Big news for our little organization: last month we received a letter from the IRS confirming that we have been approved as a 501(c)(3) – a federal nonprofit organization.
We’re so proud of the work we’ve accomplished thus far and the unhoused people we’ve been able to help through food and care kits. Becoming a 501(c)(3) propels us into a new organizational phase – now we can work toward our penultimate goal of a permaculture village that offers housing, food, natural resources, employment, training, and so much more to all people: including formerly homeless.
You might be asking the perfectly reasonable question: “why didn’t you start the site search earlier?” A simplified answer comes down to $$$. As a teensy statewide nonprofit, our annual budget could never have supported a down payment, let alone mortgage/construction and all the associated expenses. Becoming a 501(c)(3) drastically changes our financial possibilities. Donors can now make tax-deductible donations – good for you and great for us. We’re eligible for a massive amount of grant funding now too. We expect grants will hugely affect the quality of the site we’re able to purchase.
If you’d like to make a – tax deductible! – donation, you can do so here:
Want to donate your time or expertise instead? In-Kind Donations are just as valuable to us!! Please reach out if you’d like to donate your time to us.
Since incorporating in 2017, we’ve been a Washington State Nonprofit Corporation, which verified our charity status and how income can and can’t be used. Taking the additional step (nay, leap) to becoming a 501(c)(3) first gives us an extra layer of legitimacy, as the IRS has strict and specific requirements for approval. It also opens innumerable doors towards achieving our mission and vision. In addition to grant funding and tax-deductible donations, we’re also able to pursue new opportunities like registering with Amazon Smile, leveraging social media fundraisers, or getting matching donations from large employers including Boeing and Microsoft.
Thanks for your support so far, and stay tuned for more details as we grow and change!