NonProfit 501-C Status

Sun Nov 7 16:43:28 MST 2010

I've tried the "DIY legal filings and taxes;"  When forming a corporation it is best to get the professionals involved.   A few dollars now can save you a bunch of headaches later.

One big area is the liability of the officers.  Wouldn't you like to know for sure you are protected as an officer?  Very important.

------------------------

Keith Smith

--- On Sun, 11/7/10, Lisa Kachold <lisakachold at obnosis.com> wrote:

From: Lisa Kachold <lisakachold at obnosis.com>
Subject: Re: NonProfit 501-C Status
To: "Main PLUG discussion list" <plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
Date: Sunday, November 7, 2010, 4:51 AM

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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