1) We just got a a grant from the city, but before that it was just donations. Consider trying to just find an established non-profit to act as your "fiscal sponsor"/umbrella at first--this worked for us getting off the ground, you can give tax write-off receipts etc if they're a 501(c)3 (this is the federal tax deductible designation).
<br>3) Also did the alleycat + show benefit thing, and still do them. It worked pretty well--actually more than the money what was awesome is that brought in a lot more people to the project, heehee.<br>4) Less space than that, I think: we&#39;re just kinda stuck right in the back of an infoshop (helps keep the rent down). But we can store lots of bikes behind the space for free, which is the best.
<br><br>peace,<br>COlin.<br><br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 9/12/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">rachael spiewak</b> &lt;<a href="mailto:rachael@sopobikes.org">rachael@sopobikes.org</a>&gt; wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
2. nonprofit is a state designation.&nbsp; it is a prerequisite for acquiring tax exempt status (federal).<br>3. we did an alley cat and benefit show in the very beginning, which raised about $1,200.&nbsp; that got us going.<br>4. that&#39;s about the amount of space we&#39;re working with.&nbsp; we spent the last week cleaning it up and making it user friendly.&nbsp; until then, it served as a collection heap and we did our wrenching outside.&nbsp; pictures 
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/stewart.varner/" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">here</a>.&nbsp; say no to donations that are unusable!<br><br>-rachael<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">
On 9/12/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Ariel raymon</b> &lt;<a href="mailto:bikefarm@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
bikefarm@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div>hey all, </div>
<div>we had our first meeting last night and it was a success.... a few questions came up.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>1. Are there grants out there just for start-up if you don&#39;t have non-profit status yet? (it costs 500 to get nonprofit status)</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>2. We heard there&#39;s a difference between being a non-profit and being a tax-deductible organization. Whats the legal term for this? Does anyone know the difference?</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>3. Our next goal is fundraising. Anybody have a super successful event they want to share with us? </div>
<div>if you don&#39;t want to respond to the thinktank.. letus know at&nbsp; <a href="mailto:bikefarm@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">bikefarm@gmail.com</a></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>4. what&#39;s the average square footage for your space? we&#39;re looking at 600sq feet to start. how many stands do most people have in their shop to wrench on?</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>thanks!</div>
<div>let us know @<a href="mailto:bikefarm@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">bikefarm@gmail.com</a>, if you dont want to respond to the thinktank...</div>
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</a><br><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Durham Bike Co-op<br>723 N. Mangum St.<br>Durham, NC 27701<br><a href="http://www.durhambikecoop.org">www.durhambikecoop.org</a>