By topdillon on

I am on the board of a non-profit local amateur sports club. We are a short-track speed skating club with almost all children between the ages of 4 to 18. We are a non-profit organization.

We do not solicit donations other than once a year, from members and regional competitors at our annual regional speed skating meet. So we probably would be lucky to receive a maximum of $5,000. That's it for the year.

So, we are not a "Charity", but we are "Not for profit".

We do not provide money or services to the poor or disadvantaged. All we do is teach local kids to skate and help them develop their speed skating skills to whatever level they wish. This is a recreational sport for most, although some go on to higher level training when they are older.

Is it just me, or has the term "Non-profit" been narrowly assumed to mean "Charity"? 

Can we somehow disambiguate between the two?

We definitely need two distinct terms to identify the very different "Non-profit, Non-charity" organizations like a local sports club from the "Non-profit Charity" organizations like the Salvation Army or the United Way.

If this makes sense to you, please just tell me I'm not nuts.

 

Comments

steve hanson’s picture

steve hanson commented

These terms have legal meanings under the tax codes (I am assuming you are in the US).  If you've not applied for a tax status as an organization you are neither of these - you're just a group of people doing something good.  this all applies to tax exemption status.  You probably should read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonprofit_organization which should help to clarify this.  You really should not call yourself a non-profit if you are not one - that will potentially cause you legal trouble. 

Steve Hanson
Publisher Eye On Dunn County
https://eyeondunn.com