NonProfit 501-C Status

[Lisa Kachold]

On Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 4:09 PM, ChasM Marshall <chasm750 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>    Herding Penguins is a niche skill, but,
> I bet it's been done before.
>

Yes, it's an easy business process.  The paperwork and directions can be
downloaded for Arizona.

>
>   Are there other 501-c user groups that have blazed this trail already?
>

Yes, in most cities half our size, the UGs run with massive corporate and
student interaction from internships to recycling fund raisers after
rehoming each years worth of corporate donactions.


>
>   I would be interested to see if any have failed after organizing.
> After all, business ventures always measure the down-side risks.
>

No other PLUGS fail, they just freeze up.

There are no downside risks.

>
>   This part does seem to be on the down side:
> "An ACTUAL business plan, etc.  with a financial statement are required."
> Hunting down a corporate CPA, or tax accountant, or other qualified
> non-penguin,
> this would be a good Second Step?  Yes?
>

NO, penguins with business saavy or nimple secretary/CFO type businessy
wives don't need any CPA, etc.
DIY for building servers, DIY for non-profit legal filings and taxes; which
is what other LUGS do for non-profit business requirements.


>   The First Step would be a general (penguin) agreement that
> the Phoenix area could really, actually, use this organization.
> PLUG already functions like a commUNITY resource, but,
> Penguins may not see the scale and perspective of this whole iceberg.
>
>   I've already seen THIS e-mail list benefit both the PLUG members
> (associates?)
> along with their employers.  So, I don't need to be sold on the non-profit
> idea.
> I would argue the opposite.
>
>   Right now, this group is a bit too "virtual" and slightly erratic.
> We change meeting times, and places, and our "responsibilities" are getting
> confused with the decision to wear a hat, or take an umbrella.
> It's pretty much hit or miss when I drive to Avondale (or now Glendale)
> from Tonopah, expecting a scheduled monthly group meet.
>
>   Yah, IMHO organization beats chaos.
>
>   (-:  Chas.M.  :-)
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 21:33:08 -0700
>
> Subject: Re: NonProfit 501-C Status
> From: lisakachold at obnosis.com
> To: plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
>
>
> 501c is a legality that requires some skills that are somewhat outside the
> penguin perspective -- administrative and corporate legal type.
>
> 501c status allows the PLUG to actually run as a non-profit, solicit
> donations from corporations that can thereby get a tax write off.
>
> Alternately, the PLUG could bid for internships, and allow people to fill
> contract requirements under a work study in cooperation with the community
> colleges and universities.
>
> All of the time and donations we all put forth for the PLUG, including
> shirts, disks, tools, gas, days of working with others can be written off as
> a business expense.
>
> Of course, the PLUG then gets a great deal more opportunity, people show up
> with more interest than learning or getting into classes or standing around
> looking like penguins and starts to cascade beyond being manageable by the
> people who love linux.
>
> So the steps to do this have been extensively posted in this archeological
> dig called EMAIL a few times so I won't beleager you with it again, except
> to say that a business is required first.  An ACTUAL business plan, etc.
> with a financiai statement are required.
>
> Who has these skills?
>
> Also the costs along the way with the city and state (without legal fees
> doing it ourselves) are estimated at $900.00.
>
> Of course it's definately worth it as a one time measure.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 5:50 PM, ChasM Marshall <chasm750 at hotmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> "Status for the PLUG -- any volunteers to do that for us?"
>
> I hereby volunteer the subject title.  :-)
>
> You [ ya'll ] discuss Pros & Cons:
>
>
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>
>
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