Anyone with experience establishing a non-profit org

[HHI944]

Through a rather long and twisted series of events in my life, I've discovered a cause about which I feel passionately. I believe that I can make a positive difference by establishing an organization to tie some aspects together. Be glad to PM details if anyone has specific advice, have a barebones website live, but not ready for primetime. Not entirely sure I want to go the whole 501c3 route, would definitely like to discuss the pros and cons of that as well with someone knowledgable.

I've kinda floated through life, making ends meet with jobs at which I was very competent and managing to pay for my toys as well, but never knowing what I wanted to do when I 'grew up' This is it, I believe.

[Rick Lee]

You need to go the 501(c)(3) route if you don't want to pay sales tax for every good and service you buy. That can be serious money you put back into the cause. And a lot of non-profits get special discounts from vendors on top of paying no sales tax. If your goal is raising money, you need to get that website and Facebook page up to par too. Gotta decide what you want to really make happen here. Issue awareness? Legislative action? Fundraising?

[widgeon13]

The other benefit of a 501c3 is that it gives your contributors the opportunity to deduct their contribution on their tax return. For small contributions it's not a big deal but for a larger regular contributor (philanthropic) organization they want and need to document deductions, (foundations).

[HHI944]

No sales tax issues etc.....this would be geared towards issue awareness and action.

[HHI944]

Oh yeah, heavy emphasis on victim services. Maybe not specifically providing them but seeking out the appropriately qualified professionals for the situation. Also something of a support group.

[porsche4life]

Go 501c3. Any sort of thing you do as an organization will need supplies of some sort.

[Zeke]

Home | Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership

One of the premier organizations geared towards helping non profits. They have been asked to expand out of the area but resist. I don't know how you can utilize them but they have their own extensive library on the subject.

Another: GuideStar nonprofit reports and Forms 990 for donors, grantmakers and businesses

Nolo Press has lots of info (for sale)

[Rick Lee]

I'll be a speaker on this webinar on Tues., if you want to get more into this stuff.

For the Charitable Community, Inc.

[RWebb]

what state are you in?

[HHI944]

South Carolina.

[RWebb]

I don't know anything about SC. But, you 1st need to set up a non-profit with the state. Find their corporations web site or however they do it and read carefully. In Oregon and some other states you will set up a corporation -- a not for profit corp. with a Board of Directors and 2 or more officers. Your Or. corp. will have Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

2nd you will register with the IRS and go thru a probationary period.

3rd the IRS will - after you do it all right and send in the rest of the forms - enshrine you as a 501c3 or other classification.

4th you will need to file forms every year with the state & IRS and pay a nominal filing fee; maybe also have yearly Board meetings.

That is the barebones outline of how to DIY.

Read up on it at the IRS web site. There are also books (your library may have some; Nola Press might publish one) designed to help ordinary folks do this. Or you can hire a lawyer to help you but nearly everyone can save that $2k or so and DIY.

SC may be similar to the Or. stuff above, but you'll need to find out.

BTW, many people think all non-profits are 501(c)(3) organizations -- not so -- there are really about a dozen different forms under 501(c) and (3) is just the most common.

So, read thru all the types to see which fits you best.

[Zeke]

BTW, you can't have a similar 501(c)3 similar to one that exists in your region. However, our home association which is not mandatory and not written into CC&R's has non profit status. They had to in order to get insurance for events they put on. It was a long, long process.

And there are other similar non profits for other neighborhoods in this city. So, it seems to be case by case situation. I think that's why Webb is telling you what he says. You have to have an established direction and purpose not in conflict with others.

[nostatic]

Get a lawyer, that will be the quickest/easier way to do it. I'm involved with a couple of non-profits, and one of the nursing home bands I play with just got 501c3 status. There are upsides concerning taxes and ability to raise money, however there also are limitations. For instance our band now cannot accept money from a nursing home for playing a gig.