Charitable status for association?

[Whitewater_419]

Hi all;

I am wondering if any of you have undergone the application for charitable status for your association and if it made a difference in corporate donations ?

I sat on the board of directors for a non-profit internet freenet a few years ago - When we completed the charitable organization process, we saw a jump in donations, since it provided a direct tax benefit to those donating (especially corporations).

I'm wondering if any of you have done the same and what your experiences are ?

[bfrd22]

We registered several years ago as a Charity. But not for the purpose of Corp donations but for our gaming lisc. to allow us to participate in the Casino's, We do a casino weekend at one of our local casino's out here and bring in about 18 to 20 grand in one weekends work. Not to shabby.

Also when some one does make a donation we can issue a tax reciept for value eg. weight equip, cash, vehicles (for VEx), Appliances, furniture. etc.

Also all members contribute to the association fund from each of our checks, and at the end of the year each member gets a tax receipt.

[Hamp42]

We registered as a Corp 5 years ago but it looked like too much of a headache to go to charitable status for now.