[Community_garden] Forming a Non-Profit Group

[Libby J. Goldstein]

Julie,

I should start by saying that our community garden is now in its 31st 
year.

We decided early on that the paperwork (reporting) involved in being a 
501-c-3 was really not worth it.

What we have done is form excellent relationships with our civic 
association and with the land trust that is our landlord. Both of these 
organizations are 501-c-3 non-profits. Before we became part of the 
land trust, the civic association acted as our bursar for any grantors 
that needed to give money to 501-3-3 s ... many like banks and several 
businesses ... did not have such a requirement. Now we use whichever 
one is most convenient.

Over the years, we have raised somewhat substantial funds for projects 
like a storage shed, fence, wall mural (and the repair of said mural), 
various construction projects and such things as the delivery of large 
quantities of mushroom compost.

So ... you may not need to form your own non-profit. If you insist, I 
think you can get most of the information you need from the IRS or a 
friendly neighborhood lawyer.

Libby