Theresa,



Your university foundation is itself a 501c3 charitable organization, very

much like ours. All of our other affiliated organizations and groups are

volunteer subsidiaries of that organization, rather than separate

not-for-profits. All donations/gifts/and charitable activities go through

said foundation. In the case of two charitable organizations directly

supporting an institution like ours, I would be concerned with conflicting

ownership and fiduciary issues.



I'll wager your foundation will have a strong opinion on this issue, but

personally I would reduce it to a volunteer group, for the sake of

simplicity.



Have a great holiday.



Mark Janzen

Registrar/Collections Manager

Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art

Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection

Wichita State University

(316)978-5850





                                                                           

             "Burchett-Anderso                                             

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Our university museum has a 501c3 “Friends” organization.  Over the past

few decades this friends group has just been relatively inactive.  In the

past the organization raised money for special projects, acquisitions, and

brought artists in the museum for demonstrations and workshops.  All of the

organization’s accounts fall under the university’s foundation office.  It

does not seem that the museum or the organization takes advantage of its

501c3 status and benefits.  If we revive this friends group, should be

revive it as a 501c3 or disband the 501c3 and revive it as a museum

volunteer group?



Could other university museums provide me with the pros and cons of having

501c3 organizations versus having a volunteer group?











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