It is the policy of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) not to provide cash donations to an individual or organization. However, AATA has the ability to provide donations in the form of fare media. As such, AATA has created two fare media donation programs intended to reduce the cost of providing transportation to an organization’s clientele.

Outlined below are the two community donations programs offered by AATA including the qualifications and requirements of a requesting organization and the monetary limits of each program.

Program Purpose: The purpose of the Community Match Program is to assist non-profit organizations in providing transportation for their clients and continues to encourage these organizations to secure transportation funding independently from AATA.

Program Description: The Community Match Donation Program is a 50/50 share of the cost of fare media between a requesting organization and AATA. This means that the organization must purchase an equal amount of fare media relative to the fare media donated by AATA.

Example: ABC Agency requests six bags of full fare tokens representing a total value of $60. ABC Agency pays $30 and AATA donates $30 in fare media to the organization.

Program Limitations:
      AATA Annual Donation Limit: The Community Match Donation Program is limited to AATA donating a total of $5000.00 in fare media per fiscal year.

      Organization Requesting Donation Limit: The Community Match Donation Program limits each organization to a total of $100 of fare media donated by AATA per fiscal year.

      Donation Request Priority: The Community Match Donation Program is a First Come, First Served program.

Qualifications:
A requesting organization must be a 501c3 non-profit to participate in the Community Match Donation Program.

Requirements:
A request for a Community Match Donation must be submitted in writing (email is acceptable). The requirements are as follows:

• The organization’s tax exempt status (501c3) and the organization’s tax identification number.
• The type of fare media and the value of the fare media that is being requested.
• The request must be authorized by the executive director or equivalent of the non-profit organization.
• The request must provide a description of the program(s) that will benefit from the donated fare media.
• If the requesting organization has received AATA fare media donations in the past, please provide details of how the donation benefited your clients and the program.
• The request must include a copy of the organization’s current annual budget.

Click here to view the Community Match Donation Application Form

Program Purpose: The purpose of the Non-Match Donation Program is to assist organizations that do not qualify for the Community Match Program or for non-profit organizations in providing transportation to its clients. Through this program, it is the intention of the AATA to donate fare media to a wide range of organizations to leverage additional funds and/or to serve clients directly.

Program Description: A Non-Match Donation is a full donation of fare media to organizations that offer programs and services consistent with the priorities identified by the Washtenaw Community Collaborative and/or Washtenaw United Way. The Washtenaw United Way priorities for 2007 are 1) helping young people succeed; 2) strengthening and supporting families and individuals; 3) assisting seniors or any of their three initiatives; Success by Six, 2-1-1 Regional Call Center and the Power of the Purse/Women’s Initiative. More information about these Washtenaw United Way priorities and initiatives can be found at www.wuway.org.

Example: ABC Agency requests five bags of full fare tokens representing a total value of $50. AATA will donate the entire amount of $50 in fare media to the organization.

Program Limitations:
      AATA Annual Donation Limit: The Non-Match Donation Program is limited to AATA donating a total of $5000.00 in fare media per fiscal year.

      Organization Requesting Donation Limit: The Non-Match Donation Program limits each organization to a total of $600 of fare media donated by AATA per fiscal year.

Qualifications:
An organization’s request for fare media donation must be used for individuals who participate in programs or receive services that meet the priorities identified by Washtenaw Community Collaborative and/or Washtenaw United Way.

Requirements:
A request for a Non-Match Donation must be submitted in writing (email is acceptable). The requirements are as follows:

• The type of fare media and the value of the fare media that is being requested.
• The request must be authorized by the executive director or equivalent of the organization.
• The request must provide a description of the program(s) that will benefit from the donated fare media.
• The request must include a copy of the organization’s current annual budget.
• The request must identify other resources that have been solicited to fill this need.
• Any unused donation should be returned to AATA so that it can be used for other unmet needs in the community.
• If the requesting organization has received AATA fare media donations in the past, please provide details of how the donation benefited requesting organization and its program(s) e.g. how many clients served, what was unmet need, etc.

Click here to view the Community Non-Match Donation Application Form