Steps to Apply

CATS partners with non-profit agencies and community-based organizations which work directly with under-served, low-income individuals. If your agency is interested in becoming a partnering agency of CATS, you will need to take the following steps:

Contact CATS to discuss your program and determine if a partnership with               CATS is right for your organization.

Complete and return the Agency Application and Agency Agreement with  the following accompanying materials (The packet must be complete for the process to continue):

• A brief letter (on your agency’s letterhead) from the Executive Director or other appropriate supervisor supporting your agency's application and acknowledging the payment of the Annual Registration Fee;
• A copy of your agency's (summarized) budget;
• A copy of your agency’s IRS notification letter.

Annual Fee

All partnering agencies are assessed an Annual Registration Fee.  Yearly fees may not be waived or prorated.  CATS is not in the position to offer free services to agencies – no matter where the agency is located.  CATS does not receive city, state or federal funding and faces the same economic challenges as other agencies.  The good news is however, CATS has never increased the Annual Registration Fee to CATS Partner Agencies.  The fee remains $375/year for agencies with budgets of over $1million and $300/year for agencies with budgets of less than $1 million. If your agency has three or more programs eligible and partnering with CATS, the fee is $250 per program.

Eligibility

CATS welcomes completed applications from agencies working specifically with under-served populations and which meet the following criteria:

1) Your agency must be a Federal Nonprofit, 501 (c)(3) agency - Only agencies which are exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are classified as "not a private foundation" under Section 509(a). CATS may also work with government/ public agencies, or independent projects that have a qualified tax-exempt fiscal sponsor.  Other 501(c) organizations, such as 501(c)(5), do not qualify.

2) Your agency must be a Direct-Service Provider - Only with agencies which provide services directly to under-served populations are eligible for the CATS Program. 

3) Your agency may not have the intention to distribute, sell or raffle event tickets to your agency's staff, their friends, your agency's directors, schools or other community agencies or entities. 

4) Your agency must provide CATS Event Opportunities (tickets) to clients at no charge.

Unfortunately, the following entities are not eligible to partner with CATS:

• Individuals
• Nonprofit organizations without a current 501(c)(3) exempt status (see exceptions above)
• Hospitals
• Fund-raising event committees such as luncheons, dinners, walks, runs, or sports tournaments
• K–12 schools (school-based 501 (c)(3) programs operating during non-school hours may be eligible)
• Religious organizations without a secular community designation1

1 A secular designation is defined as an organization separate from the church or religious organization that provides services to people regardless of their religious beliefs and does not propagate a belief in a specific faith. Example: A hospice that is a separate 501(c)(3) organization from a church and provides care and support to anyone who qualifies for services, regardless of religious belief.

**Information Specific to Supportive Housing Providers

Agencies which provide transitional or permanent low-income housing or provide supportive services to transitional or permanent low-income housing must fill out a separate application for each building and/or program receiving CATS services. 

Every building and/or program has different residents/ clients, different support staff, different locations have needs specific to their residents/ clients and therefore utilize CATS in different ways. For these reasons, CATS works with each building and/or program individually as opposed to the agency as a whole.  This information concerns new agencies applying to CATS and renewing agencies.  Unfortunately, CATS is unable to make exceptions to this guideline.