Bureaucracy

We do not yet have federal 501(c)(3) status but we are applying for it soon.

• The official name of our organization: Real Vegan Cheese
• Our date of incorporation: August 4th 2014
• Our specific purpose as stated in our articles of incorporation: To promote, encourage, facilitate and engage in free and open scientific research and education.
• Incorporator: Marc Juul Christoffersen
• Type of organization: California State Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation (will soon apply for 510(c)(3))
• Our EIN: 47-1614861
• Our fiscal year as registered with the IRS: The normal calendar year.
• Our bylaws
• Our bank: Bank of the West

Financials

Marc is currently the one to talk to about finances as he is the only one with access to the bank account.

We have accounts relating to money in the following places:

• Bank of the west
  • Who has access: Marc
  • Forms of access: Web banking and Master Card (debit card)
• Paypal: paypal@realvegancheese.org
  • Hooked up to bank account only
  • Who has access: Marc
• Wepay: wepay@realvegancheese.org
  • Hooked up to bank account only
  • Who has access: Marc
• Indiegogo
  • Who has access: Several of the core crew, including Ashley, Marc and Patrik.

ToDo

Biggest things to do (workload-wise) are to ensure that we're happy with the bylaws, figure out if our specific purpose as currently stated will allow us to get federal 501(c)(3) status and fill out the 1023. We could ask Noisebridge folk if they can send us a copy of the 1023 they filed.

• Get a business license from the City of Oakland (within 30 days of starting to "do business" which translates to "do anything")
• Agree on initial board of directors. Currently the following have volunteered:
  • Johan Sosa
  • Carl Crott
  • Rebecca Wilbanks
  • Marc Juul Christoffersen
  • Ryan Holmes
  • Rachel Linzer
  • Craig Rouskey
  • Ashley Graham
  • Maria Chavez
• Draft and agree on the bylaws
• Have initial board meeting (example meeting minutes)
  • Adopt a form for the minutes of the Board meeting (riseup pad and transfer to wiki)
  • Adopt bylaws
  • Elect Directors and Officers.
  • Authorize the application for Federal IRS tax exempt status.
  • Authorize the application to United States Postal Service for third class bulk mailing rates.
  • Authorize a corporate bank account (bank of the west)
  • Authorize the payment of organizing expenses and filing fees.
  • Adopt a fiscal year for the corporation (calendar year)
  • Decide what kind of insurance we need (probably just accident insurance. some info here)
• File the initial registration form (Form CT-1)
  • Must be filed within 30 days of receipt of assets)
  • Filed with California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts
• File the Statement of Information (Form SI-100)
  • Must be filed within 90 days of incorporation (and then every two years) - That is: BEFORE Sunday, November 2, 2014
  • Identifies the organization’s address, principal officers, and agent for service of process
  • Can be filed online
• File form 1023 to apply for 501(c)(3) status.