AUGD: late comment on 501(c)(3)
AUGD: late comment on 501(c)(3)
- Subject: AUGD: late comment on 501(c)(3)
- From: "Kathryn Cecelia Whitacre" <email@hidden>
- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:39:37 -0700
I was the reason our calligraphy guild got its nonprofit status. The reason we did it would probably be similar to why a user group would.
It isn't about saving us money. It was about validating us as a valid group that had substance; rather than being loosely knit (potentially here today and gone tomorrow)
We did it for the ability to solicit and receive donations. We can apply for grants. We can use public buildings, which very often have caveats that the group must be a nonprofit.
Results: we currently meet in a public school building for no fee. Only the district and non-profits can use it without paying.
We are helping with a large event in our area, and if needed could apply for grants to offset costs that it may bring. We sponsored a large international calligraphy conference that brought in large sums of money that were distributed to all nonprofit calligraphy groups when the conference was over. If the guild weren't non profit the University of Puget Sound would not have allowed us to sponsor the event nor could we have received our share of the funds.
It does take extra paper work, but if you keep a bank account, and report to the board monthly there really isn't much more to do. It does cost a fee, but so does paying rent. Around here renting public meeting space seems to average about $20/hr. We meet about 3hrs a month, plus the occasional all day workshop. So it really saves us money.
I do agree you need to know YOUR groups needs. Our UG does not have a non-profit, even at the state level. We really felt that Apple should have set something up to cover bonified groups, but they never have. It could sure help us get space if we had a non-profit umbrella. But there isn't one. So we have been in a state of flux for over a year, since loosing a very nice meeting space.
I am sure you all can nod your heads that you can find a place, but not available at the time you need. Or the space is priced right, but too small. It's in the wrong location for people to drive to or they feel the location is unsafe. Finding a space isn't easy. Anything that can help it is a big plus in my book.
Not having a consistent meeting place leads to drops in connections with people who are considering membership; Moving keeps you less visible.
Just my tardy input on a topic I know about first hand with another group. Oh, it took me 17 months of paperwork with the IRS to acquire our letter of determination. And as all groups, we only just rented a safety deposit box (3/08) for our IRS files(founded in 1985; IRS letter 1993). Don't leave them with just any member, as people move, quit the group and die without telling others where things are. Our calligraphy group has lost several important items. The letter of determination letter will not be reissued without reapplication, according to the IRS letter accompanying our documents. So how stable your group is can make a difference, too.
Good luck to any who try to jump through the hoops blindly. My last piece of advise is to get a copy of a similar group's application and use it as a model. This really helped me. The forms have changed so if the group filed 20 years ago some of the questions may require a tax attorney/cpa/etc. But using the footprints of another similar group can save you weeks of time and many dollars.
KaCe Whitacre, NWAP and Tacoma Calligraphy Guild
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