Legal Documents

Below you will find the official copies of the legal documents that prove we are who we say we are.

501(c)3 Acceptance Letter

That’s right! We got the official notification from the Internal Revenue Service that we are “exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The official date of acceptance is January 13, 2010, although it retroactively covers all donations that were made to the organization since incorporation on October 17, 2008. Here’s the actual document:

• IRS 501(c)3 Acceptance Letter

1023: the 501(c)3 Application

We submitted our 1023 to the IRS on May 5, 2009 and expect to receive approval by early November, 2009. This is based on the experiences of similar organizations (and their assistance in filling out the application), including Gateway to Gov and DemocracyLab. In addition, we worked with a lawyer who specializes in these sorts of things.

The application included all of the following:

• 1023 Checklist
• 2848 Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative
• Articles of Incorporation (filed)
• Organizing Resolution and Bylaws (Organizing Resolution was not included)
• 1023 Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code
• 5768 Election To Make Expenditures To Influence Legislation
• 1023 Attachments
• Compensation Guidelines
• Check for $750

EIN

We applied for and received an Employer Identification Number on April 24, 2009.

• EIN Confirmation Letter

Initial Formation

We had our first board meeting and approved the Organizing Resolution and operational ByLaws on October 20, 2008.

• Organizing Resolution and Bylaws

We incorporated as a nonprofit in the District of Columbia on October 17, 2008.

• Articles of Incorporation (filed)

The most important article being the fourth one, where our formal mission is defined:

• The Corporation is organized and will be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including:
  1. free and open communication between organizations, individuals, and decision-makers;
  2. fora between the same to develop practical solutions to real-world issues; and
  3. fora for the exchange of ideas to improve government and public communications.

• In pursuance of these purposes the Corporation shall have the powers to do all things necessary, proper and consistent with obtaining and maintaining its tax-exempt status under section 501 (c)(3). All references to sections in these Articles refer to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended or to corresponding sections of subsequent internal revenue laws.