Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation

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Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation
A project of Shiloh Baptist Church 215 West 23rd
Street Wilmington, DE 19802 The Reverend Dr.
Clifford I. Johnson, President Mary Dupont,
Executive Director Phone [phone] Fax
302-655-8372 Email info_at_nehemiahgateway.org
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Marion T. Academy Charter School Innovative
Elementary School Education Grades K - 7 725
students Strong academics Arts
Culture Parental Involvement
Nehemiah Gateway Community Development
Corporation Community Services and Economic
Development Job Training Career Preparation
Asset Building Programs Faith Based Business
Expo for Minority Owned Businesses Earned Income
Tax Credit Campaign Access to Credit for
Transportation
Shiloh Baptist Church Spiritual and
Personal Development Membership 750 23rd
Washington Wilmington Pastor Dr. Clifford
Johnson
Shiloh Baptist Church Adult Youth
Ministries Community Services Food Bank
serves 3,000 families per year Cultural programs
Art, Music, Drama Physical and Mental Health
support Leadership Development
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The Delaware EITC Campaign

• Five Goals
• Promote the EITC to eligible workers to increase
  benefits to local families
• and communities. National statistics suggest
  that 25 of eligible workers do not claim the
  credit.
• Provide free income tax preparation to assist
  eligible taxpayers in filing for the EITC.
• Provide free savings accounts at PNC Bank for
  direct deposit of the refund and to support
  savings and spending goals of EITC beneficiaries.
• Provide workshops on Money Tips to help EITC
  beneficiaries to develop a
• spending and/or savings plan.
• Link EITC refunds with important financial
  services and benefits to build
• family economic self sufficiency including
  IDAs, loans for cars, and benefits that can
  reduce the cost of living such as food stamps,
  fuel assistance, and state subsidized
• health benefits.

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Background

• EITC Campaign
• Broad public, private, faith based, non-profit
  partnerships
• 14 sites statewide
• 2nd year statewide
• 250 active volunteers
• All E-filing
• State Treasurer is the Champion
• 3,000 customers served last year
• Delaware
• Population Delaware has 750,000 residents
  statewide, 3 counties,
• with 2/3 of the population in the northern third
  of the state
• Industry Delaware is home to the financial
  service sector, call centers,
• poultry industry, and a large tourist industry
  (shoreline) with almost 50
• of the population working in low wage jobs
• Ethnicity Delaware is ethnically diverse with
  22 of the population African
• American and a growing Latino population
• History Delaware is below the Mason Dixon line

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Measuring Impact
Referrals
Intake Form
survey
TechnoSave
IDAs
Direct Linkages On Site
Savings Accounts
Money Tips Video
Tax Prep EITC Tax Credits
Fuel Assistance
Health Benefits
Voters Registration
Taxwise 7
Repeat Customers
Pre-qualification for Food Stamps
Money Management Workshops
Food Stamps
Taxwise
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Process At the Site Greeting by Site
Leader Sign in time and number Fill out intake
form Meet with Site Leader to learn about
complementary services Open Bank
account Pre-qualify for food stamps Register to
vote Meet with Tax Preparer to complete tax
return Meet with Site Leader to finish up
administrative and quality check on tax
return Complete follow up survey Take folder
and leave
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Volunteer Job Descriptions 1. Tax Preparer Tax
Preparation Responsible for preparing federal
and state income tax returns. Duties also
include providing tax counseling to EITC Campaign
clients regarding tax laws and credits, W-4
forms, W-5 forms, and services available through
the Campaign. Requirements No prior tax
experience needed, but accounting and financial
experience useful. Required to attend tax
preparation training courses. After training,
must have a working knowledge and understanding
of current tax laws and credits that impact
low-income workers ability to complete simple
and multiple year tax return forms have strong
verbal communication skills and, must be a
mature, responsible, and patient adult. 2.
Site Leader Intake and Flow Management
Responsible for greeting customers and directing
them to sign-up sheet checking clients W-2
form(s) to determine eligibility for EITC
Campaign services screening clients for proper
documents creating client folder according to
Campaign standards assisting clients with
intake forms and providing clients with an
overview of other services that are available to
them. When appropriate, distribute and collect
EITC Campaign surveys. Also, inform clients of
other EITC Campaign sites and VITA locations when
clients are turned away due to limited space
availability. Administrative support Duties
include informing EITC Campaign clients when
volunteers are available crossing client names
off the sign-up sheet once served pulling
necessary tax forms for clients making copies
loading computer printers and copier with paper
changing toner on copier and assisting with
crowd control. Quality Control Responsible
for sorting copies of completed tax returns in
proper order for clients obtaining required
signatures on all necessary forms verifying
client information is correct on their return and
administering the closing interview on the intake
sheet. Requirements This is a key role that
requires people skills, organizational skills,
and basic tax understanding. Assistant site
coordinators will receive tax training in
addition to site coordinator training. Two Site
Leaders will be assigned to each location. 3.
IT Specialist Provide trouble shooting and
support at tax sites to address technical
problems with equipment and software. Be on call
during specific time frame to work with specific
sites with these issues. Also help the Campaign
Coordinators to set up the tax sites by loading
and programming software for the Campaign and
checking equipment to insure that it is in good
working condition prior to the start of the
season. For more information In New Castle
County contact Mary Dupont or Fran Brumskill at
302-655-0803 or info_at_eitcdelaware.net. In Kent
and Sussex counties contact Vida Evelyn Heiner at
302-422-6479 or downstate_at_eitcdelaware.net.
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TechnoSave
Program Goals Bridge the digital divide
Promote savings and financial goal setting
Promote financial literacy Promote computer
literacy.
Target Market Low and moderate income workers
and senior citizens.
Partners Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League,
GMAC Bank, Brandywine Gateway Neighbors, HOND,
Hockessin Community Center, Neighborhood House,
Inc., Mother AUFCMP Church, Dickinson Education
Center, Hilltop Lutheran Community Center,
Girls, Inc., Brookmont Farms, Child, Inc.,
Spirit of Life Lutheran Church, Kingswood
Community Center, Community Presbyterian Church,
Manna Christian Fellowship, Shiloh Baptist
Church, CONNECTONS, Union Baptist, Ezion Mt.
Carmel UMC, Mt. Joy UMC, New Mt. Bethel Baptist
Church, Rock of Ages Baptist, Mother Church,
Latter Day Baptist, New Destiny Fellowship
Program components Program started in September
2002. Six hours of financial education, short
term matched savings (IDAs) with regular savings,
computer workshops (optional), invest in a
refurbished computer.
Performance Goals Open 100 TechnoSave
Individual Development Accounts in the next
year. Provide financial education to 150.
Results to date Opened 70 accounts, Provided
financial literacy for 250.
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Ways to Work Loan Program
Goals Provide access to credit for consumer
loans to help low-income workers invest in
necessities that allow them to sustain
employment. Help low income workers build a
credit history to prepare and qualify for future
investments. Make 80 loans per year.
Target Market Low and moderate income working
parents in Wilmington and New Castle County.

• Program Components
• Make loans up to 4,000 for the purchase of a
  car, car repairs, or other
• necessities that support the ability to work
  and economic self-sufficiency for families.
• Loan officer works with prospective borrower to
  complete paperwork and receive basic financial
  literacy.
• Loans made by partnering financial institution.
  
• Loans underwritten by NGCDC loan loss reserve.
• Intensive case management throughout the
  repayment cycle.
• Credit reporting

Partners National Ways to Work Inc., First
Union Regional Foundation, GMAC Bank, financial
institution (TBA).
Time Frame Projected start-up June 2003
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Partnerships
Clearly define roles and responsibilities IRS
Taxes Food Bank Food Stamps Bank Bank
Accounts Money School Money Management
Workshops State Fuel Assistance and Health
Benefits Nehemiah Gateway CDC IDAs,
TechnoSave, and Ways to Work