Is Free Republic a commercial operation or a charity?

Free Republic | 12/08/01 | Jim Robinson

[leadpenny]

It happens to be the best darn place in the world to find out what's going on.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

fyi

[brat]

"What is Free Republic then?"

Its the voice in the wilderness crying.......!

[LouisianaJoanof Arc]

Say that again ... just kidding! Free Rebublic is the best site on the net. It sure helped me keep my sanity during the election and aftermath.

[Robert_Paulson2]

it is a 501c3 EDUCATIONAL institution, similar to a religious, liberal arts college.... 100 years ago. Current topics are discussed, topics presented with research, papers are written... IN FUNCTION that is what FR does.

In that to "government" types, any idealogically driven organization is "political", good luck to actually proving it, but if you were to present a staff of ph. d's and divide the topics into majors... a sharpie could probably pull it off.

Testing, matriculation, AND a credit hour, or semester hour fee... even miniscule would do... since you don't actually charge, but RAISE donations for the LLC you currently operate, THE lack of tuition is probably the biggest hurdle.

BUT despite the legal classifications, the EFFECT and the bonafide operation of the non-profit, research and educational corporation is probably a loophole you SHOULD be looking into.

We have computer technology majors teaching here, psych professors, religious ph. d.'s, med researchers and doctors, clinicians, research biologists, cultural anthropologists, biologists majoring in macro cellular physics, english majors, HISTORY lecturers, quantum physics doctors... What the heck do you need to figure out what is being done here... Mr Computer Science instructor, robinson?

Were all the energy being spent on "home room monitors" directed towards twenty or thirty syllabi, with term papers due every thirty days from "students who pay tuition via the internet," I don't see much difference between this an a few other "distance education" graduate schools on the net today.

The educational nonprofit, slips between the categories of charity and business nicely.

FWIW.

[runningbear]

bump and bump to #2 too! Here! Here!.... Thank you :o)

[DB]

Well said.

[Bad~Rodeo]

What can i do to help JR.

[Robert_Paulson2]

The only voices in the wilderness crying at this moment friend... are those of Al queda and talibunnies, as our military might sends them to meet "allah," faster than you can bake a betty crocker bisquit in your easy bake oven...

May they rest in pieces.

[.30Carbine]

You're a hero. You have established a means for men (and wimmim!) of like mind - i.e., other heroes - to post, discuss, learn of and contribute to news of the day, whether political, ideological, theological, or mundane.

Mr. Robinson, when you are being attacked, praise the Lord, for He has said, "All who live godly lives will be persecuted," and, "The servant is no better than the Master: if the Master is persecuted, the servant will certainly be also."

To quote another (more wordly) encourager, Sir, "Never, never, never, never, never give up." [Winston Churchill]

Amen. God bless you.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks Jim. I think this will help well meaning individuals to understand why we don't enter into some financial agreement to avoid have to hold Freepathons. Personally, I'm more than happy to throw a few bucks your way in order to keep this fantastic resource humming along.

I've bookmarked this baby. It'll come in handy.

[snopercod]

How about a few words on the status of the lawsuit and the legal defense fund?

[LurkerNoMore!]

I am in awe of your patience, and appreciate how thoroughly over the last week or so you have explained how FR operates.

Although there may be a handful here who, for some reason, just have to keep running around this same tree, please know the overwhelming majority of Freepers know precisely what FreeRepublic is and what it takes to operate it.

Thank you so much for FreeRepublic and all you put up with to keep it going.

[beekeeper]

Although there may be a handful here who, for some reason, just have to keep running around this same tree, please know the overwhelming majority of Freepers know precisely what FreeRepublic is and what it takes to operate it.

I doubt if most of us understand just how much time, emotion and treasure Jim has given just for us to have FR.

FR is like a child that is still in its infancy. It has already shown its promise and what it can become, but it requires constant care, has forces continually attacking it and the caregiver, and seems to live on a knife edge between life and death.

I have friends who have a manac-depressive child who needs constant care. What they are going through has drained them physically, emotionally and financially. I can see what they are going through, but I cannot really know it since I have not lived it, nor do I ever want to.

[TomGuy]

FR would seem to fall under the "not-for-profit educational corporation" category. This, of course, depends on the particular state "definition" of such. The California Code is at this link.

An educational corporation simply provides some type of "educational purpose"; information dessimination is usually one such purpose.

Additionally, a corporation can be "initiated" in any state (preferrably one most accommodating) and then "registered" in the state where the actual "head quarters" or operation takes place. The two primary codes are the State corporation code (where the corporation is born) and the IRS Corporation Code for tax/tax-exempt status.

[Samizdat]

May they rest in pieces

LOL!

[Samizdat]

Kudos, Jim. Do you realize that during the election last year, words posted here ended up in George W. Bush's mouth a few hours later? Specifically the one about the Florida Supreme Court rewriting the law after the election. I couldn't figure out the connection until I found out that Barbara Olson was BKO and that she was a FR regular. Knowing how close she and Ted were to the Bush camp down there in Florida, I think I can make the leap that it was her giving him tidbits off this site. So, extrapolating that out, I would say Free Republic saved the election for GWB and for this country and I don't think I would be exaggerating too much. Vive las Free Republic!

[Rudder]

Having run two non-profits, I would say your information is right on target.

"Education of constitutional and conservative principles" would pass muster as a mission statement for the IRS as a non-profit. Just check the box on the IRS form that says: "Educational," and provide a one-paragraph narrative of the mission statement. The downside to a non-profit is the requirement of a elected board of directors, and so on...

[George Frm Br00klyn Park]

"It is simply what it is, a non-commercial, not for profit public (decidely for conservatives) electronic townhall meeting and bulletin board discussion forum operated as an avocation with its expenses paid for in the form of taxable gifts from some of its fans because they love it, and they do not want it to die."

JR, And as far as "inventions" that give freedom to peoples and individuals, it ranks right up there with Henry Fords assembly line for automobiles. FREEDOM!!! Thanks. Peace and love, George.