Starting a Non-profit?
Posted by pano | Under Herb Garden Monday Feb 20, 2012I’m 14 and have been a volunteer for my local senior center since I was 10. I volunteer every Thursday during summer. Plus, since it’s government owned I do the cities holiday events as well. I have a had a passion for gardening my whole life. As well as a passion in helping people. Over the years I would always be at my grandma gardening for her and as a reward I would get cool plants and money in return. I loved it. Just about a couple months ago I pursued indoor gardening. Started with one light and a tin herb garden. Then grew to racks with lights, plant food, and all sorts of professional items! I grow around 30 plants at a time so far I have done 28 basil and 50 parsley… The basil are put into cups after germination… then I bring them down to the senior center and place them on a table with a little information about my process. The seniors always take the plants and they LOVE them. I know or at least recognized a lot of seniors there and have gained friendships… I also volunteer at my church’s Senior Connections. They have something called tips with a purpose. I volunteer with them once a month on their monthly dinner. I work for around 7 hours… from preparation to dishes in the church’s kitchen. Seniors tip me and the other volunteers then the money is split to the volunteers. I normally get -80. That money is then put into an account for me to direct. Of course I use the money for seniors. I am using it now to buy a real nice indoor fireplace for the senior center. I would like to combine my love of plants and seniors by starting a non-profit called "Plants for Seniors". I could then have a non-profit bank account that I can have my church money go into then I could purchase all my soil and seeds using that account. I also could then buy more supplies to get bigger and provide even more plants of all sorts! I have connections with my cities various departments. We have a festival every year and it’s like any festival with hundreds of tents with goods from citizens! I could sell plants in a cup for (nice sized ones too) and the money can go right into my non-profit. I would NOT bank any money for myself. I could then upgrade from plastic cups to clay cups. I could also probably get my local Hardware store to donate some or give me a discounted price. I need to know what I have to do to get a non-profit started. I do realize I need an attorney to start one. How can I do this for cheap or find one that will do it for free? I do have around 0 right now I could use for costs to start up. So money wise I’d be set.
I live in Washington State in the Snohomish County area. So if you or you know someone who could help me out who is an attorney please post.
I don’t know any lawyers there. You should ask the pastor/priest at your church if he knows of an attorney that is a member of the congregation that might help.
A nonprofit organization is a LEGAL entity and ONLY adults can file the legal documents and conduct the legal affairs.
You must be at least 18 to do this.
No, your mother can not do it for you.
A nonprofit organization is a corporation, just like Sears, or General Motors, or McDonald’s.
You must file Articles of Incorporation papers in your home state the same way.
Contact your state Department of State.
That costs about $500.
You also have to search the business listings of every state where you want to do business to make sure that no one else is using the name that you choose.
Yes, EVERY STATE.
if even one person in one state is using that name, YOU can’t use it.
You must have a board of directors, officers, a place of business, board meetings, and publicly available minutes of those meetings.
You must file form 1023 to apply to the IRS for tax exempt status.
There are 31 different tax exempt categories.
From your description, you probably fit into section 501.c.3 of the IRS Code.
Failure to do this can land you in prison and you will have to pay taxes on any money you collect.
You can read more about it here.
http://www.irs.gov/charities/index.html
After you get IRS approval, you apply to your state for a solicitation license.
That’s free, but if you try to collect money from the public without it, you will face a $1000 fine and a year in jail for EACH offense.
That’s through the Department of State too.
No, not the US State Department.
YOUR STATE’S Department of State.
You can also apply to your state for a sales tax exemption certificate so that the organization doesn’t have to pay sales taxes on its supplies.
That would be your state Revenue Department.
Then you follow any local government regulations.
Then you file a bunch of reporting forms with the IRS and various state and local agencies monthly, quarterly, or annually – whatever is required.
So that’s between $900 and $1800, NOT COUNTING LAWYERS.
THEN you can raise money for your projects.
These laws exist for a reason.
We cannot allow just anyone to take money from the public and CLAIM that they are going to "give it to poor people".
It’s time to be a grownup and learn to take care of your own life.
Find an organization that’s doing the work that you want to do and volunteer.
Learn.
http://www.serve.gov/
I have been a volunteer, staff, manager, board member, board president, and consultant to nonprofit corporations for 30 years.
I know what I’m talking about.