Comments on: Hold Please

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:20:56 +0000

Yes, to become recognized as a non-profit organization [501(c)(3)] is not trivial. As you’ve seen the paperwork, it is not simple (enough to choke an elephant). However, the government is motivated to eliminate fraudulent people/groups from paying their fair share of taxes. Did you know that the NFL (Charities) is one of the largest 501(c)(3)?

A tax lawyer is highly recommended to navigate the paperwork.

By: matthew thompson

matthew thompson — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:51:55 +0000

Hey hey… quit knockin the tax code… keeps me in a job. Hee hee.

By: Tony P

Tony P — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:00:37 +0000

The tax code has been modified so many times for special interests that it is now similar to swiss cheese. Lots of holes in it.

By: Bandit.pdx

Bandit.pdx — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:50:27 +0000

I was gonna ask something similar to Justin’s question. I vaguely remember you mentioning the non-profit but don’t remember the details of its purpose or MO. I was gonna suggest maybe there is a similar organization that would like to have a chapter in S.F. The one that comes to mind is Portland’s FreeGeek (http://www.freegeek.org).

They take in used equipment, ‘employ’ volunteers to salvage and retask. After so many hours of service the volunteers get free systems.

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:16:40 +0000

Have you thought of getting a fiscal sponsor? It’s the way that most nonprofits get off the ground. They find another nonprofit to act as an umbrella organization, and then they take a small percentage of income (or sometimes flat fee) for administrative purposes. You might even find someone who would do your back end administrative functions. I know that the Tides Center sponsors a lot of startup nonprofits. You could look there.

By: Cory

Cory — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:12:30 +0000

I get rid of a lot of things via Craigslist freebie lists. Many times people flake but other times it makes someone (or some organization) without much money really really happy to receive a working TV/printer/monitor/refridge etc. I call it “social recycling.” Also, I nuke or smash all my media before giving it away or turning in at recycling centers. There are lots of free programs for Mac and PC that will do 3+ overwriting of drives and media with random characters. Many of them meet DOD’s requirements for their own discards. cheers!

By: Sheepy

Sheepy — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:52 +0000

I work at a private foundation, so I am intimately acquainted with the tax code. It is indeed annoying.

On a side note, I know someone who donated his computer to a school and now he is in federal prison for possession of child porn because there was a video on his hard drive that included actors under 18. He was 21 at the time he downloaded it.

He will be a registered sex offender when he gets out.