The delay in the start of the tax-filing season did not stop our coalitions from providing excellent free tax preparation services to almost 29,000 clients. This year, 24 coalitions working with free tax preparation programs throughout the Commonwealth received funding from the Earned Income Tax Credit grant. VACAP distributes 100% of the funding to the coalitions. The Virginia CASH Campaign highlights include:

• Over $36.5 million in federal refunds
o Over 28,000 federal returns filed

• Over $13.7 million in EITC refunds
o Over 8,600 taxpayers claiming EITC
o $5.7 million saved in tax preparation fees

• Over $4.7 million in state refunds
o Almost 26,000 state returns filed

Compared to 2012 tax year, this represents:

• 5.4% increase in the amount of federal refunds
• 6% increase in the number of EITC returns prepared

The modest state-funded $185,725 EITC Grant program (average grant $7,700) resulted in 1,364 volunteers working with 24 coalitions to provide free tax preparation and financial education services at 133 sites throughout Virginia. The Virginia Office on Volunteerism and Community Service estimates the 2013 value of volunteer time to be $21.37 per hour. The Virginia CASH Campaign volunteers contributed over 43,000 hours of tax preparation to the program. An additional 10,000 hours were contributed for tax training. This equates to over $1.1 million value to the program and communities where these volunteers live and work. Grant funds leverage almost five times the amount in volunteer time.

The Virginia Community Action Partnership (VACAP) EITC Initiative supports community groups and coalitions throughout Virginia that provide free tax preparation services and promote financial literacy, savings and asset building to modest income working individuals and families. The Virginia CASH Campaign (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) gives the program an identity that can be used by the coalitions to engage community partners in their work. State and federal partners in the Virginia CASH Campaign include the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Collectively the mission is to raise awareness of the EITC, especially among eligible recipients, and to provide free tax preparation services by certified volunteers. We encourage financial literacy and education, savings and asset building programs to enable clients to work toward self-sufficiency.

In October 2013, VACAP hosted the Fall Classic Conference in Richmond, a one-day workshop conference that brought together over 70 free tax program practitioners to learn about upcoming changes and requirements surrounding the Affordable Care Act and its impact on free tax preparation programs. Also joining us were colleagues from Maryland and Baltimore CASH Campaigns.

The EITC grant was announced at The Fall Classic and completed proposals were due at the VACAP office on October 31, 2013. Twenty-four grant recipients were notified of successful proposals on November 19, 2013 and funds were disbursed on November 27, 2013. Each coalition submitted a budget and plan as to how the grant funds were to be used throughout the year. The largest funding allocation is for personnel costs (60%).

Coalition costs for printing and supplies and equipment for marketing, education and outreach materials totaled 11% of the total budgets. Advertising was about 8% of the total. Travel to meetings and conferences totaled about 5%. Other smaller amounts were used for rent, telephone, training, volunteer recognition and administrative costs.

VACAP maintains a website dedicated to the CASH Campaign. http://www.vaeitc.org provides timely information to EITC partners, clients and funders throughout the year, but especially during tax filing season. Coalition information, data, flyers, asset building links, news articles, PSAs and funding resource information are readily available for viewing and download. This key component links all coalitions and assists in communication and sharing best practices. Between January and April 2014, the site averaged over 2,450 page views per month with an average of 1,845 visits per month. During the rest of the year, the site averages over 2,313 page views per month. VACAP co-hosts monthly conference calls and along with the IRS provides an opportunity for partners to learn and share throughout the year.