No, they are not. The WCOA is a department of the Town of Westport. Their primary function is to identify and meet the needs of Westport’s senior population and to inform seniors and the community of available programs and services. The FWCOA is a volunteer non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to support the Westport Council on Aging in providing services, resources and activities to enhance the quality of life for Westport’s seniors. It is essentially a fund-raising and support organization.
When you donate to the FWCOA, the funds stay with the FWCOA, and the Friends, in conjunction with the COA Director, decide where the funds are needed most. It might be a large item like purchase of a van or smaller items like outings for the Social Day participants or events like the Veterans’ Breakfast. Because the FWCOA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. When you donate to the WCOA, the funds are forwarded to the Town of Westport. The donation is allocated to the Senior Center budget in general, or according to your specific instructions.