Westamerica Bank

At Westamerica, we pride ourselves in investing a portion of earned income back into the communities which we serve. One of the ways we do this is through contributions to locally based nonprofit organizations providing programs or services in the following areas: health and human services, education, the arts, and civic affairs.

Westamerica is proud to have supported our communities through the following types of worthy programs:

• Art therapy and theater programs for homeless children and disabled
• Basic budgeting classes with schools and nonprofits serving low-income and re-entering clients
• Bi-lingual earphones for child care providers' conference
• Bowling fundraiser for Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• Business and education alliances
• Disaster coalition membership
• Economic development support
• Elder abuse prevention programs
• Employee supported walks for a variety of causes
• Food drives and food distribution
• Home buyer assistance
• Literacy coalitions and programs
• Meal delivery to home-bound and HIV/AIDS patients
• Multi-cultural programs
• Self-sufficiency projects
• Senior programs
• Shelters for homeless
• Summer programs for low-income children
• Volunteer centers
• Women's re-entry programs
• Youth-at-risk after school programs
• Youth-at-risk entrepreneur program
• Youth leadership programs

Mission Statement

As one of the leading financial institutions in the Northern and Central California areas, Westamerica Bancorporation recognizes its responsibility not only to provide the highest quality banking services to the citizens of our communities, but also to improve the quality of life of the communities we serve.

Categories and Criteria

Within each of the program areas, there are specific categories to which preference will be given.

Health and Human Services
• Promote housing opportunities.
• Provide programs for the underprivileged.
• Promote access to services.
• Promote health care education for seniors or minorities.
• Provide effective programs in socio-medical diseases such as alcoholism, drug abuse or stress.
• Assist those with physical handicaps.

Education
• Support basic curriculums on a district-wide level versus individual schools.
• Promote literacy, especially with adults and within minority communities.

The Arts
• Proposals from organizations operating in the fields of the performing and visual arts that are based in our banks' assessment areas.

Civic Affairs
• Address social problems faced by youth, minorities, the elderly, women and the disabled.
• Promote economic development in the assessment areas where our banks are located.
• Support of various community events.

General Requirements

Contributions vary and typically range from $100 to $1,500. Our contribution decisions are based on the individual merits of specific projects, as well as on the organization seeking funds. Evaluations are done on both new and renewal requests. Programs, population served, services offered, quality of management, other corporate support and financial conditions are all reviewed.

These general guidelines are used in evaluating requests:
• Organizations that operate in the assessment areas where our banks provide services.
• Project-specific proposals rather than requests for grants to underwrite operating or capital.
• Projects that improve access of excluded groups to social and economic opportunity.
• Projects that directly address human needs, offering direct services rather than through intermediary organizations.
• Programs promoting citizen participation and volunteerism.
• Projects that develop leadership skills.
• Organizations to which bank personnel are giving leadership, whenever possible.

Organizations seeking support should demonstrate programs and management practices characterized by:
• Clearly stated objectives and long-range planning.
• Active participation of the governing board.
• Competent leadership and a continuity of efficient administration.
• Sound financial principles and practices resulting in reasonable fundraising and administrative expenses.
• Strategies and plans to move from dependency on any one source of support.
• Accountability for its actions through regular self-evaluation and public reporting.
• Qualified professional staff in place and effective use of volunteers.

Excluded Organizations and Purposes

It is our general policy not to make grants to:
• Organizations that are ineligible to receive tax deductible contributions.
• Requests that are not in writing.
• Operating funds or capital funds.
• Organizations that practice discrimination by race, color, creed, sex, age or national origin.
• Support multi-year pledges.
• Organizations outside our assessment areas.
• Fundraising efforts to benefit other organizations.
• Political candidates.
• First year programs or seed money.
• Religious organizations when denominational or sectarian in purpose, fraternal organizations, veterans groups and labor organizations, when serving only their own membership.
• Individuals.
• Reduce debt or past operating deficits.

Application Procedures

Proposals for corporate contributions are accepted throughout the year, and should be limited to 2-3 pages. Please include the following information:

1. A short statement of the history and accomplishments of the organization submitting the request, plus a geographic breakdown of the area served by the organization.

2. A brief summary of the specific project and description of the problem or issue being addressed to include:

• Amount requested and intended use.
• Target population/community and number to be served by the project.
• Time schedule for implementation.
• Description of expected results and how results will be evaluated or measured.

3. Complete project budget and details of fundraising plans (include funding sources, amounts and any existing commitments) as well as total amount requested from all other organizations.

4. Agency budget for the most recent year.

5. A copy of the nonprofit organization's latest IRS determination letter stating 501(c)3 tax-exempt status and a completed copy of a W9 form. Some requests that do not qualify for a corporate donation may be referred to our local branch office for consideration. At varying times, we donate surplus furniture. Although we do not have a formal furniture and equipment donation program, requests should be in writing. All proposals may be sent to:

Westamerica Bancorporation
Debbie Friesen, Community Relations Officer, A-2H
P.O. Box 1230
Suisun City, CA 94585–1230
Telephone (707) 863-6938, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.westamerica.com

All requests are reviewed within 4-6 weeks. If additional information is needed, we will contact you.