First things first. SETI@home is now kicking off it's fundraising drive for the year and needs our support. The Grandfather of BOINC needs our help. Click the link in my signature for info on how to donate. Right now WE, the users, are the major contributors and while the hunt for funding continues at a Administrative level, grassroots plays a big part.

In the course of emails with Al (Pappa over at SETI and SETIBeta, he coordinates alot of the donation stuff) I started thinking why not collect here a OhC! Set up a PayPal Account and make a link and presto! Then it dawned on me that my credit card would be needed. MMMMMmmm. I wouldn't want SETI to have to go through that nightmare because of ME! lol

[align=center][font=Georgia]PIPE DREAM ALERT[/font]
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So the next logical step would be making OhC! and the Team really, a Non Profit Organization. I dug about 6 inches down and see that we can register Federally (makes things much easier than registering in 12 separate provinces) and a board of trustees would be a requirement (three minimum). With that done, things could be much more transparent and people could donate in confidence.

So what do we do with all the dough? Obviously we donate it to worthy causes (Not just for SETI if you thought thats where this was going) and I would hope we could agree on purchasing a Server (or SIX! ) to properly host the website on and maybe a small allowance for the person running it (Please God? Not me!).

A site store could be opened (really we could do that already via a Cafepress.com or the like, but again, my credit card lol ) to help augment simple donations. Through our contributions we would make contacts that may just join the team. I've been thinking about this and it seems like a win win situation. I'm actually surprised this hasn't already been done by one of the other big teams so it would kinda cool to be the first.

The only problem I can foresee is finding the right group of dedicated individuals to make it happen. I can't do it alone.

YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE

You may want to dig a little deeper Pawly. Setting up as a non-profit really isn't as easy as it looks, especially with some of these other pipe-dreams you're attaching right now. A few things that you're going to have to work out before even forming the proposal is a business plan (more of a sustainability plan, but its the same thing), and a list of the various real charities to which the funds will be directed, as well as the criteria required for charities to qualify for aid.

However, if this does get off the ground, one of the charities that I wouldn't mind helping out, outside of BOINC projects, would be the OLPC program. I'm sure you've already heard of this, so I won't go into detail.

I'll help however I can though. It's a good dream, but may not quite work out the way you envision it.

Spoke with a family friend recently (my family belongs to a social club) that reminded me there is a difference between a "Charity" and a "Non Profit Organization".

Restrictions on charities are major! As they should be. But Non Profit Groups have much more leeway in how they conduct themselves.

In fact the Social Club my family belongs to is set up as a Non Profit Org for tax purposes. When setting up dinner dances or club outings they channel monies through a club bank account. A portion of profits (when there are any, very rare) is donated to charity every year (but I think that is voluntary) and the rest sits in the bank to be used in the next event.

Another benefit that comes to mind is the credibility it, being officially organized and recognized, will lend to our group. How many of you work in places that have a hundred computers that you would love to attach to BOINC but can't see your self walking up to the boss and asking? How much more confidence would you have if you could point out the fact that we are an organized and dedicated group willing to jump through Gov. hoops in the name of science and charity? Just a thought.

I would be happy to dig deeper but I want to gauge everyones opinions before I start down this path. Please drop a line here or PM me if you feel more comfortable with anonymity.

Pawly

I was a treasurer of a non profit organization before and it works quite well. I believe at the end of your fiscal year, you could only have a limited amount of funds. The rest of the money would go to charities or whatever was desided by a commitee.

I think if you want to look into it further, that would be fine with me.

I WORK FOR A "NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION".
OUR "SOCIETY" STAFFS 3 PEOPLE, 1 FULL TIME AND 2 PART TIME.

MOST OF OUR OPERATING FUNDS COME FROM RENTING A CASINO FOR A DAY, DONE A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR, RENTALS OF SPACES AND ROOMS AND SOME DONATIONS .
FOR ANYTHING NEEDED FOR THE BUILDING LIKE A MAJOR RENOVATION, WE DEPEND ON GRANTS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THE GRANTS COVER 50 % OF THE COSTS. WE COME UP WITH THE REST. AND SINCE IT IS A 106 YEAR OLD BUILDING THERE ARE CONSTANTLY THINGS THAT NEED REPAIRING OR REPLACING. LIKE A $110,000 ROOF.
WHEN I NEED TO DO SOMETHING MAJOR TO THE BUILDING, I HAVE TO WRITE A PROPOSAL WITH ESTIMATES WHICH GOES BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THEN A REQUEST FOR A GRANT HAS TO GO TO THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY THEN A CASINO DAY IS BOOKED TO RAISE OUR HALF OF THE MONEY IF NEEDED. THERE ARE A FEW RESTRICTIONS ON THE MONEY WE RAISE, BUT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW MORE RESTRICTIONS ON MONEY FROM GRANTS.
THE ROOF PROJECT WAS 2 YEARS IN THE PLANNING.
THERES A LOT TO OPERATING A NON-PROFIT THAT I CAN SEE BUT AS FOR SETTING UP ONE, I'M LOST THERE.
HOPE THAT HELPS A BIT ALTHOUGH I CAN'T SEE IT BEING MUCH HELP WITH YOUR IDEAS. IF YOU NEED MORE INFO FROM ME ON SOME OF THE FINER DETAILS, JUST HOLLAR. I CAN ASK MY BOSS WHERE AND HOW ITS DONE. SHE'S THE NON-PROFIT GURU AROUND HERE.

LATER
DR.Z

Thanks Zapp and Grizz. This is definitely a long term goal for us, I'm not expecting to make it happen very quickly (if at all). Just want folks to think about the possibilities and how their experiences might help.

We can always (individually) donate to the cause of our choice, that is the most important thing I think.

(Pawly, if you find this inappropriate for this thread, don't hesitate to split it off)

I'd just like to mention a new group I discovered. It's not really a charity, but still... they accept donations too.

It's Tom Shoes.

They give out pairs of shoes in poor countries every time someone buys from their site. You can see their cause by clicking here.

I didn't contribute yet, but I sure will. I think it's a great cause and a great way to contribute. They gave out 50 000 pairs of shoes to South Africa people and 10 000 to Argentina people.



That being said-------------------------------------------------------



I would totally buy OhC! stuff, especially knowing my contribution would be handled appropriately! We could do some t-shirts saying GRIZZ FAN, or something.

SETI will get my donation when I'm out of debt.

seriously though- has OhC! thought about Cafepress? Lots of stuff and no set up fees.