Great info Mark. I am sure the new Maricopa Pinal GNU Linux users group will find this useful as they complete their charter.
On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 6:35 PM, Mark Phillips <m...@phillipsmarketing.biz> wrote: > Just to add my two cents to the non-profit discussion. I set up a 501c3 > corporation over 10 years ago for my daughters' club softball teams. I was > the head coach and president of the corporation. I had a lawyer help with > the application as probono work....I downloaded the application from the > IRS, filled it out, asked the attorney a few questions, he reviewed the > final application, and the IRS approved it. I kept the books in gnucash and > filed the annual tax forms myself....a few reports from gnucash and some > electronic filings with the state and IRS. I had three teams and over $45K > in annual donations, so it was not that small of an operation. It was easy. > It is amazing what one can learn by just reading the IRS handouts. I did > not need a CPA or attorney after the initial filing with the IRS. I also > haven't been audited or sent to jail for my 501c3. I am also not a CPA or > attorney...just an engineer with an MBA. I think there is a certain mystic > about non-profit organizations that is just not true. It is not that big of > a deal. You need three officers, just like any other AZ corporation to get > started. > > I am not volunteering to set up the non-profit, nor do I have an opinion > whether PLUG should be a non-profit or not. I am just saying that from my > personal experience, it is not as scary and difficult to setup and run a > non-profit as part of this discussion is making it out to be. > > Mark > > > On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 1:53 PM, Gilbert T. Gutierrez, Jr. < > mailing-li...@phoenixinternet.net> wrote: > >> There are ongoing costs to being a non-profit. You do have to file taxes >> every year. I believe in the past that was not so if you were not having a >> certain amount of funds running through your accounts. Additionally, the >> board, or officers, are responsible for the accuracy of those taxes and the >> compliance of the organization which should not ever be overlooked. >> >> I would not say its a good thing or a bad thing. I would say it is a good >> thing if you have a bunch of corporate donors lined up to provide >> significant funding to some of the plug activities. If you are speaking of >> a $100 here or there (under $1k/year), I would say that it is a waste of >> time becoming a non-profit. >> >> You will have to have money to maintain the following... >> 1. CPA for tax season, >> 2. Lawyer (mostly for initial filings, but also for organization), >> 3. Commercial bank account (banks charge for those things). >> >> This is my 2 cents only. I was once on the board of a charitable >> organization that failed. It was a lot of work and I always had concerns >> about money mismanagement. >> >> Gilbert >> >> >> >> On 8/19/2014 12:24 PM, Ed wrote: >> >>> The need to be a non-profit, and not being one, has bit us in the ass >>> in the past. >>> >>> this should be done now as there is no pressing need - when the need >>> occurs is not when you want to be starting this. >>> >>> There are some initial costs (fees) just becoming a state recognized >>> organization, getting a federal non-profit status will take longer - >>> The purpose would be education. A bank account is needed and finding a >>> lawyer/accountant that is willing to support the group pro-bono (post >>> a wanted add at ASU) are also needed. Don't skimp on infrastructure - >>> you're starting a distributed group, support it. >>> >>> Start with a group of founders (10+) - each founder brings a C-note.... >>> >>> Start fresh - don't reverse into an established papertrail - don't >>> play adopt a fubar (unless that fubar is a shell of a listed public >>> company - even then it's a bad idea) Keep detailed records of who does >>> what when, you are maintaining IP now. >>> >>> when talking to other non-profits, ask who they use - get a referral - >>> take a meeting - make a list. think about who is good for the advisory >>> board (ie not people you now know) pay them. >>> >>> involve more people than you think you will need - you will need more >>> - tasks should be assigned to teams (not people) >>> share everything - keep open books >>> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >
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