer except for $1,250 for software that helps our Treasurer prepare reports for the FPPC. Craftware, our software vender, gives us a special discounted price, which has remained $1250 for some time. That is 50% of the regular price. There is free FPPC software, but it requires our Treasurer to do a tremendous amount of time-consuming data entry that she does not have time to do.


7. GREEN ISSUES WORKING GROUP (T-II $1,500, T-III $2,000)

There was no FY2011-12 budget request submitted by the Green Issues Working Group. In FY2010-11 $500 was budgeted and not spent. The FY2011-12 budget contains $1,000 in Tier II and $2,000 in Tier III for "Coalition Building/Project Initiatives" and $500 in Tier II for "Misc/General Office." This funding is contingent upon mid-year budget amendment by the General Assembly, if and when the Green Issues Working Group submits a work plan to explain these expenses.


8. GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING WORKING GROUP (T- , T-II )

There was no FY2011-12 budget request submitted by the Green Issues Working Group. The FY2011-12 budget contains $5,000 for printing and shipping, $1,000 for posting and $150 for layout/managing editor in Tier I for one issue of the GPCA's state newspaper Green Focus. Green Focus has been a standard, annual expense of the party so it is included in the budget even without a working group work plan, but the funds will not be released until a specific work plan containing specific costs is submitted to the Finance Committee by the layout/managing editor.


9. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP (T-I $1,500, T-II $2,000)

The IT FY2011-2012 budget contains standard annual Tier I expenses of $660 for Server Hosting ($55/month) and $240 for Server Backup Service ($20/month). Approval of the associated resolution would authorize that the GPCA continue to use Godmoma Forge, LLC for serving hosting and the Green Internet Society for Server Backup Services. One of the associated resolutions recommended for approval in conjunction with the FY2011-2012 budget is that the party adopt a standard prioritization of the party's core operating expenses and legal obligations. Paying for the server hosting and backup among those prioritizations.

The IT FY2011-2012 budget also contains Tier II expenses of $5,000 for web redesign/content management system installation/miscellaneous projects. However there was no work plan submitted for these expenses. The Budget Committee recommends that the question of next steps for GPCA's web site needs should be considered by the General Assembly as part of the budget discussion.

While there was no work plan submitted for the $5,000 by the IT Group, there was one submitted as part of Green 2012 and it recommends that it be done as part of Tier I because of the need for an improved site to go along with increased fundraising efforts. That plan is as follows:

- Redesigning GPCA website and migrating to an open source team-focused content management system

120 total hours of staff/consultant time and five phases of implementation as follows:

Phase 1: Needs and Audience Analysis (10 hrs) • Assist identification of 3-4 goals for the website (e.g. "to enhance the organizational identity of GPCA", "to inform Greens of the latest news, actions and events in California.") • Assist I.D. of 3-5 user types (e.g. "First Time Visitors" or "Press") and their needs • Target user actions and outcomes desired for each user type. Rank in priority • Build site map based on desired outcomes and audience needs

Phase 2: Current Content Assessment (10 hrs) • Audit current GPCA content and cross reference with site map • Assess content gaps (or required edits) • Schedule content for migration, beginning with items necessary for site launch • Gather necessary account data for any existing 3rd party web services that need to be integrated with the new website (donation processors, social media feeds, YouTube, etc)

Phase 3: Wireframe and Branding (30 hrs) • Draw wireframe illustrating rough layout of site elements • Decide 1st draft color scheme, logo implementation and font choices • Create site mockup and accept revisions

Phase 4: Test Installation (60 hrs) • Install Drupal and required modules on test domain and hosting space provide by client • Apply theme, module, and custom configurations • Begin transfer of content from current site • Begin training GPCA members on content input • Invite GPCA members for user and audience testing

Phase 5: Site launch (10 hrs) • Schedule launch date • Identify key existing URLs for redirection to corresponding pages on the new site • Back up old site to a subdomain, verify functionality • Take Drupal installation live at cagreens.org • On call troubleshooting for first week


10. INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL COMMITTEE ($0)

There was no FY2011-12 budget request submitted by the International Protocol Committee. There are no active members of the committee and there have been one in recent years. No funds are included in the FY2011-12 budget for this committee.


11. MEDIA COMMITTEE (T-I - $6,600, T-II - $22,000)

The Media Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains a continuation of the Press Secretary position in Tier I at $3,330 ($275/month) plus $300 ($25/month) for phone/fax distribution costs, travel and miscellaneous expenses. The Press Secretary position will continue to involve working in conjunction with the Media Committee to write and disseminate news releases statewide, and coordinate media for GPCA. It will also involve scripting and production responsibility for the Visibility Campaign.

The Green Party Visibility Campaign is budgeted for $12,500 in Tier II and #$12,500 in Tier 3. Its objective is to assist GPCA candidates, fundraising and major donor campaigns and the party's voter registration drive by featuring 15 and 30 second television spots to run on CNN, Headline News, MNBC and other cable networks. The GPCA spent $3,300 in FY2010-2012 on this program. A complementary Green Party Visibility Campaign - Online is budgeted for $5,000 in Tier II with the same objectives as the Visibility Campaign except that it will be focused only on online advertising, such as Google and Facebook.


12. GPUS DELEGATION (T-I $3,000)

The Platform Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains $3,000 in Tier I for travel and registration subsidies for GPUS delegates to attend the GPUS Annual National Meeting, scheduled this year for Alfred, New York, August 5th-7th (http://nygreenfest.org/). If any of these funds are not used, this will be clear by August.


13. PLATFORM STANDING COMMITTEE (T-I $200, T-II $300)

The Platform Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains $200 in Tier I for printing platform updates. The platform reserves hold 258 copies of full 2002 platforms, 258 copies of the 2005 addendum to the full platform, 158 copies of the 2006 platform summaries, 545 copies of the 2008 platform summaries, and 800 copies of the Addendum to the 2008 Platform Summary. The Platform Committee projects that 258 copies of updated full platforms should be sufficient in the form of 258 updates from 2005-2011 at a cost of $200. that the 2002 platforms would need a page indicating which planks in the 2002 platforms were revised and where to find them in the updates, and that his alternative is much less expensive than getting 258 full 2011 platforms as one volume.

The Platform Committee FY2011-2012 budget contains $200 in Tier II for IT costs for platform updates and $100 for transport to a Platform Committee retreat. Thhe Platform Committee did not provide information about who would receive this money.