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Doing 501(c)(3) is a pain in the ass for everyone equally -- it is independent of your organization. There are lots of forms to fill out, questions to answer, budgets, bylaws, etc., etc. On the other hand, the process is fairly straigh-forward -- you just have to go through it all. We hired a lawyer who is experienced at bringing forming organizations from a bunch of internal discussions to acceptance of 501(c)(3) status -- she charged us $2,000 for all this. If you can find a lawyer who is into what you're doing, as we did, maybe you can raise the money, as we did, to hire them to help out. I am way glad we've had our lawyer's help in all this.<BR>
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The IRS examiner's job is not to see whether they think your organization is worthwhile, but to see if it fits into the public benefit category of non-profit you're requesting, that it is viably financially, and especially to make sure that no one can take advantage of the organization to evade paying their share of taxes.<BR>
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So, it really does not matter if you are promoting widgets, saving whales, feeding kids, or promoting community through education via hacking and hackers. If you have a mission that fits in with a public benefit, have all the paperwork done, and jump through all the hoops, you can get 501(c)(3) status.<BR>
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Mitch.<BR>
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<BR>> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:27:09 -0700<BR>> From: noid23@gmail.com<BR>> To: discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org<BR>> Subject: Re: [hackerspaces] US hackerspaces - corporation formation and 501(c)3 status<BR>> <BR>> I'd really be keen on learning more about the whole process. We here<BR>> at the Lodge had thought about going that route but backed off because<BR>> it looked insanely complicated and a mutual friend of ours who runs a<BR>> charity (gets schoolbooks and educational materials to poor kids in<BR>> Africa) talked about what a PitA it was. We figured if the guy who was<BR>> helping poor kids in Africa had a hell of a time getting his set up, a<BR>> pack of hackers in a rented workspace would probably not stand a<BR>> chance.<BR>> <BR>> Nick, maybe you and I could pow-wow for a bit at Toorcamp, its been a<BR>> while since we caught up anyways..Shame my current batch of homebrew<BR>> wont be ready in time..I still have plenty of homebrew cider though..<BR>> <BR>> PGP Key ID: 0x0517358E<BR>> "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they<BR>> are free" - Goethe<BR>> --<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 8:05 AM, Nick Farr (HacDC)<nickfarr@hacdc.org> wrote:<BR>> > On Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 15:38, Mitch Altman <maltman23@hotmail.com> wrote:<BR>> >><BR>> >> At Noisebridge we also went the 501(c)(3) route. We got a bunch of<BR>> >> questions back from the IRS examiner, and answered them all last week. We<BR>> >> should hear back soon.<BR>> ><BR>> > Hey Mitch! Do you think anyone at Noisebridge would mind if you shared<BR>> > those questions and your responses back?<BR>> ><BR>> > I've had to answer similar questions for other non-profits in the past, and<BR>> > I think it'd be really helpful for others filing their apps to see what the<BR>> > IRS is interested in finding out!<BR>> ><BR>> > Hope to see you guys at ToorCamp!<BR>> ><BR>> > --<BR>> > Nick Farr / http://nickfarr.org<BR>> > Washington, DC, 20013-1208 | +1 (202) 316-5850 | Fax: +1 (866) 536-2616<BR>> > Sent from Washington, DC, United States<BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > Discuss mailing list<BR>> > Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org<BR>> > http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Discuss mailing list<BR>> Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org<BR>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss<BR></body>
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