I really can't stress this enough, getting 501c3 status does take time and money (I think the application fee was about $800 last time I checked) and provides a lot of benefits. It's not something we should toy with.
On Sat, Jun 25, 2016 at 5:49 PM, Michael Grube <michael.gr...@gmail.com> wrote: > Unless we want to risk our 501c3 status by playing around with the > definition of "substantial", we should probably not run any kind of > campaign, including helping to collect signatures and send emails. > > On Sat, Jun 25, 2016 at 5:45 PM, Michael Grube <michael.gr...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> >> https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-section-501-c-3-organizations >> >> " In addition, it may not be an *action organization* >> <https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/political-and-lobbying-activities>*, >> i.e.,* it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part >> of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for >> or against political candidates." >> >> On Sat, Jun 25, 2016 at 3:33 PM, Ximin Luo <infini...@freenetproject.org> >> wrote: >> >>> Could you educate us with some more details on that? A link to the >>> specific legislation would be great. On a quick web search, I can see this: >>> >>> http://www.njnonprofits.org/NPsCanLobby.html >>> >>> which only talks about spending money on lobbying, implying that >>> costless efforts (like having a banner on your website) are perfectly fine. >>> >>> X >>> >>> Michael Grube: >>> > I'm somewhat familiar with 501c3 rules. Ian's correct, it's not legal >>> for >>> > the Freenet project to officially have a political agenda. >>> > >>> > Tor project is probably also in violation. >>> > On Jun 25, 2016 2:57 PM, "Ximin Luo" <infini...@freenetproject.org> >>> wrote: >>> > >>> >> Ian Clarke: >>> >>> Even more seriously, it may put us in violation of US law because we >>> are >>> >> a 501c3 >>> >>> non-profit, which are restricted in the political and lobbying >>> >> activities they >>> >>> can participate in while claiming 501c3 status. >>> >> >>> >> I don't see the banner now, but I would just like to point out that >>> the >>> >> Tor project is also a 501c3 non-profit and they are also protesting >>> against >>> >> Rule 41. >>> >> >>> >> https://blog.torproject.org/blog/day-action-stop-changes-rule-41 >>> >> >>> >> I don't know the specific restrictions about lobbying though, so it >>> >> *could* be the case that they're also in violation. But I think this >>> is >>> >> less likely. >>> >> >>> >> X >>> >> >>> >> -- >>> >> GPG: ed25519/56034877E1F87C35 >>> >> GPG: rsa4096/1318EFAC5FBBDBCE >>> >> https://github.com/infinity0/pubkeys.git >>> >> _______________________________________________ >>> >> Devl mailing list >>> >> Devl@freenetproject.org >>> >> https://emu.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/devl >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > Devl mailing list >>> > Devl@freenetproject.org >>> > https://emu.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/devl >>> > >>> >>> >>> -- >>> GPG: ed25519/56034877E1F87C35 >>> GPG: rsa4096/1318EFAC5FBBDBCE >>> https://github.com/infinity0/pubkeys.git >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Devl mailing list >>> Devl@freenetproject.org >>> https://emu.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/devl >>> >> >> > _______________________________________________ Devl mailing list Devl@freenetproject.org https://emu.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/devl
