Settle The Debt Becomes A 501c3 Campaign
Donation protected
Settle the Debt has been a grassroots campaign since 2017, working to raise awareness about lunch shaming and pay down local Prince William County Schools lunch debt.
Things have taken on a life of their own and the need is bigger than this little campaign can manage, without becoming an official non-profit organization. The Geller Law Group has kindly offered to handle the paperwork at a discount, which is a huge help! But I could still use your support in getting started.
Here’s the budget:
$2,000 legal fees
$600 application fees in Virginia and the IRS
$200 printing business cards, flyers, and office supplies (envelopes, stamps, thank you cards)
$200 T-shirts for volunteers
I have always given my time free of charge. I fundraise, do media appearances, deliver money to schools, coordinate with PWCS, and work with state legislators to advocate for better state laws to prevent shaming. That won’t change. I’m still going to work hard for our kids for free.
This non-profit aims to have very, very low overhead with the overwhelming majority of funds going straight to helping kids and families pay off their lunch debt. Becoming a 501c3 means I’ll have the ability to give receipts for all of the contributions folks make, so that every dollar is a tax write-off for our donors. It will also mean that I can work to sign up with the Combined Federal Campaign, and other community partners that can only work with registered non-profits. Finally, it means that I can more easily ask for local business support, because the businesses can have the benefit of writing off contributions. This also means that the newly opened Kingstowne Dental Specialists, who have asked to partner with us, can promote their support of a non-profit, rather than an informal campaign.
I appreciate your kindness and support. Contributions to this GFM are not tax deductible, since I do not have tax exempt status yet. This is an operational start-up fundraiser and won’t raise money for lunch debt relief.
As soon as I have tax exempt status, I’ll launch a new fundraiser to work towards expanding lunch debt relief across Northern Virginia and eventually beyond. Your help in establishing Settle the Debt as a non-profit is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement.
Adelle Settle
Things have taken on a life of their own and the need is bigger than this little campaign can manage, without becoming an official non-profit organization. The Geller Law Group has kindly offered to handle the paperwork at a discount, which is a huge help! But I could still use your support in getting started.
Here’s the budget:
$2,000 legal fees
$600 application fees in Virginia and the IRS
$200 printing business cards, flyers, and office supplies (envelopes, stamps, thank you cards)
$200 T-shirts for volunteers
I have always given my time free of charge. I fundraise, do media appearances, deliver money to schools, coordinate with PWCS, and work with state legislators to advocate for better state laws to prevent shaming. That won’t change. I’m still going to work hard for our kids for free.
This non-profit aims to have very, very low overhead with the overwhelming majority of funds going straight to helping kids and families pay off their lunch debt. Becoming a 501c3 means I’ll have the ability to give receipts for all of the contributions folks make, so that every dollar is a tax write-off for our donors. It will also mean that I can work to sign up with the Combined Federal Campaign, and other community partners that can only work with registered non-profits. Finally, it means that I can more easily ask for local business support, because the businesses can have the benefit of writing off contributions. This also means that the newly opened Kingstowne Dental Specialists, who have asked to partner with us, can promote their support of a non-profit, rather than an informal campaign.
I appreciate your kindness and support. Contributions to this GFM are not tax deductible, since I do not have tax exempt status yet. This is an operational start-up fundraiser and won’t raise money for lunch debt relief.
As soon as I have tax exempt status, I’ll launch a new fundraiser to work towards expanding lunch debt relief across Northern Virginia and eventually beyond. Your help in establishing Settle the Debt as a non-profit is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement.
Adelle Settle
Organizer
Adelle LaRue Settle
Organizer
Gainesville, VA
