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What is an RCO and what Swisshelm Forward doing for our community by becoming one?

Mar 2

6 min read

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We've collected a series of posts to introduce you to why our neighborhood needs a Registered Community Organization (RCO) and how Swisshelm Forward wants to use the RCO program to serve our community. We figured we should start by outlining the problem we have: development plans and decisions are being made without the input of the people they will affect the most. Swisshelm Park, Duck Hollow, Forward Ave. and Mount Royal Rd are small communities. While our word-of-mouth network is strong, it is not enough to keep us on top of the changes happening in our area.


We have two good examples of how the development process is going in our area. In 2021, the URA started planning remediation of land and building of solar farms in Swisshelm Park. With no official community group to work with, they continue to have problems getting neighbors engaged with the project and many remain underinformed about what is happening. In 2023, a multinational developer tried to quietly slip in to build a large, luxury condo building at the site of the Irish Centre. Neighbors banded together to quickly form Frick Park Friends and protect our area, but there was no legal requirement that any of the work they did would be accepted. Five members of Frick Park Friends decided to find a way to ensure that our area is better informed and that our voices are heard by the people who make decisions about developments in Pittsburgh. We founded Swisshelm Forward in May of 2024 to become our area’s Registered Community Organization (RCO). Please join us over the next few weeks to learn more about the RCO program and Swisshelm Forward’s plans to use it to enhance our community.
We have two good examples of how the development process is going in our area. In 2021, the URA started planning remediation of land and building of solar farms in Swisshelm Park. With no official community group to work with, they continue to have problems getting neighbors engaged with the project and many remain underinformed about what is happening. In 2023, a multinational developer tried to quietly slip in to build a large, luxury condo building at the site of the Irish Centre. Neighbors banded together to quickly form Frick Park Friends and protect our area, but there was no legal requirement that any of the work they did would be accepted. Five members of Frick Park Friends decided to find a way to ensure that our area is better informed and that our voices are heard by the people who make decisions about developments in Pittsburgh. We founded Swisshelm Forward in May of 2024 to become our area’s Registered Community Organization (RCO). Please join us over the next few weeks to learn more about the RCO program and Swisshelm Forward’s plans to use it to enhance our community.
We talk a lot about Swisshelm Forward becoming a Registered Community Organization (RCO). Many people do not know what RCOs are or the role an RCO would play in our community. Today we’ll explain what an RCO is. The RCO program is designed to help keep City Planning connected to the residents in each of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods. RCOs are formed by neighbors who want their community to be involved in decisions about what will be built as Pittsburgh grows and changes. An RCO would be the first point of contact in our neighborhood about projects like the URA’s remediation and solar farm plans for the Slags, PennDOT’s I-376 Commercial St. Bridge Replacement, or any proposed large housing or business development in the area. The RCO is required to help inform the community about proposed developments, to facilitate meetings between developers and community members, and to provide a report on the community’s support or opposition to the project. This infographic is only a small overview of the RCO program. You can also go to the City’s website to learn more about the RCO program: https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/rco.
We talk a lot about Swisshelm Forward becoming a Registered Community Organization (RCO). Many people do not know what RCOs are or the role an RCO would play in our community. Today we’ll explain what an RCO is. The RCO program is designed to help keep City Planning connected to the residents in each of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods. RCOs are formed by neighbors who want their community to be involved in decisions about what will be built as Pittsburgh grows and changes. An RCO would be the first point of contact in our neighborhood about projects like the URA’s remediation and solar farm plans for the Slags, PennDOT’s I-376 Commercial St. Bridge Replacement, or any proposed large housing or business development in the area. The RCO is required to help inform the community about proposed developments, to facilitate meetings between developers and community members, and to provide a report on the community’s support or opposition to the project. This infographic is only a small overview of the RCO program. You can also go to the City’s website to learn more about the RCO program: https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/rco.

Swisshelm Park, Duck Hollow, Forward Ave., and Mount Royal Rd. are small communities. Our residents are often underrepresented in city planning and development decisions. This became particularly apparent in 2023 when a developer proposed to build a large, luxury condo building at the site of the Irish Centre. Our community had no officially recognized group to join the discussion about that project. Community members quickly formed Frick Park Friends in opposition to the proposal. They did this with no guarantee that their work to voice our community’s concerns would be accepted for consideration. While ultimately successful, five Frick Park Friends organizers decided to keep working to ensure that our community got some sort of official recognition for future planning decisions. We began by researching the RCO program to see if this could help empower our community. We learned that the RCO program creates bridge between the City and developers who want to build in a community and the residents who live there. Having an RCO to represent our small community will keep us informed about development plans in the area and ensure that we are part of the development conversation BEFORE decisions are made. Thus, we began the process to form Swisshelm Forward and get RCO designation.
Swisshelm Park, Duck Hollow, Forward Ave., and Mount Royal Rd. are small communities. Our residents are often underrepresented in city planning and development decisions. This became particularly apparent in 2023 when a developer proposed to build a large, luxury condo building at the site of the Irish Centre. Our community had no officially recognized group to join the discussion about that project. Community members quickly formed Frick Park Friends in opposition to the proposal. They did this with no guarantee that their work to voice our community’s concerns would be accepted for consideration. While ultimately successful, five Frick Park Friends organizers decided to keep working to ensure that our community got some sort of official recognition for future planning decisions. We began by researching the RCO program to see if this could help empower our community. We learned that the RCO program creates bridge between the City and developers who want to build in a community and the residents who live there. Having an RCO to represent our small community will keep us informed about development plans in the area and ensure that we are part of the development conversation BEFORE decisions are made. Thus, we began the process to form Swisshelm Forward and get RCO designation.

The process of becoming an RCO is long. We had to find people to build a new community organization, do the paperwork to get 501(c)3 tax exempt status, write all the governing documents that will explain how Swisshelm Forward works, and request support from Councilperson Warwick. Here is an infographic to help you understand the process and see where Swisshelm Forward is on the journey. We will go through each of the required items in detail to make sure you understand that they are and how Swisshelm Forward will meet them to serve the community. MARCH 2025 UPDATE: We submitted our application, had our first meeting with City Planning, and are currently awaiting approval as an RCO after we made some minor revisions to our governing documents to meet City Planning's standards. Another March 2025 UPDATE: WE ARE OFFICIAL! We were on boarded as the City's newest RCO on March 13, 2025.
The process of becoming an RCO is long. We had to find people to build a new community organization, do the paperwork to get 501(c)3 tax exempt status, write all the governing documents that will explain how Swisshelm Forward works, and request support from Councilperson Warwick. Here is an infographic to help you understand the process and see where Swisshelm Forward is on the journey. We will go through each of the required items in detail to make sure you understand that they are and how Swisshelm Forward will meet them to serve the community. MARCH 2025 UPDATE: We submitted our application, had our first meeting with City Planning, and are currently awaiting approval as an RCO after we made some minor revisions to our governing documents to meet City Planning's standards. Another March 2025 UPDATE: WE ARE OFFICIAL! We were on boarded as the City's newest RCO on March 13, 2025.
Mission statements formalize the values and aims of an organization. One requirement of the RCO program and the applications for charitable status we filed with the state and federal government is to have a mission statement. Swisshelm Forward’s Acting Board worked hard to make clear our desire to unify and enhance our community. We have big goals and hope that you will be involved with Swisshelm Forward to help us achieve them.
Mission statements formalize the values and aims of an organization. One requirement of the RCO program and the applications for charitable status we filed with the state and federal government is to have a mission statement. Swisshelm Forward’s Acting Board worked hard to make clear our desire to unify and enhance our community. We have big goals and hope that you will be involved with Swisshelm Forward to help us achieve them.

The City of Pittsburgh requires that RCOs be certified as 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations. To gain this status, an organization must prove to the state and federal governments that their mission falls under the legal definition of a charitable organization by meeting one of the exempt purposes in the tax code (https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exempt-purposes-internal-revenue-code-section-501c3). 501(c)3 charities must track and report their finances the IRS to prove they are using their money to fulfill their mission. This is done through both annual tax reporting and a regular renewal process. The benefits of a tax-exemption also come with some restrictions. For example, organizations with 501(c)3 status are not allowed to engage in campaigning or use their money for the personal benefit of the people running the organization. Swisshelm Forward received its charitable status in August of 2024. We are excited to be accountable to the community we serve.
The City of Pittsburgh requires that RCOs be certified as 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations. To gain this status, an organization must prove to the state and federal governments that their mission falls under the legal definition of a charitable organization by meeting one of the exempt purposes in the tax code (https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exempt-purposes-internal-revenue-code-section-501c3). 501(c)3 charities must track and report their finances the IRS to prove they are using their money to fulfill their mission. This is done through both annual tax reporting and a regular renewal process. The benefits of a tax-exemption also come with some restrictions. For example, organizations with 501(c)3 status are not allowed to engage in campaigning or use their money for the personal benefit of the people running the organization. Swisshelm Forward received its charitable status in August of 2024. We are excited to be accountable to the community we serve.

The City’s RCO program requires organizations to serve a confined geographical area. We chose a boundary that includes residents in Swisshelm Park, Duck Hollow, and on Forward Ave. and Mount Royal Rd. Everyone living in the boundary is interested in developments in Frick Park, along the Nine Mile Run and in the Commercial-Forward corridor. If you live in this boundary, you can be a member of Swisshelm Forward. Becoming an active member signs you up for our e-newsletter, keeps you informed about development project related meetings and updates, and will allow you to take a leadership role in Swisshelm Forward. We need active members like you to be a successful in fulfilling our mission!
The City’s RCO program requires organizations to serve a confined geographical area. We chose a boundary that includes residents in Swisshelm Park, Duck Hollow, and on Forward Ave. and Mount Royal Rd. Everyone living in the boundary is interested in developments in Frick Park, along the Nine Mile Run and in the Commercial-Forward corridor. If you live in this boundary, you can be a member of Swisshelm Forward. Becoming an active member signs you up for our e-newsletter, keeps you informed about development project related meetings and updates, and will allow you to take a leadership role in Swisshelm Forward. We need active members like you to be a successful in fulfilling our mission!

The people who live in our neighborhood arrived here by many paths. Our diverse community is what makes if such a great place to live. Swisshelm Forward’s biggest goal is to be is a community organization for the WHOLE community.
The people who live in our neighborhood arrived here by many paths. Our diverse community is what makes if such a great place to live. Swisshelm Forward’s biggest goal is to be is a community organization for the WHOLE community.

The goals of the RCO program are to make sure that information about proposed developments gets out to the community that will be affected by the development and that community members get to have a say in what happens in their neighborhood. The area Swisshelm Forward Serves is made up of small communities that have been left out of development conversations in the past. We consider making sure community members are informed and involved in development planning before decisions are made about our area to be our most important calling. We promise to make sure you know about development projects proposed or happening in our area, are provided with the factual information about developments that you need, and that you have the opportunity to share your opinion about development projects with City officials and developers. There will be times Swisshelm Forward will be asked to provide a report on our residents’ thoughts about a proposed project. In these cases, we will collect and faithfully report the opinions of our residents to ensure that any recommendation we are asked to proved reflects the voice of our community.
The goals of the RCO program are to make sure that information about proposed developments gets out to the community that will be affected by the development and that community members get to have a say in what happens in their neighborhood. The area Swisshelm Forward Serves is made up of small communities that have been left out of development conversations in the past. We consider making sure community members are informed and involved in development planning before decisions are made about our area to be our most important calling. We promise to make sure you know about development projects proposed or happening in our area, are provided with the factual information about developments that you need, and that you have the opportunity to share your opinion about development projects with City officials and developers. There will be times Swisshelm Forward will be asked to provide a report on our residents’ thoughts about a proposed project. In these cases, we will collect and faithfully report the opinions of our residents to ensure that any recommendation we are asked to proved reflects the voice of our community.

Oof, now we’ve gotten to the hardest part of building a new community organization: the bylaws. This governing document outlines everything about how the organization works. Because it is so important, Swisshelm Forward’s Acting Board has been taking extra time to make sure our bylaws meet legal standards and set a strong base Swisshelm Forward’s operations into the future. JANUARY 2025 UPDATE: The Acting Board approved bylaws in January of 2025. FEBRUARY 2025 UPDATE: The Acting Board approved some very minor changes to the by laws to meet the standards for RCOs set out by City Planning. These amended bylaws have been submitted to City Planing for review and approval of Swisshelm Forward as an RCO.
Oof, now we’ve gotten to the hardest part of building a new community organization: the bylaws. This governing document outlines everything about how the organization works. Because it is so important, Swisshelm Forward’s Acting Board has been taking extra time to make sure our bylaws meet legal standards and set a strong base Swisshelm Forward’s operations into the future. JANUARY 2025 UPDATE: The Acting Board approved bylaws in January of 2025. FEBRUARY 2025 UPDATE: The Acting Board approved some very minor changes to the by laws to meet the standards for RCOs set out by City Planning. These amended bylaws have been submitted to City Planing for review and approval of Swisshelm Forward as an RCO.


Mar 2

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