The Nonprofit Status of Distant Hill

"The superior man seeks what is right; the inferior one what is profitable"  Confucius

What We Learned About Becoming a Nonprofit

In the summer of 2012, Antioch University New England environmental education graduate student Maisie Rinne worked with us to determine the many steps necessary to obtain nonprofit status for Distant Hill Gardens.

 

There are two main advantages to Distant Hill Gardens obtaining 501(c)3 nonprofit status, and both are directly related  to funding:


  • Distant Hill would become eligible for public and private grants.
  • Any contributions to Distant Hill Gardens would be tax-deductible.

 

These are both very important benefits to the possible future funding needs of Distant Hill Gardens. However, we learned that in New Hampshire, a nonprofit's Board of Directors must have at least five voting members, none of whom can be related by blood or marriage. And the Board has complete control of the day to day running of the organization.

 

Because of this fact, we have decided not to file for 501c3 status at this time. We are not comfortable giving up control of Distant Hill just yet. 

 

A Funding Option - A ‘FRIENDS OF DISTANT HILL’

We are willing to use our own financial resources as much as possible to further our Mission and Vision for Distant Hill Gardens, but we foresee a possible need for more capital in the not too distant future.

As it stands now, donations can be made to Distant Hill Gardens, but any contributions are not considered tax deductible because we don't have 501(c)3 nonprofit status. This is a critical disadvantage.

Establishing a non-profit 'FRIENDS OF DISTANT HILL GARDENS' would be a way for us to secure the advantages of a nonprofit without having to relinquishing control of Distant Hill Gardens to a board of directors. Contributors could make donations to the 'Friends of Distant Hill' nonprofit, and those funds would be completely tax deductible.

This looks like the best option for securing the advantages of nonprofit status for Distant Hill Gardens while still maintaining control of the day to day operation. We will look into it in more depth when time allows.                                                                                                                

Michael and Kathy Nerrie