Are both of the pages the same group?

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=565460910248711&id=556228454505290

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=556228454505290&story_fbid=565462070248595





On 2014-08-20 00:46, Kaoru Wilbur wrote:

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
<mark@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-lists@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

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