On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 6:31 PM, Travis Oliphant <
teoli...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> If you are all thinking that it might make sense in the future to have a separate non-profit "status" (and you are in the U.S.), then please apply for an EIN *now* and help us with the NumFOCUS application.
>
> The IRS does not like "ear-marks" as that is a way that funds have been inappropriately directed in the past to individuals. As a result, such activity raises red-flags for them.
>
> This "group-exemption" is the way forward and allows you to receive funds directly using the NumFOCUS 501(c)(3) status. It will ultimately help us quite a bit in the future, I think, as a community.
>
> So, if you are considering receiving money directly for your project at all for the future, please take a few minutes and apply for an EIN number by phone as soon as you can --- using Leah's instructions. Leah has researched extensively to figure out the easiest way to do this and it shouldn't take long. It's also nearly zero-risk. You just have to file one-page a year --- if we have your EIN number at NumFOCUS we can help you file it if you like.
>
> We are trying to get our application into the IRS by the end of the week if at all possible, and having the Group-exemption filled out will help us.
Thanks for the explanation and encouragement. I think it makes sense
for us to do this. I'll try to get you paperwork for Cython by the end
of the week.
FYI, this was floated on sage-devel as well, but as Sage can already
can receive tax-deductible donations and receives (significant)
accounting and administrative support from University of Washington so
I didn't get the feeling there's interest in pursuing this at this
time (though it might not hurt to ping William directly if you think
it'd be worthwhile).
- Robert