How to become a 501c3 organization
  
  Some advantages and disadvantages of becoming a non-profit organization:  
  Advantages:  
    * You would be a fiscal entity--have your own bank accounts, etc.
* You would obtain limited liability for the board of directors, trustees, officers and technical teams, as creditors can only reach as far as the corporate assets, not into the personal assets of the board members.
* You would be eligible for financial support from a broader group of grantors such as private foundations.
* The public could receive tax deductions for their contributions to you if you were a non-profit organization.
* It would be easier to work with some partners.		  
       
  Disadvantages:  
    * Accounting would fall to the organization
* Several major reports are due to the IRS and the State annually.
* It will cost approximately $1500 to hire an attorney to help with the process.
* A non-profit cannot be politically active.
* There would be liability insurance expenses.
* Members who work for Federal agencies might have to abstain from votes or from being on the Board of Directors.
* Your original Bylaws will have to be changed to reflect the new type of organization.
* There will be decisions about how you will look that will need to be made in the future.		  
       
   

[Thanks to the Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council, Oregon.]

  
       
  Guide to Illinois Law: How to form nonprofits
Go to http://www.weblocator.com/attorney/il/law/assocnon.html#160 IL		  
       
  Link to examples: http://www.theoec.org/WaterTrainingSupport.htm
Building a sustainable group
Do you question how to become a 501c3 organization, how to build up your group's membership, or how to write effective by-laws? The Ohio Environmental Council has some useful tips located in PDF fact sheets:		  
       
    * Starting a 501c3
* Guide to writing by-laws
* Building up your membership		  
       
 

N.B.: This is provided to you for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be legal advice. Please consult an attorney for legal matters.

  
       
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