I often get what appears to be a wild hare across my butt to encourage crazy things to happen. In reality, I think about things for several months or years and then bring them up when the time looks right to me. This past week has been one of those times, and we’re getting ready to launch something I’ve wanted to for about four years, now.
The polyamory community, especially in the US, has some wonderful stuff going for it — we have Loving More and the delightful workshops, publications and publicity work they do, people hosting conventions, people organizing discussion groups on the Internet, and in person, legal defense funds… Just fantastic stuff.
The thing we don’t do as a community (at least that I’ve been aware of) is do a lot of giving to the “rest of the world” as a community. Polyamory has in the past relegated its giving to the polyamory community. That’s well, good and worthy. Not knocking it. It’s needed and should continue.
But we live in a big and diverse world — a world that we’re a part of. In this world, a good path to acceptance, I think, is to show that we are a part of it, know we’re a part of it, and do what we can to make it a better place. It’s hard to hate someone willing to get her hands dirty in the name of charity.
PolyFamilies has come together this past week with the intention of forming a charity fund. The org has no name, nor specific guidelines yet, but there is a single intention among us — to do good in the name of Polyamory.
This is very much in the planning stages, so I can’t throw out exact details. I do invite people who want to be in on it to join PolyFamilies and speak up.
If you’re not into the organization side of things, but are still interested, I promise you’ll have ample opportunity to pitch in. I’ll be advertising about it in this column from time to time, so if you’re into making the world better and helping out the poly community at the same time, here’s a way you can do so.
Remember,
Love is a Verb.
Wishing you well with this project — it sounds like a very good plan!
Looking forward to hearing more as it progresses 🙂
— A ^_^
OK, I pledge $100 once you have a name to write a check to and an address to mail it to.
In the long run, you’re gonna need a way to make donations tax-exempt. The simplest way would be to ask people to write a check directly to the tax-exempt charity chosen, mail the check to you, and you present the checks to the charity in a bundle, with an explanation of who and why. (Is there a way to do this by PalPal too?)
Getting your own 501(c)3 tax-exempt status is long (years long) and can be expensive (thousands of dollars expensive).
Alan
My God, Alan, I don’t know what to say!
*grin* Sure I do… THANK YOU!
We are, indeed going to be setting up a formal org, and will have PayPal buttons etcetera!
501(c)(3) status with the IRS doesn’t take thousands of dollars or years. It takes 6-9 months, and the fee is $150 for small orgs, $500 (I think) for large ones, depending on budget size.
form: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf
instructions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023.pdf
First figure out how to become a nonprofit organization (corporation) in your state. In Pennsylvania, it’s a short form from the Department of State, with a small filing fee ($75, maybe $125…). You’ll need your articles of incorporation and bylaws. The articles & bylaws have to have certain provisions to be compliant with 501(c)(3) regs – so make sure you’ve read the form & instructions for the 501(c)(3) app before doing the articles and bylaws for the state setup.
Lots of successful 501(c)(3) applications are submitted by the groups themselves, not via lawyer. I’ve done two 501(c)(3)s and one 501(c)(7).
Good luck!
Heidi
Great Idea!
No disrespect to Alan, but Heidi is right. 501(c)3 is not all that difficult. I have experience as a Director of Development – grant writing, and have set up a couple 501(c)3 for Ren Fair groups.
I live in CA, but could easily figure out how to file in whichever State you want to claim as your “Domicile” for purposes of administration. Due to a research assignment on which I am currently working, I will, by the end of Nov., be very familiar with CA and Universal Legal codes regarding the investing of charitable funds by non-profits.
And no, it really does not require a lawyer, but if you wait til Nov. 08 to file – I just might be one by then :).
So what I am saying is, if you wanna go the route of a seperate non-profit incorporation, I am happy to volunteer my services.
What a fabulous idea – and a very important point. Kudos on taking this on. I’ll look forward to hearing how it goes and would be willing to make a contribution as well.
Have you asked Warren Buffet to join yet? Hes been in poly relationships for decades, and is now one of the biggest philanthropic givers in the history of humankind..
also, do you have a mailing list yet? when you do, please put me on it..
I expect Mr. Buffet is beset on all sides by requests for money.
If he hears about us and wants to give, why, I’d be delighted, of course.
I think that what the polyamory community (p.c.) can BEST give to the world is to introduce the people to the ideas . Good communication skills are good NOT only for poly people.
Another think that the p.c. can give to the world is a realization that things CAN be better. That many sacred cows (like monogamy) should be challenged. This is true NOT only in relationships, but in all the other areas as well.
It is with this in mind that the Temple of Love was formed.