SoCal Striders masters club achieves nonprofit status

Your masters club not doing so hot? Money hard to find? The Southern California Striders have an idea for you: Go nonprofit. Become a charity — and seek tax-deductible donations. The club’s Lee Gillespie, an M65 sprinter, was able to gain 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for the Striders recently. Among other things, he says: “The (membership) dues are deductible as a charitable deduction (minus the value of benefits received — such as if you get a uniform).” The Striders, whose annual awards I attended last winter, aren’t hurting for members, but they’re a forward-looking group. And maybe a model for other masters clubs around the country.


Lee sent me some literature on the steps to nonprofit status.

Here’s what the Striders did (and in this order, with OK given at each step before taking the next):
1. File articles with the Secretary of State’s office in California.
2. File exemption application Form FTB 3500 with the (California) Franchise Tax Board.
3. File application for federal identification number with IRS (Form SS-4).
4. File 501(c)(3) application Form 1023 with IRS.

Of course, your state may have other hoops to jump through.
The Striders may be the only such masters track club in California to gain nonprofit status. Much larger organizations usually do this (such as USA Track & Field). But this is a very interesting experiment. We’ll see how they do.
Oh, and what charitable activities do the Striders engage in?
They plan to help kids learn to love track, and keep them healthy and motivated.
Wish ’em luck.

Print Friendly

May 29, 2007

One Response

  1. Mark Cleary - May 29, 2007

    The So Cal Track Club gained their 501c non profit status in March of this year. It is certainly a good idea-but it takes time to build–it’s not the silver bullet just one of the many things you can do to improve your club.

Leave a Reply