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Urantia Brotherhood's Notice to Urantia Foundation
Regarding Termination of Joint Fund Raising


Urantia Brotherhood
533 Diversey Parkway
Chicago, Illinois 60614

October 17, 1989

Trustees of Urantia Foundation
533 Diversey Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614

Dear Trustees:

Please understand that the decision not to fund raise for Urantia Foundation was a decision of the General Council based upon the fact that Urantia Brotherhood and Urantia Foundation are two distinct organizations subject to their own standards of financial control and accountability. Urantia Brotherhood does not feel comfortable raising funds for another organization with which it does not participate in budgetary review and control.

In the past the Finance Chair has sought to review the financial records of Urantia Foundation and has been denied access. Urantia Foundation has not included Urantia Brotherhood in its budgetary process, or even allowed Urantia Brotherhood to examine its budget. This past July a letter was sent to Hoite Caston encouraging communicatoin between the two organizations on financial matters with no response received.

As the traditional fund raising arm for both organizations, Urantia Brotherhood has had a minimal sense of accountability with respect to the finances of Urantia Foundation. That lack of accountability does not reflect well on Urantia Brotherhood and its stewardship function in raising funds. An audited financial statement is not a sufficient response to the need for financial accountability in a non-profit organization. Any donor, large or small, should have access,. if they desire, to the books and records of the organization to assess how their funds will be or have been utilized.

Additionally, Urantia Brotherhood is concerned that the style of Urantia Foundation has been to attempt to move the fund raising appeal in a secular direction. This is not acceptable to Urantia Brotherhood.

The separation of fund raising functions should be viewed by both organizations as an opportunity for Urantia Foundation and Urantia Brotherhood to clearly delineate their own standards of fiscal responsiblity and accountability.

In more than one correspondence to Urantia Brotherhood you have indicated that you do not want Urantia Brotherhood interfering in the internal affairs of Urantia Foundation. That desire seems to contradict your desire to have Urantia Brotherhood solicit funds for the Foundation.

If Urantia Brotherhood were a subsidiary of Urantia Foundation it might be appropriate to jointly raise funds. Given that both organizations have declared their intention to be treated as independent self-governing organizations, it is clear that joint solicitations are no longer appropriate.

Sincerely,

Finance Chairman
(Urantia Brotherhood)