TOGETHER AND STRONGER

MUTUAL AID COMPACT

A Voluntary Compact Among Member Associations

Draft v1.0 — for review by legal counsel prior to execution

NOTICE TO REVIEWING COUNSEL

This document is intentionally drafted so that no participating association or member acquires any right, expectation, or entitlement to receive money. All contributions described are discretionary and voluntary. This structure is essential to keep the Compact outside the definition of insurance under state insurance codes. No amendment should be adopted that introduces a promise to pay, a fixed benefit amount, a mandatory assessment, or any language of entitlement. Please review specifically against: unlicensed insurance, money transmission, charitable solicitation registration, and unauthorized practice of law.

PREAMBLE

Our associations were built on a simple truth: no one should face the worst day of their life alone.

For generations, immigrant communities have passed the hat. A neighbor dies far from home, and the community gathers what it can so that the family is not crushed by a bill they never expected. It has always been an act of love. It has also, too often, not been enough — because one association carrying one tragedy is one association alone.

This Compact does not replace that tradition. It multiplies it.

When a Member Association faces an extreme situation it cannot carry by itself, it will no longer be alone. It will be able to call on a network of associations that have agreed, in advance, to consider standing with it — and to be considered in return.

We do not promise each other money. We promise each other attention, honesty, verification, and the good-faith willingness to help when we are able.

Together, we are stronger.

ARTICLE I — DEFINITIONS

1.1 "TAS" means Together and Stronger, the organization that administers this Compact.

1.2 "Member Association" means an association, club, federation, hometown association, congregation, or similar community organization that has been admitted under Article III and has not withdrawn or been suspended.

1.3 "Affiliated Member" means an individual in good standing with a Member Association.

1.4 "Case" means a request for assistance submitted by a Member Association on behalf of an Affiliated Member or their dependents, and verified under Article VI.

1.5 "Sponsoring Association" means the Member Association that submits and vouches for a Case.

1.6 "Vendor" means the funeral home, mortuary, repatriation service, hospital, landlord, utility, or other third-party provider to which funds are disbursed.

1.7 "Compact Council" means the governing body described in Article X.

1.8 "Response Ladder" means the tiered escalation process described in Article V.

ARTICLE II — WHAT THIS COMPACT IS AND IS NOT

2.1 This Compact is a statement of mutual intention. It creates obligations of conduct — verification, honesty, transparency, participation — and does not create obligations of payment.

2.2 THIS COMPACT IS NOT INSURANCE. It is not an insurance policy, an insurance contract, a burial policy, a pre-need funeral contract, a benefit plan, an annuity, or a guarantee of any kind.

2.3 No entitlement is created. No Member Association and no Affiliated Member acquires any right to receive any payment, of any amount, at any time. Every contribution made under this Compact is voluntary and discretionary, decided case by case.

2.4 No assessment is imposed. No Member Association is required to contribute to any Case. A decision not to contribute to a particular Case is not a breach of this Compact.

2.5 No amount is fixed or implied. No schedule of benefits exists. Any caps referenced in this Compact are ceilings on what may be granted, not floors, targets, or promises.

2.6 Members should obtain real coverage. Every Member Association agrees to encourage its Affiliated Members to obtain appropriate final expense or life insurance. This Compact is a safety net of last resort for those who have none. It is not a substitute for insurance and must never be presented as one.

2.7 No legal or immigration advice. Nothing under this Compact constitutes legal advice, immigration advice, or immigration consulting services. TAS and Member Associations do not represent anyone before any immigration authority.

ARTICLE III — ADMISSION OF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

3.1 Eligibility. An applicant association must:

(a) have existed for at least [12] months; (b) have at least [25] members; (c) have identified officers with names and contact information on file; (d) operate under written bylaws or a comparable governing document; (e) designate two Compact Officers under Section 4.1; and (f) execute this Compact.

3.2 No cost to join. There is no fee to become a Member Association. TAS shall not condition admission on the purchase of any product or on any minimum contribution.

3.3 Independence preserved. Admission does not make a Member Association a subsidiary, chapter, agent, or affiliate of TAS. Each Member Association retains complete control over its own governance, funds, membership, and decisions. Nothing here creates a partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship.

3.4 Probation. A newly admitted Member Association may submit Cases beginning [90] days after admission. It may participate in responding to Cases immediately.

ARTICLE IV — OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

Each Member Association agrees to:

4.1 Designate two Compact Officers, one primary and one alternate, authorized to submit Cases and sign attestations. Changes must be reported within [14] days.

4.2 Verify before vouching. Never submit a Case that the association has not independently verified under Article VI. A Compact Officer's attestation is the foundation of the entire network's trust.

4.3 Consider every Case in good faith. Review each Case circulated to it and respond — with a contribution, or with a decline. Silence is not participation.

4.4 Report honestly. Disclose any assistance already received from other sources, including consular programs, insurance proceeds, GoFundMe or similar campaigns, church collections, or employer funds.

4.5 Escalate only when genuinely unable. Exhaust the association's own reasonable capacity before escalating a Case to a higher tier.

4.6 Protect member data. Handle all personal information under Article IX.

4.7 Never solicit in TAS's name. Do not raise funds, sign agreements, or make representations on behalf of TAS or the Compact network without written authorization.

4.8 Report suspected fraud to the Compact Council promptly.

ARTICLE V — SCOPE AND THE RESPONSE LADDER

5.1 Extreme Situations Within Scope

Cases may be submitted for:

(a) Death of an Affiliated Member or dependent where no insurance or adequate funds exist — including burial, cremation, funeral costs, and repatriation of remains to the country of origin; (b) Catastrophic medical emergency creating immediate destitution; (c) Sudden loss of the household's sole earner, for essential needs during transition; (d) Displacement by fire, flood, or natural disaster; (e) Other extreme situations the Compact Council determines to be within the spirit of this Compact.

5.2 Outside Scope

Business losses; investments; legal fees of any kind; immigration filing fees or attorney costs; consumer debt; ordinary living expenses; travel not related to a covered situation; any Case where insurance proceeds are available and sufficient.

5.3 The Response Ladder

A Case escalates only one tier at a time. Each tier has a ceiling on what may be granted from that tier.

5.4 No tier is obligated to fund any Case. A Case that receives nothing at any tier is closed with the reason recorded.

5.5 The Tier 4 fund is administered separately by [TAS Foundation], and grants are made under its own published criteria. Contributions to that fund may not be earmarked for any named individual.

ARTICLE VI — CASE VERIFICATION PROTOCOL

No Case is circulated to the network until every applicable item below is on file. This protocol is not negotiable and applies regardless of urgency.

6.1 For a death Case:

(a) Death certificate, or consular death notification, or hospital/coroner documentation; (b) Proof of the decedent's affiliation with the Sponsoring Association; (c) Signed Officer Attestation (Schedule B) from a Compact Officer, including their name, title, member ID, and a statement that they have personally verified the facts; (d) Written itemized quote from the Vendor, on the Vendor's letterhead, with the Vendor's license number where applicable; (e) For repatriation Cases: written confirmation that the relevant consulate has been contacted, and a statement of what the consulate will or will not cover; (f) A signed statement from the family designating a single point of contact; (g) Disclosure of all other assistance sought or received.

6.2 For non-death Cases: documentation appropriate to the situation, as specified by the Compact Council, plus items (b), (c), (f), and (g) above.

6.3 Consular contact is mandatory for any repatriation Case. Many countries operate repatriation assistance programs. The network will not be asked to fund what a consulate would have covered.

6.4 Duplicate check. The Compact Council screens every Case against the Case Ledger to detect duplicate or overlapping submissions.

6.5 A Case may be circulated in provisional status where a death certificate is pending, clearly labeled as such. No funds are disbursed until full documentation is received.

ARTICLE VII — DISBURSEMENT

7.1 Direct to Vendor, always. All funds are paid directly to the funeral home, mortuary, repatriation service, hospital, landlord, or utility. Funds are never paid to an individual, a family member, or a Member Association's general account.

7.2 TAS does not hold or transmit funds. Contributions are processed through a licensed third-party payment platform or fiscal sponsor with direct-vendor disbursement capability. TAS is not a money transmitter and will not act as one.

7.3 Surplus. If contributions exceed the verified need, the surplus is directed to the TAS Emergency Assistance Fund unless the contributing associations direct otherwise. This is disclosed on every Case page before any contribution is made.

7.4 Shortfall. If contributions fall short, funds raised are applied to the Vendor invoice as a partial payment. Nothing is returned or held.

7.5 Receipts. The Vendor receipt is uploaded to the Case Ledger within [14] days of disbursement. A Case is not closed without it.

ARTICLE VIII — TRANSPARENCY AND THE PARTICIPATION RECORD

8.1 Public Case Ledger. Every Case is recorded and publicly visible, showing: Case number, sponsoring association, type of situation, amount requested, amount raised, amount disbursed, vendor paid, and current status. Family names and personal details are not published without written consent.

8.2 Participation Record. Each Member Association's record shows Cases submitted, Cases responded to, and response rate. Contribution amounts are not published. The record is visible to all Member Associations.

8.3 Why this exists. Reciprocity in this Compact is maintained by visibility and honor, not by legal enforcement. A Member Association that never responds to others' Cases will find its own Cases receive the same attention.

8.4 Annual report. TAS publishes an annual summary of all Compact activity, including total Cases, total disbursed, and average response time.

ARTICLE IX — DATA PROTECTION

9.1 Immigration status is never collected. TAS and Member Associations shall not collect, record, request, store, or transmit any individual's immigration status, visa category, A-number, or entry history — in any field, form, note, or attachment, whether required or optional. No exception exists for any purpose.

9.2 Data minimization. Only information strictly necessary to verify a Case is collected, and it is retained only as long as necessary.

9.3 No sale or transfer. Personal information is never sold, rented, or shared with any third party, including any affiliated or parallel organization, except with the specific written opt-in consent of the individual concerned.

9.4 Public visibility limits. No Case page displays a home address, a date of birth, a government identification number, or a photograph of a deceased person without written family consent.

9.5 Law enforcement requests. TAS will require valid legal process before disclosing any member information and will notify the affected individual where legally permitted to do so.

ARTICLE X — GOVERNANCE

10.1 Compact Council. The Compact is governed by a Council composed of delegates elected by the Member Associations, plus [two] representatives designated by TAS. TAS representatives shall never constitute a majority.

10.2 Delegates. Each Member Association is entitled to [one] delegate. Delegates elect the Council for [two]-year terms.

10.3 Council responsibilities. Verify Cases; approve or decline circulation; screen duplicates; investigate suspected fraud; recommend suspensions; publish the Ledger; and propose amendments.

10.4 Case review turnaround. The Council shall act on a complete Case submission within [48] hours.

10.5 Conflicts. A Council member from the Sponsoring Association recuses from review of that Case.

ARTICLE XI — SUSPENSION, WITHDRAWAL, AND DISPUTES

11.1 Grounds for suspension. Submitting a Case containing false or materially incomplete information; diverting funds; collecting immigration status; soliciting in TAS's name without authorization; or persistent failure to respond to Cases.

11.2 Process. Written notice, [14] days to respond, decision by Council majority. Suspension may be appealed once to the full body of delegates.

11.3 Fraud. A Member Association that knowingly submits a fraudulent Case is expelled permanently, listed publicly as expelled, and referred to appropriate authorities.

11.4 Withdrawal. Any Member Association may withdraw at any time on [30] days' written notice, with no penalty and no obligation.

11.5 Disputes. Disputes are first brought to the Council for mediation. This Compact creates no cause of action for money damages between Member Associations, and no Member Association may sue another for a decision not to contribute to a Case.

ARTICLE XII — GENERAL

12.1 Amendment. Amendments require a [two-thirds] vote of delegates. No amendment may be adopted that conflicts with Article II.

12.2 Governing law. [State].

12.3 Severability. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remainder continues in effect.

12.4 Entire understanding. This Compact is the complete statement of the parties' understanding regarding mutual aid and supersedes prior discussions.

12.5 Term. This Compact continues until withdrawal or termination under Article XI.

SIGNATURE

The undersigned association has read this Compact in full, understands that it creates no right to receive any payment, and joins freely.

Association name: __________

Country / community served: ______

City, State: ________

Approximate membership: __________

Primary Compact Officer

Name: ____ Title: ______

Signature: ____ Date: ________

Alternate Compact Officer

Name: ____ Title: ______

Signature: ____ Date: ________

Accepted for Together and Stronger

Name: ____ Title: ______

Signature: ____ Date: ________

SCHEDULE A — CASE SUBMISSION FORM

Case number: (assigned by TAS) Date submitted: ______

Sponsoring association: ___________

Compact Officer submitting: _______

Type of situation: ☐ Death — local burial ☐ Death — repatriation ☐ Catastrophic medical ☐ Loss of sole earner ☐ Disaster displacement ☐ Other

Affiliation of the person concerned — how long a member, and in what capacity:

Brief description of the situation (no immigration status, no diagnosis details beyond what is necessary):

Vendor name and license number: _________

Itemized amount quoted: $____ Quote attached: ☐ Yes

Repatriation Cases — consulate contacted: ☐ Yes Country: ____

Consular contact name/date: __________

Amount consulate will cover: $____ ☐ Nothing ☐ Pending

Other assistance sought or received (insurance, crowdfunding, church, employer, other associations):

Amount the sponsoring association can contribute: $____

Amount requested from the network: $____

Family point of contact (name and phone; not published):

Documents attached: ☐ Death certificate / consular notice ☐ Vendor quote ☐ Officer Attestation ☐ Family designation ☐ Other: ____

SCHEDULE B — OFFICER ATTESTATION

I, _____, serving as __ of _____, a Member Association of the Together and Stronger Mutual Aid Compact, state the following:

1. I have personally verified the facts described in this Case submission.

2. I have seen the original documents attached, or their certified copies.

3. To the best of my knowledge, the person concerned was an Affiliated Member in good standing.

4. I have disclosed all other assistance sought or received that is known to me.

5. My association has contributed what it reasonably can and cannot meet the remaining need.

6. I understand that submitting a Case containing false or materially incomplete information results in permanent expulsion of my association from this Compact, public listing of that expulsion, and referral to appropriate authorities.

7. I understand that no association is obligated to contribute, and that I have made no promise of assistance to this family.

Member ID: _ Phone: _ Email: ____

Signature: ____ Date: ________

SCHEDULE C — TIER CEILINGS

To be set by the Compact Council and reviewed annually. Ceilings are maximums, not targets, and confer no entitlement.

Together and Stronger · togetherandstronger.org

This Compact is not insurance and creates no right to any payment.