Help BASICS Become a 501c3!
Donation protected
Since 2009, BASICS has been working hard to improve communication, dispense information, and involve parents in their childrens' education.
After the district was required to cut elementary instructional music, BASICS developed their own after school program to allow children to continue to develop an early love of music.
Last year, district policies changed, and now, in order to send flyers home with the students, we must be a 501c3 organization. The cost to do this, with the federal filing fees, is almost $2500.
In the past, we have always put every penny (and quite a few more than that) BACK into programs and associated costs (instructors were paid, but BASICS members run the programs as volunteers) and so, while $2500 isn't that big of a number, it is also a VERY big number.
We have decided, as a voting body, that if we do not have the fiscal funding for the application by the end of October, that we will NOT be going ahead with any programming for this school year. Please keep in mind, the actual BASICS voting body is less than 10 parents. While we are happy to donate our time, efforts, and energies into what we do, it is becoming increasing exhausting to battle uphill all the time.
Becoming a 501c3 will enable us to do so much MORE - we can apply for grants to expand programs for Cranston kids, and to decrease the expenses for the classes. We can help PTO/PTA's by applying by helping them get grants directly for THEIR schools. We can offer our donors a tax deduction by helping us! Obviously, this could change the future of BASICS!
We welcome a personal donation in any amount - as a Facebook member pointed out, if everyone donated $3 we would be all set!
We are also in the middle of our 2013-14 t-shirt sponsorship drive, and for as little as $250, your business, organization, or group could be proudly displayed on the hundreds of shirts we will give away this year!
After the district was required to cut elementary instructional music, BASICS developed their own after school program to allow children to continue to develop an early love of music.
Last year, district policies changed, and now, in order to send flyers home with the students, we must be a 501c3 organization. The cost to do this, with the federal filing fees, is almost $2500.
In the past, we have always put every penny (and quite a few more than that) BACK into programs and associated costs (instructors were paid, but BASICS members run the programs as volunteers) and so, while $2500 isn't that big of a number, it is also a VERY big number.
We have decided, as a voting body, that if we do not have the fiscal funding for the application by the end of October, that we will NOT be going ahead with any programming for this school year. Please keep in mind, the actual BASICS voting body is less than 10 parents. While we are happy to donate our time, efforts, and energies into what we do, it is becoming increasing exhausting to battle uphill all the time.
Becoming a 501c3 will enable us to do so much MORE - we can apply for grants to expand programs for Cranston kids, and to decrease the expenses for the classes. We can help PTO/PTA's by applying by helping them get grants directly for THEIR schools. We can offer our donors a tax deduction by helping us! Obviously, this could change the future of BASICS!
We welcome a personal donation in any amount - as a Facebook member pointed out, if everyone donated $3 we would be all set!
We are also in the middle of our 2013-14 t-shirt sponsorship drive, and for as little as $250, your business, organization, or group could be proudly displayed on the hundreds of shirts we will give away this year!
Organizer
Kerri Kelleher
Organizer
Cranston, RI
