[freegeek-startup] Filling out paperwork for a 501(c)(3) - Please need help, advise, or suggestions

[Jim Craner]

Hi Shawn,

I think the rules for compensation for board members and similar situations is 
variable by state - and you should *definitely* check with someone who knows 
for sure, like your state attorney general's office.  

I sit on a couple of boards in Illinois, one of which will eventually become 
FREE GEEK Chicago, and on both of them we have decided that board members 
will not receive any compensation just to avoid these issues.

Here in Chicago there is a project staffed by pro bono lawyers that assists 
existing NPOs with legal issues, and also helps people launch new NPOs 
correctly, doing all the paperwork, by-laws, etc.  You can see if there's 
something similar in your state/city.

Hope this helps and best of luck from the FG/Chi crew!
-Jim



On Tuesday 08 August 2006 19:11, Shawn Campbell wrote:
> Richard brought up a good point about asking for advise or help in filling
> out the paperwork for a 501(c)(3). So I am asking for it. I am planning on
> filling out the paperwork starting this weekend when I get back from my
> last business trip.
>
> I have a good grasp of what a non-profit organization is, and some basics
> of how they need to be ran.
>
> One other question I did come across. It says in a lot of the documentation
> that I have read is that revenues are NOT to go to a sole person, or board
> members outside of reasonable reimbursements. It is not quite clear if you
> can pay board members for their time serving or not. Or here is another
> situation, let's say I am the project coordinator AND serve on the board in
> some way. Does that mean that I cannot collect a pay check?
>
> Thanks again for everyone's help on this. And the reason for somewhat of
> the rush for info and filing is that I have some donors already lined up
> and a very good  chance of two very big donors (State Farm) and an adoptor,
> the local chapter of the Red Cross. I am also planning on going out next
> Monday and speak with a lot of directors of local non-profits. There is
> also a large up and coming local recycling event in October and business
> are NOT allowed to being there hazardous waste, computer equipment
> included. I am hoping to change that by taking their equipment as well as
> the residential equipment that some recycler is just going to trash and not
> even see or use stuff that is still good. There is a potential for at least
> 500+ computers, monitors, etc. at this event.
>
> Regards...
>
> Shawn
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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