Department of Social Welfare - Miss Tu

Visit situation
(Source: photographed by the team)

     In the interview, Ms Tu points out that the jurisdiction of Social affairs Bureau toward Non-Profit Organization (NPO) includes supervising whether the membership meeting is held as scheduled or not and its financial budget. If they violate the law (Mass Organization Law) repeatedly, they will be dismissed to a deadline. However, the laws on NPO are made according to the will of every organization, and Social Affairs Bureau won’t interfere. As the constant scams under the disguise of some charitable organizations have been involved in civil law and penal code, they are judged by the court. There is no connection with Social Affairs Bureau. In fact, the foundation of NPO not only lets people take part in the charities but also lowers the social cost of the government. For example, two of the bridges audited and built by Chia-yi Charity Organization are applied in the name of Chia-yi City Government.

     Of more than five hundred organizations Ms. Tu has been in charge, the biggest difference between Chia-yi Charity Organization and others is that the members of Chia-yi Charity Organization are almost from the middle-class, or even the low-class laborers, which makes a strong impression on Ms.Tu. No matter how rough the work is, such as carrying the sand and stirring the cement, they always do the work by themselves. Compared with the members from upper-class, who care about not the actual participation but how much money they donate, Chia-yi Charity Organization is more appealing to ordinary people. Besides, she also highly praises the way of donation of Chia-yi Charity Organization—one hundred dollars a time. Even if it is not a large sum of money, it will encourage more people to join in, not being a burden to them. It also stops Taiwanese from enjoying comparing in everything, even in donation.

At last, Ms. Tu says,“The biggest advantage of Chia-yi Charity Organization is that it is well-known and considered one of the best organizations in Chia-yi. If the resources are used well, the potential is limitless.

The interview record:

After interview
(Source: photographed by the team)

Q:Which department are you in?

A:I am in Social Affairs Administration Section, and the person in charge of Chia-yi Charity Organization. According to the Mass Organization Law, Chia-yi Charity Organization is a structure organization, which is legislated by local social administration organization. I am in charge of the business. No matter how Social Affairs Bureau controls the social organizations, in reality, I don’t like using the term of “control.” I always regard social organizations as friends. We always guide them instead of controlling them. So during the period from its preparation to application, we have mutual trust. We tell them how to plan and continue to guide them, including the affairs, finance, and the handling of business. According to the law, if they can be established successfully, we will continue to guide them. The affairs involves in the research on what the business and the finance are. I have to explain it to you that there are two institutions in charge of the establishment of organizations. One is the authorities concerned dealing with the establishment of social organizations, the other is the authorities concerned. That is to say—its purpose of establishment involves in the purpose authorities concerned. For example, the charitable organization—Jen-Ai Charitable Organization, is established here. But its purpose authorities concerned is the Relief Section in Social Affairs Bureau. They are engaged in helping the poor and the weak; thus, Relief Section has to be in charge of all of the affairs— if the purpose of the activities held by them is right, if it is consistent with the principle of social relief, or if the people it helps are consistent with the relief standard. All depends on the Social Relief Law issued by Ministry Of The Interior. By the way, some organizations have two institutions, but Chia-yi Charity Organization is the only one, just the one I am in charge of. After the corporation is issued, the application to the court is necessary according to their needs. Not all organizations have to apply as the corporation. Let’s take a look at the question—the guide to the business, finance, and the operation of organization affairs. The organization affairs are simple, including the directorate held within six months and the membership meeting held as scheduled. This is the part of organization affairs. And the business probably involves in how purpose authorities concerned will regard it, the yearly membership meeting and plan. This decree is passed by Mass Organization Law. There will be three cases passed every year, including yearly budget, yearly balance and yearly project. In fact, its yearly budget is consistent with its yearly project. Before budgeting, they have to know how many activities they will hold in a year and how much they will spend in case there will be more problems. If they make the project after budging, there must be some problems. This is relating to the business. Of course, the budget of Chia-yi Charity Organization is in coordination with it. Speaking of the finance, Chia-yi Charity Organization has abundant resources; they come not only from Chia-yi but also from all around Taiwan. The main reason is the strong trust. Besides, Chia-yi Charity Organization is also a corporation, which increases others’ trust in it. As a matter of fact, Chia-yi Charity Organization really helps a lot, and we always think of it as a good-quality organization, including the whole directorate, Board of Supervisors, members, and the organization affairs. As for the tax audit, Nation Tax Administration hopes they will tax the government certified organization, including the outer sponsorship. It depends on the criterion of the tax audit. This is National Tax Administration’s business. We only pay attention to its yearly balance. The yearly balance is under the supervision of the directorate and Board of Supervisors, so we will not be under great pressure. The directorate is in charge of operation, and Board of Supervisors, supervision. And at last, all members attend membership meeting, and are responsible for the supervision. According to Mass Organization Law, there should be more than three hundred members attending the meeting.

Q:What are the procedures from registration to application in Social Affairs Bureau?

A:According to Mass Organization Law, there should be two preparatory meetings and a foundation meeting within six months.

Q:What resources do non-profit organizations need from you?

A:Subsidies. There are social organizations, political organizations, occupational organizations. The decrees of the political organizations are under the control of Ministry Of The Interior. Social organizations and occupational organizations are under the control of the local power. So City or County Government budgets the subsidies for mass organizations every year, but in fact, according to the regulations for general grant of Directorate, General Of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Executive Yuan, the subsidies of mass organizations should not be more than twenty thousand dollars. Also, not all organizations can apply for subsidies, only when the organization affairs are perfect, such as holding the directorate and membership meeting as scheduled. The business should grow by degrees.

Q:Many social organizations need subsidies. Have you ever thought of the idea that enterprises adopt the non-profit organizations?

A:This is not what we deal with because the spirit of Mass Organization Law lies in independence. Before its foundation, it should consider if it is able to support the yearly growing expenses of the organization. So its financial resources come from membership fee, yearly membership fee, and the sponsorship from the outside or the consultants. Besides, they also get some sponsorship from holding some activities. Some organizations, such as The Disadvantaged Associations, the Association of Cerebral Palsy or The Association of Mentally Retarded Persons will inform some businesses or enterprises of the activities held by them in advance, and then the enterprises will sponsor them. It is mutually beneficial. It is not necessary to use the term of “adoption.”

Q:Among the organizations you have handled, what is the biggest difference between Chia-yi Charity Organization and others?

A:Its members comess from all walks of life, mainly from the middle-class. They won’t be money-oriented. They consider themselves captivating to attract the middle-class members. They are not pretentious and always hard-working, unlike some well-dressed members only knowing how to donate, but not understanding the operation of the organization.

Q:What is their key to success?

A:Almost anyone can donate, even the children can save their pocket money in order to donate. That is why they succeed. Moreover, they never apply to Government Department using complicated procedures. That is also the key to success.

Q:How do you feel that it is divided into three institutions?

A:Roughly speaking, there is no relation to Mass Organization Law.

Q:Are other organizations divided into some institutions, too?

A:No, only Chia-yi Charity Organization. It’s special.

Q:It you find the organization is not decreed, what will you do?

A:No, it is not necessary for the social organization to be decreed, only the occupational organizations must be decreed.

(Reference resources: Personal interview and written by our group after the research)