Anarchists' guide to nonprofit startup law
The infoshop movement is an anarchist news distribution network. Yesterday the movement's online hub--infoshop.org--featured an interesting article forming a local infoshop center, with a particular reference to obtaining 501(c)(3) status in the U.S. There's some imprecision in the article's legal language and I don't endorse all the advice, but the article has a lot of good stuff. Below, some key points from the piece worth highlighting for all nonprofit organizations:
- The terms "nonprofit" and "501(c)(3)" are not synonymous. "Nonprofit" refers to a category of legal status under state law (for example, a nonprofit as a opposed to a for-profit corporation), while 501(c)(3) refers to an organization's status under federal law as a charity exempt from federal income tax.
- Not all nonprofits are charities. Not all tax-exempt organizations are charities. More on this soon!
- It's all too easy to get distracted by complex legal issues at start-up, to the point of not getting anything done.
- However, incorporation is typically advisable, even necessary, if your organization needs to get a bank account or sign any other contracts. Filing basic articles of incorporation can be done quickly with the assistance of a competent lawyer or incorporation service.
- The details of your organization's structure will be spelled out in its bylaws. Tony Mancuso's Nolo book on forming a nonprofit organization has a decent set of model bylaws.
- Obtaining recognition as a 501(c)(3) organization requires a fair bit of time and effort as well as specialized knowledge about the language of tax law.
- Your organization might be able to find an existing recognized 501(c)(3) that will serve as a "umbrella" or "fiscal sponsor" for purposes of federal tax-exemption and deductible gifts. For an example of such an umbrella program in New York, check out Fractured Atlas or the Tides Center.
- An effective organization "is one that is built on healthy human relationships between the participants, not on some perfect organizational plan committed to paper." Amen!
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