1. Discussing Our Finances: Helpful Resources
This presentation is designed to acquaint you with the resources available about our financial information. These resources can help you answer any questions that might arise when you give your Area report. Remember, you don’t have to know all the answers if you know where to find the answers when the need arises.
Our financial information is provided by a variety of individuals/companies: staff who post pertinent items on our members’ website; our audit report that is prepared by our auditor Dixon Hughes Goodman, the firm we hire; our Director of Finance who files the tax information yearly; and documents for WSC distribution prepared by our Director of Finance.
All this information provides an accurate financial pictures of AFG Inc.’s financial status and offers complete transparency about our income and expenses.
Please write down any questions you have about this information and bring them to our small group discussion sessions. Any and all questions are important to help us to better understand this financial information. I may not have all the answers either, but I know where to find them—in these documents. <CLICK>

2. Al-Anon Members’ Web site1
al-anon.org
The first important resource for AFG Financial information is the website at al-anon.org <CLICK>

3. Tax-Exempt Status
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., our World Service Office, is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters (Canada) Inc. is 149 (1) registered charity
Information about our U.S. and Canada tax-exempt, not-for-profit status is found in the “Financial Information” section of the website, which is found under members|wso. The U.S. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. Canada is a 149 (1) registered charity. The AFG, Inc. not-for-profit tax-exempt status cannot be used by the service arms. <CLICK>

4. Quarterly Appeal Letter to Individual Members
Is an opportunity for every member to participate in 12th Step work beyond the group level
Is published quarterly:
February, May, August and November
Is sent to groups in U.S. and Canada
Is extended worldwide in November
The latest copy of the appeal letter is always posted on the members’ website, along with a reminder of months the letter is published and read at meetings:
February, May, August, and November to groups in the US and Canada
In November, the appeal is extended to members of groups worldwide
This appeal offers an opportunity for every member to make a contribution. Because the WSO does not have the addresses of individual members, the appeal letter is sent to the groups, for individual members to hear. It’s important for group members to know this is a special and separate contribution from the group contribution. The intent of the Appeal is explained under the Appeal Letter information as well as in the Service Manual.
The mailed appeal letter also has a listing of all the services provided by WSO
<CLICK>

5. U.S. Tax Returns
US: The annual 990 tax return required to be filed annually by all 501 (c) (3) organizations.
2014 U.S. tax return
2015 U.S. tax return
2016 U.S. tax return
The 990 form is a long form for U.S. non-profits. If you like reading pages of detailed tax returns, this is the place to look. It includes the salary and benefit information for some of the Directors at AFG, Inc. As part of their legal authority, Board members’ names are listed on the 990 tax return.
The 2017 tax returns will be posted later this year.
<CLICK>

6. Canada Tax Returns
The annual T3010 tax return as required for registered charities under paragraph 149 (1) of the Income Tax Act of Canada.
2014 Canada tax return
2015 Canada tax return
2016 Canada tax return
Canada has a form titled T3010, rather than a 990. Under Canadian law, Al-Anon is a registered charity. Terminology is a bit different in Canada, but filing financial information is similar and required by law. Here you can also read the Canadian tax returns of the last few years. <CLICK>

7. Individual Contribution Group Contribution Birthday Contribution
Memorial Contribution
Appeal Contribution
On our members’ site is this icon, making it simple for members to click and contribute. There are several ways to contribute.
You will find the following categories when you click on “Contribute Now” and choose the ‘Online Store Contribution’:
Individual Contribution
Group Contribution
Birthday Contribution
Memorial Contribution
Appeal Contribution
If you choose the Paypal option you can easily set up recurring contributions <CLICK>

8. Budget 2
The financial plan approved by the Board of Trustees and presented for approval at the World Service Conference.
You are reviewing the 2018 Budget here at Conference. This is a valuable resource which is the financial plan for AFG Inc. which has been approved by the Board of Trustees and presented for your information at the World Service Conference as part of the Finance Committee Report.
Budget information is always available if someone asks you how much money is set aside for certain expenditures.
Budgets are posted on-line after presentation at Conference.
<CLICK>

9. Budget and Audit Questions3
Delegates submit questions that are answered by staff and distributed to Conference members. There is a lot of good information contained in these answers, and perhaps some of the questions are being asked by members in your Area. Be sure to check this important resource. <CLICK>

10. Contributions Spreadsheet4
For all Areas
Detailed for your Area
Per group cost
Another resource that may be of interest to the members in your Area is a spreadsheet showing contributions received from all Areas compared to contributions received the prior year so you can assess the message your Area seems to be hearing about the financial needs of the WSO. On this page is calculated the per group cost, an interesting piece of data for some members. The second page shows the calculation of the per group cost, also of interest to some members in your Areas.
If you want more detail for your Area, just contact the office. Detailed reports are sent out electronically every year. <CLICK>

11. 5 Finance Update Income Expense Reserve Fund
Every quarter with the Chairman of the Board Letter, the Treasurer includes a ‘Finance Update’. The latest one you received in February gives a recap of the whole prior year. It would be a good starting place for preparing your report to your Areas. If you report later in the year, include the latest Finance Update that you receive in May or August for a more current picture. <CLICK>

12. 6 Service Manual Quarterly Appeal Information
Warranty One (Reserve Fund)
History and importance of literature sales
History of contributions and their use
Legacy Text
Don’t forget your Service Manual with so much valuable information contained within all of the sections concerning finances, including some history and the application of the Legacies to financial matters. <CLICK>

13. Talking Points – Budgets Financial Terms7
Definitions
Explanations
Have these documents available as members may just have questions that can be covered with a simple definition or explanation.
<CLICK>

14. Audit Report 8
The annual audited statement of financial position of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
This is a lengthy document prepared by our auditing firm, Dixon, Hughes and Goodman and presented and reviewed for you in great detail by our Director of Finance and Operations, Niketa.
Typically the last two years are posted on the website. Currently the audit reports from 2014 and 2015 and 2016 are posted.
Financial information can feel complicated and overwhelming if you typically don’t work with numbers. However, understanding a few basics will give you the confidence you need to explain Al-Anon’s financial status to members in your Area.
If this information seems simple to you, then you probably are very comfortable presenting a financial report to your Area. For the rest of us, we hope to feel better able to explain the financial aspects of AFG Inc. after the breakouts and Area reports given by some intrepid Delegates. <CLICK>

15. Questions to Answer
Are we in better financial shape than this time last year?
Do revenues exceed expenses?
Do I understand the financial concerns of AFG, Inc.?
Is the Reserve Fund of AFG, Inc. ‘ample’?
After reviewing the information provided in our financial resources, these are questions you can be asking yourself:
Are we in better financial shape than this time last year?
Do revenues exceed expenses?
Do I understand the financial concerns of AFG Inc.?
Is the Reserve Fund of AFG, Inc. ‘ample’? <CLICK>

16. Next: Questions and Answers
We have provided you with a wealth of financial information in the last few days. When we meet again in smaller groups, you will have an opportunity to become more familiar with these documents and brainstorm with your group on how to best relay this information to your Areas.
We want you to be able to go back to your Areas feeling comfortable about explaining the financial situation of AFG, Inc.
Please bring various resources with you to the breakout at 1:30 today. We will work together to organize this information into a format that will be of most interest and value to your Area.
(If time, indicate that you will take a few questions from the floor. Otherwise, wrap it up by announcing when the small group discussion will occur.)
Be sure to bring whatever questions did not get answered today. Remember – all questions are valid and help everyone learn.
Pause here to be continued during third session <CLICK>

17. dirbus@al-anon.org treasurer@al-anon.org Post to AFG Connects
More $$$ Information
Post to AFG Connects
If you get back to your Areas and experience brain freeze or it just doesn’t make as much sense as it did at Conference, please do not hesitate to shoot us your questions. Or perhaps posting to AFG Connects would allow others the benefit of the answer. We are more than happy to try to provide clarity.
We want you to be successful. <CLICK>

18. What’s Next? Small group question/answer Further discussion
Decisions on what to present
Armed with all these resources, we will break into smaller groups to answer a series of questions and discuss what we have learned and how to present it to our Areas. We each have different amounts of time, perceived interests of our Areas and other factors, so as a trusted servant you will determine how much or how little or what information should receive the focus.
Enjoy!!