TD Bank unveils new Affinity Program

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Helping non-profits raise a bit of extra money has gotten a little easier thanks to a program sponsored by TD Bank of Houlton.
    TD Bank’s Affinity Program was recently launched as a tool to help non-profit groups collect money for their causes. When a group joins the program, it must then solicit other TD Bank customers to become members of their cause. If groups are able to get enough individuals, either business or residential customers, to join their cause, the bank will then make an annual contribution to the non-profit group based on the average balance of the customers’ accounts.
    “We have been very methodical with launching the Affinity Program here in the Houlton market,” said John Tribou, store manager for Houlton’s TD Bank.
    Tribou said the bank partners with the non-profit group to walk them through the steps to becoming a member.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
SIGNING UP — Finishing the paperwork to become TD Bank’s first Affinity Program member is Bob Cowperthwaite, middle, president of the Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Program. With Cowperthwaite are, John Tribou, TD Bank store manager; and Margaret Cook of TD Bank.
    The Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Project (SACAP) became the first non-profit group to join the program.
    “The board voted to apply for the Affinity Program in November, 2011,” explained Bob Cowperthwaite, president of SACAP. “We state our mission is to foster flourishing arts community in Northern Maine. We have been actively involved in creating an exciting cultural environment and a voice for art and artists for many years. When we were approached by TD Bank to consider the program, we saw this as an opportunity to help our non-profit organization grow — thus meeting the needs of the community.”
    SACAP must now get 50 TD Bank customers to sign onto their cause, which comes with no obligation to the customer, in order to take full advantage of the program. Each year, the non-profit group will receive a check from TD Bank, as long as the program remains in existence. At a minimum, the group will receive $500, but that amount can go significantly higher based on the account balances of its members.
    “If one of our customers has a non-profit group they are passionate about, and that group is an Affinity member, they can ask to have their account coded to whichever non-profit they choose,” Tribou said. “There is no impact to the individual customer.”
    Cowperthwaite said his group would be able to provide more support and opportunities for artists to interact with the community and each other with the extra funds it hopes to receive.
    “We are fortunate to have many young, emerging artists in our area and it is our goal to promote all their talents,” he said. “We are always considering how SACAP can grow in these tough economic times and this is another approach to help accomplish that goal.”