Also, I filed the articles of incorporation in Sacramento today. We should be incorporated Monday. I had to specify a specific purpose for our group. It can be modified later, but for now it says:
The specific purpose of this corporation is to promote, encourage and facilitate the development and maintenance of free and open community-operated telecommunications networks. In the context of this purpose, the corporation shall engage in scientific, charitable and educational activities within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Total cost was $50. We'll be able to open a bank account next week.
We now have 90 days of decide on an initial board of directors, finalize the bylaws, hold our first board meeting and file a statement of information (another $20).
After we make the first deposit into our new bank account (receive our first funds) we have 30 days to get an employer identification number and file an initial registration form (another $25).
After that, we can apply for tax exempt status (which is fairly complicated) by filing Form 1023. I'm spending some of my time reading up on all of the requirements for tax exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. There are definitely some gotchas with regard to paid employees and sources of funding.
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Marc/Juul