Umbrella Partner Application

Thank you for your inquiry into our Umbrella Accounts program. FRIENDS offers this fiscal service to individuals, groups, and organizations as part of our mission to improve the quality of life for all Oakland citizens by generating funding and support for projects and programs which enhance and supplement recreational, environmental, educational, beautification, and leisure activities offered through the Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation.

The account application process is as follows:

1) Write a letter requesting an account, stating the purpose of your fund, the duration of your fund (if limited) and the estimated activity (number of checks/deposits per month you will be requesting).
2) Please mail or email the request letter to:

Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation
Attn: Kathy Raymond
P.O. Box 13267
Oakland, CA 94661
email – oaklandparks@sbcglobal.net

The request would go through our Executive Committee who meets the first Wednesday of every month, and then if approved would go onto a full board vote which meets the third Wednesday of every month.  If approved we would ask you to sign a contract with our organization for this account and set up a designated account signer.

The Process:
Whenever an account needs a check cut you would submit a check request form with the designated signer’s signature and back up documentation, such as an invoice or receipt, this is necessary so we can make sure the funds are being used towards the accounts designated purpose.  Deposits would be written to our organization, with a memo or notation that they are to be used for your designated account.

We have two standard types of contracts:

1. A Donor-Advised Contract, that is for accounts simply raising funds for a designated purpose.
2. A Programmatic Account Contract, this is for groups actually running programs or planning on building projects. We have a small administrative fee of 2% taken once a year from Donor-Advised Contracts, if there are over 10 transactions (checks/deposits) a year. For Programmatic Accounts, there is a 4% fee (2% taken twice a year). These are currently Friends only fees, other than taking the interest generated from these accounts for administrative efforts.