The Alzheimer’s Association chapter formerly known as the Capital of Texas Chapter has separated from the national organization and is now known as Alzheimer’s Texas, its leaders announced Jan. 13. The action follows a similar one taken by five other chapters after the national group announced reorganization plans in 2015.
The Austin, TX-based nonprofit organization has been continuous operation since 1982, running under a name-use agreement with the national office of the Alzheimer’s Association, based in Chicago, for many years while maintaining its own books and records, independent IRS exempt ruling and annual independent audit.
“By disaffiliating, we retain critical flexibility to respond quickly to community needs, and we retain the authority to innovate and control our ongoing programs and service,” Christian Wells, president of Alzheimer’s Texas, said in a statement. “This action also allows us to commit to our community and donors that all funds raised in Central Texas will be retained for use in our geographic region and not shared with the national Chicago office. Retaining the Texas-raised funds will allow us to better serve clients and expand our programs in Central Texas.” Under the agreement with the national office, 40% of all funds raised in Central Texas and 100% of all funds raised there for research were remitted to the national office.
Alzheimer’s Texas is the sixth chapter to formally disaffiliate from the Alzheimer’s Association. The others include Greater New Jersey; Orange County (CA); San Diego/Imperial Counties (CA); New York City; and Greater Los Angeles (CA).
The move to separate began at a chapter delegate assembly in October, reports Alzheimer’s Texas. There, it joined the majority of independently run chapters in voting against an Alzheimer’s Association proposal to merge and transfer local chapter assets to the national office. Alzheimer’s Texas says that a majority vote by the chapters opposed the measure, but the national organization voted to move forward with the plan anyway.
