re: 501 C3 -
A couple of notes to add on the subject do & do not's when dealing with 501 C3 ....
If you are working with a group and you are handling collections and/or cash .... Be sure to have another 'staff' member on hand ( as witness , for transparency & alibi reasons ) .
It is too easy in todays times for a situation to get flipped around , and what you were doing was 'correct and common sense ' , they are suddenly screaming at you .
Example : Lead : ' Hey , At what point were you gonna tell me that you took the cash box ( with you ) . You : " Dude , You walked away from the Booth , leaving everything unguarded . You were also 'too busy' at the Bar , schmoozing & picking up chicks ..... so I took it home ( for security reasons ) and figured it can be turned in at the next meeting . " .
Follow up any voice commutations with a email or text message of the Key Notes of the meeting . This will help keep items from being forgotten about and keep a record .
" guidance on solicitation and collection of donations, disclosures and acknowledgments " ---- This should also apply to the Organization you are working with . Find out their policies and protocol , in Writing . Verbal 'protocols' can be suddenly changed on you , without advance notice ....... thus avoiding the situation of " I've been doing _blank__ this way for the last couple of years I've been apart ( of your team ) and helping you ....and Now Suddenly , 'It's Wrong ? ''
" We are raising money for Cancer / Autism Awareness " - Most 503 C3 s' that I know of , will have meetings & financial reports ( Money coming in , expenses , costs of operations , Out going donations to causes ,etc ) . If you have been working with a group that has been taking money in & charging for appearances ...... however you have never Seen them actually GIVE money to the Causes they are claiming to represent .... then something fishy is going on and you might want to find another group .
My last item isn't aimed at 503c3 , but ANY event that you might be attending :
Kids :
We sadly live in a time where ' that one hug you gave to someone else's kid during a photo op ' can now been flipped around to : ' He touched my No-No spot ' , that is 'reported' weeks later ..... You can arrested without prior investigation , thus landing you in jail ... you've lost your Job and have to spend $25,000 non-fundable for bail / $100,000 in Lawyers and years tied up in Court .
" You don't need evidence ... accusations is enough '' is often too true ....... SouthPark referred to this can in an episode ( and broadcast ) , showing how easy it is for some kids to Lie and get people put away in prison . ( Season 4 Episode 16 )
Ideas to protect yourself - -
Do Not be alone -- always have someone of your crew be with you .
If asked " Hey , can you watch my kid for a moment " , polity decline .
Have a second camera setup at your photo booth , set up to record a quick video .
If asked ' Can I get a hug , you can polity decline ....... or have them hug you .
Be mindful of your hands / arms placement .... ''hug high'' , meaning your return hug should be on thier shoulder areas . Not waist areas or lower .
A couple of notes to add on the subject do & do not's when dealing with 501 C3 ....
If you are working with a group and you are handling collections and/or cash .... Be sure to have another 'staff' member on hand ( as witness , for transparency & alibi reasons ) .
It is too easy in todays times for a situation to get flipped around , and what you were doing was 'correct and common sense ' , they are suddenly screaming at you .
Example : Lead : ' Hey , At what point were you gonna tell me that you took the cash box ( with you ) . You : " Dude , You walked away from the Booth , leaving everything unguarded . You were also 'too busy' at the Bar , schmoozing & picking up chicks ..... so I took it home ( for security reasons ) and figured it can be turned in at the next meeting . " .
Follow up any voice commutations with a email or text message of the Key Notes of the meeting . This will help keep items from being forgotten about and keep a record .
" guidance on solicitation and collection of donations, disclosures and acknowledgments " ---- This should also apply to the Organization you are working with . Find out their policies and protocol , in Writing . Verbal 'protocols' can be suddenly changed on you , without advance notice ....... thus avoiding the situation of " I've been doing _blank__ this way for the last couple of years I've been apart ( of your team ) and helping you ....and Now Suddenly , 'It's Wrong ? ''
" We are raising money for Cancer / Autism Awareness " - Most 503 C3 s' that I know of , will have meetings & financial reports ( Money coming in , expenses , costs of operations , Out going donations to causes ,etc ) . If you have been working with a group that has been taking money in & charging for appearances ...... however you have never Seen them actually GIVE money to the Causes they are claiming to represent .... then something fishy is going on and you might want to find another group .
My last item isn't aimed at 503c3 , but ANY event that you might be attending :
Kids :
We sadly live in a time where ' that one hug you gave to someone else's kid during a photo op ' can now been flipped around to : ' He touched my No-No spot ' , that is 'reported' weeks later ..... You can arrested without prior investigation , thus landing you in jail ... you've lost your Job and have to spend $25,000 non-fundable for bail / $100,000 in Lawyers and years tied up in Court .
" You don't need evidence ... accusations is enough '' is often too true ....... SouthPark referred to this can in an episode ( and broadcast ) , showing how easy it is for some kids to Lie and get people put away in prison . ( Season 4 Episode 16 )
Ideas to protect yourself - -
Do Not be alone -- always have someone of your crew be with you .
If asked " Hey , can you watch my kid for a moment " , polity decline .
Have a second camera setup at your photo booth , set up to record a quick video .
If asked ' Can I get a hug , you can polity decline ....... or have them hug you .
Be mindful of your hands / arms placement .... ''hug high'' , meaning your return hug should be on thier shoulder areas . Not waist areas or lower .
Statistics: Posted by DrMadKatz — February 23rd, 2025, 8:46 am