Refugee aid organization in North carolina....

Hi and Welcome to Tech Soup!

I think you will find many resources here to help you with your efforts. Just pick the topic you have question for and you should get the answer you are looking for.

Chris

Hi and welcome to TechSoup--

I encourage you to have a look around our site to see the kinds of technology-related resources we have (articles, free downloads, forum discussions, etc.) that may help you with your nonprofit. Feel free to post any questions that you might have here in the forums! Other good nonprofit resources that you might check out are Idealist and the Foundation Center.

Thanks and see you around the forums,

Megan

Thank you so much for the words and links...We have not filed for incorporation or 501 status yet...we were planning of going with legal zoom that does it for like 600 bucks can someone tell me if its legal to get donations for this filing with a good faith promise letter that once the non profit has 501 status we will deliver a tax deductible letter for that initial donation? can this also apply for basic office equipment like a laptop, cellphone service, projector etc...??????

please help I want to start our foundation with the right foot.....THANKS !!!!!

Mike

When you apply for your 501 status you may or may not be approved by the IRS as a 501c3 the IRS may define you as a different type of charity that does not provide for tax deductibility for your donor's donation.

I would approach your donors during this time based on your mission and the needs you are trying to fulfill over the ability of your donor to get a tax deduction.  You may also look to your board and volunteers to get some "skin in the game" because of your cause.

As far as my understanding with Tech Soup you will need the official IRS letter to prove your status.

In regards of the products you were looking for from Tech Soup, we may be able to suggest some no cost or low cost alternatives to get you started, some examples are

Microsoft Office --  Open Office

File Server software -- Free Nas

Fire wall -- m0n0wall

Dave

When we first applied, we only helped the disable,  we had two families come to us for help with food.  We changed our by-laws ti include helping unemployeed and disable with food and other help when funds prvail.

Sent it to IRS

TE - GE orrespondence    Unit                                                                                                                             

Room 4024

P.O. Box 2508

Cincinnati, OH 4201

You must change your By-Laws fist.  If not the IRS will have to approve your request. If done before you send it in they just add it to your file/