FAQ
What are the GAFD values?
The Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf is dedicated to empowering the Deaf community and its allies by igniting cultural enrichment, expanding educational horizons, nurturing personal growth, and preserving a lasting legacy.
What’s the difference between GAFD, Austin Deaf Club and TSDF?
GAFD (Greater Austin Foundation for the Deaf):
Type: 501(c)(3) non-profit charity foundation.
Mission: Provides support to the Deaf Community and its allies in the Greater Austin area.
Tax Status: Donations to GAFD are tax-deductible.
Focus: Broad support across the community, including cultural enrichment, educational horizons, and nurturing personal growth.
Austin Deaf Club (Austin Association of the Deaf):
Type: 501(c)(7) member-based social and recreational organization.
Mission: Focused on providing a social and recreational hub for its members, with a clubhouse in South Austin.
Tax Status: Donations to AAD are not tax-deductible.
Focus: Social and recreational activities for members, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
TSDF (Texas School for the Deaf Foundation):
Type: 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Mission: Dedicated to supporting the mission of the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD), benefiting TSD students directly.
Tax Status: Donations to TSDF are tax-deductible.
Focus: Supporting educational programs, student opportunities, and improvements at TSD, directly impacting students' lives and learning environments.
These organizations serve different yet complementary roles within the Greater Austin Deaf Community, each with specific goals, activities, and ways for the community and allies to engage and contribute. All organizations are independent from each other.
Will GAFD be board or member based?
GAFD is currently comprised of between nine and eleven board members. Board members may be deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing, but all have strong ties to the deaf and hard of hearing communities, particularly in the Austin, Texas and its surrounding counties. We are not a member based organization. The GAFD Board meets quarterly.
Does GAFD have a Grant Program?
The GAFD Grant Program, which operated from 2010 through 2022, has been discontinued. After a thorough review, the Board determined that the program was not achieving its intended community impact and decided to phase it out in 2022.
In May 2019, GAFD received a letter from the IRS notifying us that we were not meeting the public support criteria required to maintain our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. In response, we made several changes to our operations—including discontinuing the grant program and other activities that did not align with the IRS’s Public Support Test requirements.
After submitting documentation and demonstrating compliance, the IRS approved our reinstatement in April 2021, officially restoring our 501(c)(3) status. Since then, GAFD’s Board has remained in full compliance with all nonprofit governance and reporting standards.
GAFD has received Letter 947 from the IRS “Based on the information you submitted with your application, we approved your request for reinstatement under Revenue Procedure 2014-11. Your effective date of exemption, as listed at the top of this letter, (04/08/2021) is retroactive to your date of revocation.”
However, the IRS public database has not yet been updated to reflect this reinstatement. We are in ongoing communication with the IRS, but due to staffing shortages and delays caused by federal government shutdowns, updates to public records have been significantly backlogged.
For transparency, GAFD’s Form 990 filings and nonprofit information are publicly available through platforms such as GuideStar, the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, and other nonprofit information databases.
Looking ahead, GAFD is focusing on hosting and leading community events as a more effective way to serve the Greater Austin Deaf community. While the grant program is no longer active, we continue to welcome partnerships and collaborations that create meaningful benefits for the community.
Can individuals apply for money from GAFD?
As of January 2022, GAFD has made the decision to discontinue the acceptance of individual applications for funding. This change was implemented to more closely align with GAFD's overarching mission statement and to focus our resources on supporting organizations and initiatives that benefit the broader Greater Austin Deaf community.
Will GAFD have money to contribute every year?
GAFD's ability to contribute financially does not occur every year but is guided by an internal policy that evaluates market performance to decide on fund distributions for any given fiscal year. This approach means there's no guarantee of annual contributions, yet the organization's board is committed to making financial contributions as a priority each year, with the specific amount depending on the success of GAFD’s investments.
Whenever possible, based on available financial resources, GAFD is dedicated to hosting or sponsoring at least three activities annually. These can include a variety of events such as sports competitions, workshops, professional development opportunities, lectures, and art performances, enriching and supporting the community in multiple facets.
Moreover, GAFD holds a tradition of organizing an Annual Holiday Gala at the year's end. This event serves as a celebration and a gathering point for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and allies in the Greater Austin area, symbolizing unity and shared purpose within the community.
Will GAFD provide matching funds for other fundraising activities?
GAFD is receptive to the idea of providing matching funds for fundraising activities, as long as the arrangement fits within a mutually agreed-upon timeline between all involved parties. Should the planned matching funds not come to fruition for any reason, it's important to have a contingency plan in place to manage the return of those funds or to address the situation appropriately. This ensures clarity and fairness in the partnership and supports the successful execution of fundraising efforts.
Can GAFD help with paying bills or other expenses, such as facility repairs and communication access?
Short answer is no. GAFD focuses its financial contributions on causes and activities that align with its established criteria, meaning it does not allocate funds for operational expenses such as bill payments, communication access or facility repairs. The organization's support is targeted towards initiatives that directly benefit the Greater Austin Deaf community, adhering to a mission-driven approach in its funding decisions.
Can GAFD help with operating expenses of an organization?
GAFD does not provide financial assistance for the operating expenses of organizations, as it prioritizes funding projects and initiatives that have a direct impact on the Greater Austin Deaf Community. The organization's focus is on supporting activities that align closely with its mission to benefit the community in meaningful ways. This also includes communication access such as interpreters for events outside of GAFD.
Are there volunteer opportunities with GAFD?
Certainly! GAFD warmly welcomes volunteers eager to support our mission. We continuously seek individuals to assist with various annual events, notably our Holiday Gala, a celebration of the Greater Austin Deaf Community.
Will GAFD ever get involved with legislative activities?
At this time, GAFD has no plans to lobby or appear before the legislature.