🚀 go-pugleaf

At 07:16 AM 9/12/98 -0400, Todd wrote:
>  Question...
>
>  Okay, so we've got a group of 40 people together working as spotters.
>Got a web page.  Made a SOP Manual.  Have relations with local EOC.
>That's all great but...  Now...how do we go about creating the paperwork
>necessary to be able to form a recognized group that can legally raise funds
>for itself?  Never done this before, so I'm kinda lost on that.

Proceedures vary with each state. Contact your Attorney General for more
info. You will form a non-proffit corporation registered with your state.
Once you get that, then you have to file with the IRS for non-profit status
to obtain a 501(c)3 recognition. This takes about a year to accomplish.
Once you have that, you can go to businesses and tell them that you are a
registered non-profit corporation. Do you know any lawyers in your state
that might do some gratus work? Maybe another ham or someone interested in
emergency services? That's the best way... The corporation paperwork here
in Ohio isn't all that complicated, but the IRS work is a bit more involved...

You don't have to do this if you are just asking for small donations from
Mom and Pop businesses(usually), but larger corporations like the tax
write-off benefits they get by donating to a 501(c)3 non-profit group.

  Can we
>call ourselves - on that paperwork - "Alachua County SKYWARN," too?  Can we
>do that?  Or is there any kind of legal ownership of the word SKYWARN which
>would prevent actually using it in the name like that?

Not sure on this one. We have a group called Lucas County Amatuer Radio
Emergency Services, Inc.(LCARES, Inc.) Notice the "s" on the end of
services. This tends to be a fund-raising group for all amatuer radio
emergency stuff, including Skywarn(Skywarn & ARES), EOC operations(RACES
and ARES) and a radio van(LCARES, Inc) that it also makes available
throughout NW Ohio. Skywarn, ARES and RACES  _CAN_ all operate together if
you just forget the politics and communicate...(what hams do best, right?).

>
>  Also, anyone have any ideas for actually _raising_ the money once we've
>got the above out of the way?  So many students ALREADY out there doing car
>washes every day that I think _that_ idea is out.  8-)  Do you just pick up
>a telephone and start calling local businesses and ask for contributions or
>something?

Corporate donations are a big help. Phone contact is usually the 1st
contact, but be prepared to set up an appointment and go see someone in
person. Go to a business with an idea of what you want in mind. Do it
professionally... Have a nice looking letter explaining who you are and
what you need. Be specific unless you are looking for operating moneys(even
then tell them what it might be used for). Some will give operating cash,
others will give only products. If you need a 2m radio, approach the
targeted businness and tell them who you are, why you are doing what you
are doing and ask for the dollars to purchase this particular radio. Some
people like to be able to buy things for groups and prefer that you tell
them exactly what you need, where to buy it and where to send it, and they
will put it on their company's charge card... Other businesses will only
donate something they produce or sell.

Foundation and corporate grants are another way to get money. Search under
charitable grants in any search engine will get you a bunch of hits. Some
will be specific to certain geographical areas, others will be for a
certain cause, but there will be some that you can apply to. Follow each
foundation's application directions. They are all different...

We have found that the best times to go after donations is right after the
1st of the year(new budgets).

Of course, be realistic in what you are asking for. A $2000 HF rig from the
local donut shop probably won't fly, but a $200 mobile might. Or what about
a donation of 2 dozen donuts for your meetings?

Asking for donations IS tough work. Expect a lot of rejections, but at ALL
times be nice to all who you ask. They might not have the $$ or
capabilities to help this time, but in the future, they might...

Hope this helps a bit...

73

Chris, N8WGB
NW Ohio Skywarn

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