Fellowship of Reconciliation

THE AFFILIATION PROCESS

The process to affiliate with the national FOR is designed to be mutually beneficial for both the local group and the national FOR. The intention of this process is to ensure a strong and effective local group, meeting the needs of the local community. The national FOR will work with the prospective group throughout the entire process of affiliation.

The affiliation process can be done in the following steps.

  1. A prospective group should fill out an Intention of Affiliation Form (FORM A), ensuring that the form is signed by at least two people who are individual FOR members (having signed the FOR statement of purpose). The group also needs to review IRS policies regarding 501(c)3 groups and send back the signed IRS Regulations Regarding 501(c)3 status. After the form is received by the national office, the group will receive a letter officially recognizing the group’s intention to affiliate. In addition, the prospective group will receive:
  • National FOR by-laws
  • Sample local group by-laws
  • Additional information on the FOR's national decision-making structure and policies on lobbying and electoral policies
  1. Establishing a group which has the following characteristics and communicate these in writing to the national FOR:
  • Ten or more active members/participants
  • completed one or more community events per year
  • actively seeking diversity within the group and governing body (including race, faith, gender, etc.)
  • working on a national FOR program
  • developed by-laws for the group (see Sample Local Group By-laws)
  1. At the end of the affiliation process, the prospective group may complete the Local Group or Affiliate Application (FORM 'B'). After the form is approved by the national office, the group will receive a letter officially recognizing the group's membership. The new group will also be invited to an annual meeting at the National office in Nyack to confirm membership and to meet National Council members and staff. In addition, the new group/affiliate will receive supplemental material from the national office, including:

  • National FOR by-laws
  • Seed grant application forms and guidelines
  • Information on the FOR's national decision-making body (the National Council) and all relevant policies on lobbying and electoral policies, financial forms, including documents to be used for local contribution processing and financial reports
  • FOR Organizer's Handbook, an organizing packet drawn from the experience of local FOR activists

 

Prospective groups should feel free to contact the national office's Local Groups Organizer any time with questions.

Local Groups Organizer
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Box 271, Nyack, NY 10960
(845) 358-4601
FAX: (845) 358-4924
LocalGroups@forusa.org

 

 

 

©2003 Fellowship of Reconciliation