UnifiedRegistrationStatement

Registration of the non-profit Python Software Foundation

In the US, we will have to register in all states from which we accept donations. The Unified Registration Statement (URS) helps with this:

http://www.nonprofits.org/library/gov/urs/index.html

but it doesn't cover the states: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, and Utah.

It is also unclear how non-profit status is dealt with in other countries around the world. For safety reasons, we should make it clear that only citizens from US states for which we have registered can get a tax-deduction for their donation.

It is highly likely however, that the PSF has to register if it wants to raise funds over the Internet in the US.

The URS is driven by the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO). They also provide more resources on the subject on their web-site at:

http://www.nasconet.org/

Another useful location for resources on the subject is:

http://fdncenter.org/learn/librarian/

and their FAQ:

http://fdncenter.org/learn/faqs/

Discussion of the Process

Tim Peters and Marc-Andre Lemburg on psf-board list:

MAL:

""" Which nonprofits must register (and when)? Generally, any nonprofit that conducts a charitable solicitation within the borders of a state, by any means, is subject to its law and is therefore required to register. ... for example, a website posting by an environmental organization inviting contributions from the public. """

TimP?:

OTOH, the page that comes from:

http://www.nonprofits.org/library/gov/urs/b_introduction1.htm

goes on to say:

However, Internet fundraising does not neatly conform to existing models, neither jurisdictional models nor fundraising models. The ultimate jurisdictional question, roughly put, is "Has someone purposefully directed a charitable solicitation to a resident of our state?" A "yes" provides a state with a rationale for exercising jurisdiction. But, the question and answer get very fuzzy in cyberspace.

The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO), recognizing the challenges posed for both nonprofits and regulators, is developing a protocol to aid all concerned (see the "Charleston Principles" at http://www.nasconet.org). The protocol will guide state officials in exercising jurisdiction over Internet transactions and it will help nonprofits determine whether (and when) their Internet fundraising activity will subject them to solicitation law registration and reporting.

The referenced "Charleston Principles" are at:

http://www.nasconet.org/stories/storyReader$10

and is yet another pile of exceedingly tedious reading.

MAL:

Since they are fuzzy about what to do, I'd strongly suggest to do the URS filing before starting to raise funds in uncontrolable ways ;-)

Note that it's probably not the registration which is going to cause us headaches... it's the annual reporting to the various states that will make the load of work coming in.

We must be very careful to have all the information we need from the donors in order to be able to comply with the reporting requirements of the different US states.