Non-Profit Patchwork?
So, as many of you know, The Confused Greenies are thinking about becoming its own non-profit organization for several reasons. Well, we could use advice. We've gotten some before but recently our prima donna, emerita, Elianna, suggested we speak with arts non-profit to get advice as our situation is a bit different than most of the guides we've read. Much of what we've read seems to be more toward groups that deal with businesses other than arts and might have bigger staff bodies / bigger financial transactions / more serious situations than comedic entertainment.
We've been suggested that we would need a lawyer and insurance... However, both require money we don't have. We know we need a board of trustees... but how many and what are Ohio's rules for how they operate? How often would they have to meet? What part of the company would they control versus what's still under the auspices of the troupe members? I can't imagine a board making decisions on what shows we'd do, for example. We've been suggested to keep all board members local but that we could remote conference. We were thinking about comprising the board with some current troupe members, some alumni, some unrelated people (outside perspective) who understand street theatre, performance, carnival, etc.
We would be looking at becoming an educational non-profit. Yes, we do entertainment shows but we are working one expanding our education work. We've had some demos for kids and we're doing more. We've always been a teaching troupe, of course. Though it would be nice to make enough money off the troupe to live, we aren't going into this to make money. If ever anyone gets paid (and that would be far in the future), it would be a stipend for administrative tasks. I don't think we should ever do payment for acting; all our actors should just do this for the fun and experience. However, I could see some fees for the administrative work but I don't see anyone quitting their day job. The troupe being able to buy its own properties (instead of people buying out of pocket) and pay the travel / registration fees for members to attend far away events and conventions... That would be nice.
Why we want to be a non-profit:
1) We'd like to become our own entity, still affiliated with CWRU and the SCA (and whatever groups we might bud), but able to stand as our own. Somewhat of an umbrella organization.
2) This should help us attract community members and let the community see us as more than just a student group (which is great but it's not our only image).
3) This could also help us book venues and work with other organizations on a more legitimate basis.
4) If we got tax exempt status, we'd save money on not paying taxes. We already spend a lot of money out of pocket on the troupe; it'd be nice to not spend so much on taxes, especially if some of our expenses get bigger.
5) If we got tax exempt status, we'd be able to ask for grants. Not sure if we'd get them but... Nice to know they're out there.
6) We'd be able to... take in money. Already there's been a few opportunities and we're not sure what to do about them. If we street busk at some event and get paid? If we get paid a fee for doing a party or Renaissance fair? If we win a theatre contest? If we get a booking (like the CPT Big[BOX]? What do we do with it at the moment? Dinner / bake sale fund raisers? When it's for / part of an event with the CWRU troupe, the money goes into the club's treasury (whatever that is) but most of these money potential sources would be from outside CWRU.
So... any suggestions what artistic non-profits we should ask? Do any of you work as / with such a non-profit? Do we need a lawyer? Do we need insurance? How about the Board?
We've been suggested that we would need a lawyer and insurance... However, both require money we don't have. We know we need a board of trustees... but how many and what are Ohio's rules for how they operate? How often would they have to meet? What part of the company would they control versus what's still under the auspices of the troupe members? I can't imagine a board making decisions on what shows we'd do, for example. We've been suggested to keep all board members local but that we could remote conference. We were thinking about comprising the board with some current troupe members, some alumni, some unrelated people (outside perspective) who understand street theatre, performance, carnival, etc.
We would be looking at becoming an educational non-profit. Yes, we do entertainment shows but we are working one expanding our education work. We've had some demos for kids and we're doing more. We've always been a teaching troupe, of course. Though it would be nice to make enough money off the troupe to live, we aren't going into this to make money. If ever anyone gets paid (and that would be far in the future), it would be a stipend for administrative tasks. I don't think we should ever do payment for acting; all our actors should just do this for the fun and experience. However, I could see some fees for the administrative work but I don't see anyone quitting their day job. The troupe being able to buy its own properties (instead of people buying out of pocket) and pay the travel / registration fees for members to attend far away events and conventions... That would be nice.
Why we want to be a non-profit:
1) We'd like to become our own entity, still affiliated with CWRU and the SCA (and whatever groups we might bud), but able to stand as our own. Somewhat of an umbrella organization.
2) This should help us attract community members and let the community see us as more than just a student group (which is great but it's not our only image).
3) This could also help us book venues and work with other organizations on a more legitimate basis.
4) If we got tax exempt status, we'd save money on not paying taxes. We already spend a lot of money out of pocket on the troupe; it'd be nice to not spend so much on taxes, especially if some of our expenses get bigger.
5) If we got tax exempt status, we'd be able to ask for grants. Not sure if we'd get them but... Nice to know they're out there.
6) We'd be able to... take in money. Already there's been a few opportunities and we're not sure what to do about them. If we street busk at some event and get paid? If we get paid a fee for doing a party or Renaissance fair? If we win a theatre contest? If we get a booking (like the CPT Big[BOX]? What do we do with it at the moment? Dinner / bake sale fund raisers? When it's for / part of an event with the CWRU troupe, the money goes into the club's treasury (whatever that is) but most of these money potential sources would be from outside CWRU.
So... any suggestions what artistic non-profits we should ask? Do any of you work as / with such a non-profit? Do we need a lawyer? Do we need insurance? How about the Board?