Common Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions concerning the Westie Foundation of America. If you have any questions which are not answered on this page or elsewhere on the website, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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How is the Westie Foundation of America (WFA) organized?
The Westie Foundation was set up as a corporation in the state of Connecticut in early 1997. It has its own set of officers (president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer) and directors (currently, eight). The Foundation also has 501.c.3 status from the Internal Revenue Service, so that contributions to it are tax deductible.
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What is the connection between the Westie Foundation and the West Highland White Terrier Club of America?
The WFA grew out of a WHWTCA task force set up in 1995/6. The decision was made at that time to establish the WFA as a separate organization with its own officers and directors, primarily for the tax advantages of being a 501.c.3 organization (which was not available to the WHWTCA). The WHWTCA was granted the right to name two of the WFA directors, but other than that, the WFA is a completely separate organization which establishes its own agenda and strategies and operates as it sees fit. The WFA and the WHWTCA strive to maintain close and harmonious relations, but remain two separate and distinct organizations.
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Does the WFA have a business plan?
The WFA has a detailed Business Plan, which lays out the Objectives of the Foundation, the Strategies to accomplish those Objectives and the Tactics and Responsible Parties to implement the Strategies.
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Does the WFA have an endowment fund?
The WFA set up an endowment fund called our Legacy Alliance several years ago. The intent is to build up a large enough endowment fund to provide annual revenues from interest income on the principal to fund health research and education projects to benefit Westies in perpetuity. The source of funds for the Legacy Alliance includes memorial and honorarium contributions, plus bequests from wills and other gifts to the Foundation. Our goal is to have $1 million in our Legacy Alliance fund by 2015.
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How does the Westie Foundation decide which research projects to fund?
The WFA uses periodic Westie Health Surveys to determine which health research and education projects to fund. The last Survey was conducted in 1998; the next one will be conducted in 2005. The major Westie health concerns identified in the Survey are then prioritized based on several additional criteria, including, but not limited to, the following: Is the disease invariably fatal? Does the disease cause significant discomfort/pain to the Westie? Is the treatment significantly expensive? etc.
The Foundation then works with the AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Morris Animal Foundation to determine which research grant proposals that have been submitted meet our objectives. Based on the number of breeds affected who are willing to contribute funds and the amount they are willing to commit, these two organizations (CHF and Morris) determine which proposals will be funded.
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What is the difference between the Canine Health Foundation and Morris Animal Foundation?
Basically, the CHF concentrates on just canine health research projects, while Morris covers a variety of animals, including cats, birds, reptiles, horses, etc.
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What is the difference between a health research project and a health education projects?
Research projects are usually conducted at a veterinary college by qualified researchers. We have very little control over their efforts and how they spend the funding dollars, and we have no guarantee of a successful outcome. Education projects are determined entirely by the WFA Board: we define the project, fund it entirely, have major control over the project and the dollars involved, and have a much better idea of the outcome. These projects range from the annual health seminar we sponsor during the Montgomery Weekend outside of Philadelphia in the Fall, to a Westie Health Book which is currently in process.