Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

jeff story · 2010-08-20 00:18:23

I have an opportunity to donate to a non profit organization of my choice through my employer, Kellogg's, who will match my contributions. The first thing that came to mind was the Linux community and specifically, my OS of choice Arch Linux.

The non profit organization however, has to be a 501(c) status. I couldn't find any info regarding Arch's 501(c) status.
Would someone here be able to answer this question?

Last edited by jeff story (2010-08-20 08:34:01)

Xyne · 2010-08-20 02:41:01

You might get a faster response if you directly contact one of the devs (Aaron?). Paraphrasing Allan, "nobody that matters follows the forum".

Having posted that, the probability of someone answering your question here within the next 5 minutes (and even as I write this) has increased significantly.

* hopes Kellogg's throw in a large shipment of assorted cereal with its donation, gets out bowl, spoon and milk *

Gah, not trying to go off-topic here, but I just got an idea for a new cereal... Archies! Cereal "1"s and "0"s, maybe some "#!"s, and marshmallow Arch logos. May as well make it "Distros!" and throw in some other marshmallow logos... red Debian swirls... nom nom nom.

Last edited by Xyne (2010-08-20 11:03:54)

Allan · 2010-08-20 03:05:11

I do not believe we have 501(c) status but Aaron is the person to contact.

jeff story · 2010-08-20 03:08:58

Thanks Xyne,

I fired off an email to Aaron.

And now that you say it, I do recall reading sometime in the past, QUOTE: "nobody that matters follows the forum".

skottish · 2010-08-20 03:09:41

jeff story wrote:

Thanks Xyne,
I fired off an email to Aaron.
And now that you say it, I do recall reading sometime in the past, QUOTE: "nobody that matters follows the forum".

Taken out of context, of course.

Acecero · 2010-08-20 04:08:36

jeff story wrote:

Thanks Xyne,
I fired off an email to Aaron.
And now that you say it, I do recall reading sometime in the past, QUOTE: "nobody that matters follows the forum".

It came from here.

The phrase was apparently made popular by ngoonee's signature.

Anyway, best of luck on the donation acceptance with Aaron.

Your generosity is very much appreciated.

cesura · 2010-08-20 04:15:53

If I am reading this correctly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501(c)), then:

...an American tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation or association...

Wouldn't Arch qualify as an voluntary association?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_association

Acecero · 2010-08-20 04:27:32

Hmm... After reading that, Arch might qualify as the 501(c)(3) type if you read what I bold here:

501(c)(3) exemptions apply to corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, educational purposes...

Other than that, maybe 501(c)(7)...?

Inxsible · 2010-08-20 04:29:43

I could be wrong but don't you have to be registered as such with the IRS ?

I don't think it's just a matter of "Ooh !! I think my organization fits 501(c) x "

cesura · 2010-08-20 04:36:54

Inxsible wrote:

I could be wrong but don't you have to be registered as such with the IRS ?
I don't think it's just a matter of "Ooh !! I think my organization fits 501(c) x "

It depends. If Arch classifies as a voluntary association, then I don't know if you need to be registered with IRS, although I bet you do, as a non-profit organization does [1].

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit … ted_States

Dusty · 2010-08-20 04:38:19

I can tell you that Aaron does not give me receipts for schwag payments, so I'm guessing it will be the same outcome.

Dusty

jasonwryan · 2010-08-20 04:38:38

I think the process is:

1. Incorporate your organization
2. Register as a non-profit
3. File a tax-exempt status with the IRS
4. PROFIT!

Acecero · 2010-08-20 04:44:32

I don't know if registering has to do with paying taxes and I may be wrong but since Arch is a non-profit organization as itsbrad212 pointed, it is exempted from taxes. So I don't think there would be any registration required with the IRS or IRC.

ngoonee · 2010-08-20 04:52:38

Exempted should not be not required to register (at least that's how my layman's understanding is). Then again I'm from halfway round the world....

cesura · 2010-08-20 04:52:59

Acecero wrote:

I don't know if registering has to do with paying taxes and I may be wrong but since Arch is a non-profit organization as itsbrad212 pointed, it is exempted from taxes. So I don't think there would be any registration required with the IRS or IRC.

Typically, with non-profit organizations, you actually do have to register with the IRS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_organization wrote:

After a recognized type of legal entity has been formed at the state level, it is customary for the nonprofit organization to seek tax exempt status with respect to its income tax obligations. That is typically done by applying to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)...

Acecero · 2010-08-20 04:59:15

I should have read through that article more. I stand corrected. Thank you ngoonee and itsbrad212.

Allan · 2010-08-20 06:04:35

jasonwryan wrote:

I think the process is:
1. Incorporate your organization

We fail at #1. That would take quite a bit of time (and probably lawyers...)

zenlord · 2010-08-20 07:16:16

Allan wrote:

jasonwryan wrote:
I think the process is:
1. Incorporate your organization
We fail at #1. That would take quite a bit of time (and probably lawyers...)

If it's lawyers you want: there are at least two of them in the Arch community, myself included

Xyne · 2010-08-20 11:08:58

jasonwryan wrote:

I think the process is:
1. Incorporate your organization
2. Register as a non-profit
3. File a tax-exempt status with the IRS
4. PROFIT!

I think there's a "Be evil" step in there somewhere.

mrunion · 2010-08-20 12:34:37

Can't you get a doc at OfficeMax or something to fill out to be "incorporated"? I mean, I think an LLC counts as "incorporated" and costs around $300-$500? I'm definitely not sure, though.

cesura · 2010-08-20 17:11:23

mrunion wrote:

Can't you get a doc at OfficeMax or something to fill out to be "incorporated"? I mean, I think an LLC counts as "incorporated" and costs around $300-$500? I'm definitely not sure, though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_liability_company
I believe it is a corporation as well.

Acecero · 2010-08-20 19:07:19

It feels like we are taking steps to become a business...

Last edited by Acecero (2010-08-20 19:07:35)

cesura · 2010-08-20 23:02:56

Acecero wrote:

It feels like we are taking steps to become a business...

It almost feel like it wouldn't be worth the effort, except in situations such as this one. I don't know how many times this sort of problem has come up.

Phrakture LLC?

imag1narynumber · 2010-08-21 00:56:17

I'm aware of a group in Mass that was in the process of becoming a non-profit group. The process is non-trivial:

http://managementhelp.org/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htm

Xyne · 2010-08-21 01:43:06

This is actually getting interesting.

Officially establishing Arch as some sort of legal entity in any particular country could open a whole new world of complexity for the Arch devs, e.g. legal responsibility in that country, ramifications in other countries, involvement of lawyers.

At the same time, as Arch continues to grow the current "off the books" model of project management will probably run into trouble eventually, e.g. devs getting taxed for donations, Dusty getting busted for child trafficking to support his schwag empire (he practices martial arts just to keep them in line).

It's one of those situations that should just work, but it assumes an underlying trustworthiness of those involved and good will or disinterest from third parties.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-08-20 00:18:23

Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#2 2010-08-20 02:41:01

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#3 2010-08-20 03:05:11

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#4 2010-08-20 03:08:58

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#5 2010-08-20 03:09:41

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#6 2010-08-20 04:08:36

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#7 2010-08-20 04:15:53

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#8 2010-08-20 04:27:32

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#9 2010-08-20 04:29:43

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#10 2010-08-20 04:36:54

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#11 2010-08-20 04:38:19

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#12 2010-08-20 04:38:38

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#13 2010-08-20 04:44:32

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#14 2010-08-20 04:52:38

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#15 2010-08-20 04:52:59

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#16 2010-08-20 04:59:15

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#17 2010-08-20 06:04:35

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#18 2010-08-20 07:16:16

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#19 2010-08-20 11:08:58

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#20 2010-08-20 12:34:37

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#21 2010-08-20 17:11:23

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#22 2010-08-20 19:07:19

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#23 2010-08-20 23:02:56

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#24 2010-08-21 00:56:17

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

#25 2010-08-21 01:43:06

Re: Arch Linux Donations and 501(c) Status?

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